Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-19
Katherine Elkins Divorced Fro, u
band.

Katherine Elkins Divorced From
band.
Reports that divorce decree Pa.
ed last summer in Paris to Mrs. VIII
F. R. Hit, formerly Miss K,,ba..I
Elkins, daughter Of the ate ,I,i...
States Senator Elkins OF West viro;.S
had become effective were cone-n.t
a few days ago by intimate frients =,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hit.
lncompatibility was understood =.
have been the principal grounds pivS
by Mrs. Hit when she filed sui, ~.
petition adding that the husband + -
declined to renew domestic relatio,.
after an extenied separation.
Mrs Hit, who was prominent in y.
younger social set in Washington dn,
ing her fathers service in the Sens.
is now At Middleburg, Va. She ret,..I
to comment on the reported divo,..
action. Hit, who was said to b. !,
New York, also maintained silenc.
While favorite in Washington 9.
cial circles, Miss Ekins and the Duh.
Of the Abruzzi, one OF the most mn,
ular OF the Italian nobility, figured !,
an international romance which ca,x.
ed echoes in more than one Eurppe,,
capital. The objection OF members 4,
the Italian royal family was said 4
have led to the rupture Of the repor,d
understanding" and Miss Elkiny.
marriage to young Hit, son OF a Rel.
resentative in Congress Of Illinois END.
ed the succession Of reports con.
corning its possible revival.
William F. R. Hit and Katheri,.
H. Elkins were married in Elkins, "
Va, on October 81, 1913, about Az,
years after the first report that she WI,
betrothed to the Duke OF the AbruzE
cousin OF the King Of Italy, and son u
the member Of the House Of SAVOY,
who abdicated the Spanish throne b..
cause OF the opposition Of the Spaniss
nobility 10 his queen.
Although their names had been b..
fore the public through the years when
Europe and America were talking OF
the possibility Of Miss Elkins's mar.
riaEe TO the member OF the House Of
Savoy, little was heard of them after
the marriage except in society. Bofn
had fortunes in their own right, Mic.
E'kins having inherited about 5000.
600, and Mr.. Hit possessing a fortune
said to be in seven figures.
BILLY" Hit, as he was known in
Washington while his father was II
Congress, was one OF the first sutton.
OF Miss Elkins and he remained one
OF her admirers through the periG
when there we're reports that she ives
to marry the Duke Of the Abruzzi aii
when the names Of other suitors were
mentioned.
After it became certain in 1910 that
Miss Ekins was not to marry the Duke,
the names Of other suitors we're met-
toned with those Of Mr.. Hit. Of
report was that she was to marry Lic&-
tenant Julius Townsend Of the Unit(d
States Navy, and another mentioned tie
name OF Joseph Letter.
In 1911 there were several erroneou.
reports that Miss Elkins and Mr.. HIT
already had been married, but the cep-
mony did not take place until OctobG[,
1913. The wedding was held quietly
in Elkins, with only few members 81
the family present
Miss Elkins met the Duke Of tts
Abruzzi when he came to this oounu
IN command OF the Ita ian war vessAs
sent to the jamestown ExpeditisS
and it was described a. Glove at AIT
sight" The Duke later sent her q
ruby ring, which was seized by the csk.
toms authorities in Pittsburs.
There we're many stories about as
failure Of the Duke and Miss ElkiIs
to marry, and one OF the last OF thess
was that she might have become Ms
morganatic wife, but she and her fatt
er, Senator Elkins, insisted that sic
should become a member Of the ItaIiia
reya' family, with all the rights OF a
wife OF royalty. Others were that kins.
men OF the Duke would insist that sic
embrace the Catholic faith.
Other reports were that all these Diff
hculties might be evaded by acceptance