New-York tribune., 1921-12-29
Decree Given Daughter of
Rockefeller After Hear.
ing in Which Servants
Aid Charge of Desertion
Alilnony Ignored;
Suit Not Opposed
Millionaire Chicagoan and
Ex-Mate Each to Keep
Great Personal Fortune
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


CHICAGO, Dec 2s.-Mrs. Edith
Rockefeller Mccormick, daughter of
John D. Rocke teller. to-day was grant
ed decree of divorce from Harold r.
NcCorn1ck. millionaire president Of
thc International Harvester Company
Desertion was the charge made by the
wife, admitted by the husband and sub
stantiated at a hearing in the Superior
Court by Mrs. Mccormick herself and
two other witnesses, both servants.
It took only fifty minutes from the
h'ing Of til divorce suit to conduct
the legal proceedings which ended
when Judge Charles A. Mcdonald af-
fixed his name to the decree which le-
galized separation which has existed
at least since last October, when Mr..
Mccormick issued formal statement
announcing that he and his wife were
living apart. The parties to the suit
were represented by as great an array
ai legal talent as ever was assembled
ii Chicago court.
Aiirnony Not Brought Up
During the proceedings there was no
aention of alimony nor of settlement
of property rights. although the suit
W It's very nature involved questions
affecting two of the greatest fortunes
in America. After the court had ad-
our3ed the lawyers declared that no
property settlement had been made 1t
g understood, however, that both Mr..
and Mrs. Mccormick are 20 retain all
property held in their own names. Ar
'aEgements are to be made as to the
disposal of property in which both have
en undivided interest. Mrs. McCor-
Wi8k. it is said, will retain the Nc
Cormick residence at 1000 Lake Shore
Drive. while her husband will continue
t. reside in the country home at Lake
Forest. one of the show places of IT,
country. That is the arrangement as
to the residence that was made at the
tune of their separation, and it is un-
Gerstood that it will continue.
Civic and artistic enterprises which
eve their principal support, and in
some cases their very existence, to the
munificence Of the McCormicks are
not to suffer because OF the divorce.
Principal among these is the Chicago
Grand Opera. The relations between
ready been arranged It had been an
nounced that with this year they would
cease to be guarantors of the opera. in
which they have spent S5,000,00O Both
Will continue, however, to support the
opera with large contributions to the
general guaranty fund. and it is re-
ported that they intend to give to it
sS.oo0,000 worth of scenery and stage
effects, which is their property Mrs.
Mccormick will continue in her sup
port Of the Edith Rockefeller- Nc Cor
mick Geological Gardens, to which she
has given 100000. No formal an
nnouncenlens OF the definite plans was
Forthcoming tonight, however.
Deserted on May 81. 1918
While TIE divorce proceedings had
been expected for some time, even
before last October when the scpara-
ton was formally announced, the
actual fling of the papers came sud
denly AT 1880 q. N. former Judge
Cutting appeared in the Office OF the
clerk Of the Superior Court and filed
the bill for divorce. In the usual legal
phraseology 1t set forth that on May
te1S Harold F. Mccormick twill.
fully deserted and ahsented himseli
rom your oratrix without any reason
able cause, which desertion continues
until the present time"
Eight minutes later the attorneys for
Mr.. McCormiek appeared in the clerk :
Office and filed the defendants answer
This admitted that "since said day OF
May n, 1918, he and the said com
<plainant have lived separate and
apart"
In the mean time Mrs. Mccormick had
slipped into Judge McDonald's court
where no proceedings had taken pIact
for an hour. The room was vacan
except for the clerk and the bailiff
Mrs. McCos mick was accom- panied only
by her lawyers and the two servants
who were her witnesses. Mr.. McCor
mick did not appear in court.
At 1929 o'clock Judge Mcdonald tool
, his seat on the bench and almost i'm
(contnusd on page fse)