The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-19

SLruCk the pTOUeSJ 1oEnally 1rOm LI1e
records. AS the result, no present
obstacle was left In the way OF the
award Of q final decree TO Mrs.
Simpson and her marriage to the
duke who gave UP the British throne
for love Of her. Barring any fur
Their Intervention, the twice-divorced
American born society woman may
make application in due course TO
have declared final the decree r1isi,
or Of nullity, which she obtained at
Ipswich assizes last october ~.
Marriage Details Later
The understanding was that this
application would be made at the
end of the customary six months
period GLAND that then the
details Of her intended marriage to
the duke would be perfected. 1t
was believed that by agreement with
members Of the royal family the
ceremony would be deferred until
after the coronation Of King George
vi May IL, SO that there would be
no detraction Of public interest from
that national festivity.
Severe Blow to Royalty (
The result Of the hearing was q
severe blow, 1t Is possible now to
disclose, to most members Of the
royal family and to many, perhaps
a majority, Of Great Britain's most
influential people.
| They had hoped that there might
be some obstacle which would pre-
vent Mrs. Simpson from becoming
the Duchess Of Windsor and rank
ing among the first half dozen wo-
men of the empire.
A successful intervention would
have been sufficient. Mrs. Simpson
might have obtained q divorce
abroad, but she would not In such
circumstances have been recognized
by the royal court to outrank all
but a handful of the ladies Of an
Gent lineage who constitute the In
ner circle Of the monarchy.
Historic High Spot
This was the third historic high
spot of the romance between Mrs.
Simpson and Edward VIII. The
others were the divorce hearing at
Ipswich october ~ and Edwards
abdicat ton December IL. Next, bar
ring a further development, will be
the award Of a final decree; then
the marriage.
Today's hearing was held in the
lofty, we'll lighted chamber OF the
probate, divorce and admiralty divi-
sion of the high court In the old
strand.
At one end sat Sir Boyd Merri-
man, high above the others.
Merriman waited for Sir Donald
Somervell.
Somervell represented Sir Thomas
James Barnes, the kings proctor.
Somervell then read letter which
he sent to the king proctor In which
he brought the proctor's notice to
the intervention Of Francis Steph-
enson" In the suit and asked that
would would be good enough to as.
sist him by investigating the inter-
vention."
Stephenson Block
The letter pointed out that no
decree absolute could be issued so
long as Stephenson's intervention
remained OH tne reCUguS.
He disclosed that the judge asked
that the Stephenson Intervention be
disposed of at an early date-that
is, before the question Of q final de-
cree arose.
The court might have supposed,
Somervell suggested, that Stephen.
son after intervening decided TO
Withdraw for reasons irrelevant to
the administration Of justice" But,
he continued:
"FIe told the kings practor that
he did not possess any evidence IN
support Of his allegations and that
they were based on rumors he had
heard from friends and things he
had seen in the press"
Had Been Probing
He then disclosed that even before
Stephenson's investigation the kings
proctor as part Of his normal duties
had been making Thorough" in
vestigation. 1.-THE kings proctor has
followed UP the lines Of inquiry
suggested The investigation has
not resulted in any evidence which
would justify me in directing inter-
vention. II think 1t quite fair to say
that we have no grounds on which
we could resist an application for
removal Of Stephenson's interview
ton"
Sir Boyd Merriman asked II
Stephenson was present.
The aged, diininutive Stephenson,
about go, with white hair and mus
tache, rose.
Stephenson Appears
Eyes. am here" he said.
would you like to address the
COURT" asked Merriman.
81 would like to say this: That
the facts as put before you are sub
stantially correct, and that applies
to any steps taken by me or any
thing that may have been said. But
adhere to my decision to withdraw
and consent to any order the
court may make"
Who Stephenson Is
London, March 19.-(UP)-''Mr.
Stephenson" the man who inter-
vened In Mrs. Wallis Simpsons
divorce suit. was revealed today as
Francis Stephenson. an elderly.
small man with thinning hair and
dropping white mustache, wearing
gold trimmed spectacles. who for
years has been managing clerk 70 q
firm Of solicitors.
"Oh. I don't know-my friends
and talked II over" he told the
United Press when asked why he
had interviewed.
"Ohl ! am glad SIS al over. But
I am not sorry now that did H."
Then he disclosed that the fare