Marriage of Violence

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10311, 21 January 1927, Page 2

Marriage of Violence

MARLBOROUGH DIVORCE

ALLEGED UNWILLING CONSENT

LONDON, Nov. 18. In 1895 the . Duke of Marlborough and Consuelo, daughter of the millionaire, William Vanderbilt, then a girl of 17 years, "were wedded in St. Thomas’s Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, by two bishops, in accordance with the rites of the Church of England. Twenty thousand sprays of lily of the valley were used in decorating the bridal home; untold sums were, spent unon flowers in the church; the trousseau' cost £80,090. More than 20 years passed. Two sons were, born to the Duchess before she obtained a divorce and married Colonel Jacques Balsan. The Sacra Roman Rota has now confirmed the decision of the Diocesan Court of Southwark, and declared the marriage of the Du Ice and Duchess of Marlborough void. The bishop of the American diocese in which the marriage took place, Dr. Manning, of New York, describes the decision as “amazing and incredible.” Dr. Frank Nelson, _ a leading Episcopal clergyman, of Cincinnati, declared that, if the reports of confirmation of the nullification by the Vatican were true, the “Roman Catholic Church had done a "very disgraceful thing, and had infringed on the serious question of religious recognition by the churches.’ Dr. Amigo, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark, lias stated that the marriage was declared null because, “thrdugh fear, the bride diu not give her willing, but only her unwilling, consent to the contract. Therefore , there never was a marriage, and, though the duke and duchess may have lived together for over 20 years, they never were married.” When she loft the Duke Miss Vanderbilt married Colonel Balsan at the register office, Covent Garden. Immediately afterwards the wedded pair went to the Chapel Royal, Savoy, where the chaplin gave his blessing to the union. At the time of her second marriage Madame Balsan was a Protestant, hut she became desirous of man rage in accordance with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, Colonel Balsaii being a Roman Catholic. V ith this end in view, she presented a petition to the Diocesan Court, ol Southwark, alleging that at the tune of her marriage with the Duke ot Marlborough she" was really in hive with an American youth. Mrs. Vanderbilt, her mother (now Mrs. Belmont), however, would not allow dm engagement, " and pressure _ was brought upon Miss _ V anderhilt to marry the duke. It is said that Mrs. Belmont herself appeared before the Diocesan Court, and Madame Bn - sail’s plea was also supported by letters Written at the time. M ith this evidence before it, the Southwark Court declared .the marriage of the Duke of Marlborough null and w on the ground of “violence. The Duke did' not oppose the annulment, and when the ease was submitted to Rome he announced ms acceptance o the jurisdiction of the Southend Court. . ~ . - But in the meantime a complication developed. The duke, who has always been regarded as a keen high churchman, fell out with his Anglican bishop over his right, as a divorced man to receive the Sacrament. A to' weeks ago he asked to. he received in the Roman Catholic communion, and at the moment lie is_ understood to be on probation. He is now aged oo vears. In the voar after his doom he married Miss Gladys Deacon <bim>bter of a Boston millionaire, the IS Duchess of Maryborough. Her position is in no wav nftected •»> tie present trouble, and whateuu the position of the first Julies* s sens mav he in the eves o] Church.' their legitimacy is in no wav affected. That was established by the marriage in New loik-