Evening star., 1936-10-27
American Friend of King
Edward Wins Decree in
UnC0nteSted Action.
HUSBAND is ORDERED
TO PAY COSTS OF SUIT
Be-Wigged Judge Indicates Reluc.
tance to Preside-Misconduct
Laid to Defendant.
By the Associated Press.

1T0W4O11, cllSldIlO, oClOUcT a.
A stern, bewigged English justice,
with an air of reluctance, freed Wal
lis Simpson, King Edwards smart
American friend, from her marital
ties today.
In a 17-minute hearing at ancient
Ipswich Assizes Justice Sir John An
thony Hawke listened to the per-
functory testimony of Mrs. Simpson
and three hotel employees, charging
Ernest Aldrich Simpson with mis-
conduct.
Then he flung the papers on the
bench and snapped:
"Oh, very well, a decree niSi."
That means that with good con-
conduct, under the watchful eye OF the
Kings proctor, Mrs. Simpson will
receive an absolute divorce in six
months.
The correspondent, alleged in the
testimony to have stayed with Simpson
at the Hotel de Paris at Bray, neal
Maidenhead, during the latter part OF
July, was not named in court, although
Mrs. Simpsons attorney said she hao
been subpoenaed.
Simpson Must Pay Costs.
Simpson, once an officer in King
Edwards ColdStream Guards, mus
pay the costs of the action.
From the time a fanfare Of silver
trumpets opened the court to the
minute the massive doors were un-
locked to let out the news Of England's
most intriguing divorce proceedings
since the time Of Henry VIII, it was
apparent that Mr. Justice Hawke did
not care much for his role.
Not once did he look at Mrs. Simp-
son, and on several occasions he was
curtly stern with her two lawyers.
At the start he inquired suddenly:
'Why has this case come here?" and
after a consultation with the court
registrar, muttered: "Oh, well, I am
told ."
Mrs. Simpson, a trim, serene fig
ure in blue. was on the witness stand
for Just IA minutes.
A minute after the judges decision
had been announced, she arose, es-
corted by two men, and walked rap
Idly from the court room.
Driven Swiftly Away.
Hurrying downstairs. she entered
her big black car and was driven
swiftly away.
She had testified quickly and calm
ly that her husbands affections
changed" toward her in the Autumn
Of 1884; that she had found one
letter in a woman's handwriting on
O dressing table and had received an
other through the mail, and that at
length she had had her husband
watched, to discover his alleged tryst
at Bray.
To the English people, little as they
know about the affair from silent
newspapers, today's proceedings opened
up all-important possibilities.
Their King has made it plain he has
. right to private happiness.
Hence the question: will his
majesty marry Mrs. Simpson?"-now
twice divorced-was all the more press
ing.
Mrs. Simpson Immediately after the
divorce was granted entered her black
automobile and was driven swiftly
back to London along roads heavily
patrolled by police.
Police Cordons on Duty.
She went Immediately to Cumber.
land terrace where police cordous were
on duty.
Police on country roads stopped al
automobiles and motor cycles headed
toward London. Messengers bringing
back Photographic plates were stopped
by police, who examined their licenses
and then allowed them to proceed.
Only two Of London's three after.
noon newspapers carried reports o.
the Simpson divorce today.
Lord Beaverbrook's Evening Stand
ard printed hundred words on pag'
S, but did not identify the principal!
save by name.
The Star carried about $50 words OF
the case itself and another hundred
words terming Mrs. Simpson "a bril-
liant American hostess" who had livee
for the past two years in London.
The Star further described her as {
Baltimore beauty" who came to Lon
don after her marriage to a formel
officer of the Coldstream Guards, add
ing their house in Bryanston Cour
became well known for its quiet hos
pitality."
Neither newspaper mentioned an,
friendship between Mrs. Simpson ant
King Edward.
Divorce Suit Uncontested.
Simpson, London ships broker, mad
no contest of the divorce. His wife
born Wallis Warfleld in Baltimore
was questioned carefully by her at
torney, Norman Birkett, to bring on
the facts Of the case.
She produced three letters, which
she handed to the Judge.
Her evidence alleged that her hus
band was guilty of misconduct at tn
Hotel de Paris.
A bellboy, waiter and clerk iden
titled the hotel register to show the al
legged misconduct.
Mrs. Simpson, in trim blue sui
with q polka dot blouse and smar
blue wafer hat at q jaunty angle, wa
completely at ease on the witnes
stand.
She showed not the slightest trac
Of nerves.
At 2:40 pm. q little more than Al
hour after she had reached the as
sizes, her automobile roared away from
the court precincts.
Known as q stickler for correct cour
procedure. the judge was stern boti
1See ETMPSON page A-20