Singular Separation.

Evening Star, Issue 7161, 15 March 1887, Page 3

Singular Separation.

Halifax, December 1. —One of the meet extraordinary social sonsatiqps ever known iq Halifax came to the surface, to-day, when Professor Sumiihraat separated from the woman to whom he had been married fourteen years because he did n’ot believe that in the sight of God he is her husband. Professor Sumichrast is the most cultured literate and linguist in this part of Canada. He was formerly Professor of Modern Languages in King’s College, Windsor. Subsequently he was editor of a Halifax newspaper, and for some years he was principal of the Girton House, where the sons and daughters of the aristocracy of Halifax finish their education. This school is supported by Bishop Binney and the leading men in his diocese.

Fourteen years ago Mr Sumichrast fell in love with the handsome young widow of Charles Almon, a lieutenant in the British Royal Artillery and son of a wealthy Nova Scotian politician. When M. B. Almon died he left his son’s widow a fortune. After the engagement Sumichrast told her that when a youth he had married a dashing French girl in his Hungarian home. Their life had been an unhappy one. They wore divorced, he had never heard from her since, and believed she was dead; but if alive the divorce was perfectly legal. Mrs Almon was satisfied; and married Mr Sumichrast. Years ago Professor H. Y, Hind, the British expert witness before the Fishery Commission, held a professor’s chair in King’s College. He became friendly with Sumichrast, and found out all about his previous history, At a recent meeting of the church synod radical differences of opinion sprang up between Bishop Binney and Professors Sumichrast and Hind, were continued at the Governing Board of King’s College, of which all three are members, and Hind employed an Edinburgh lawyer to ferret out the history of Sumichrast before he came to Canada, and tho whereabouts of his first wife. It was found that she had married a French officer, and is now living in Algiers. Then Professor Hind addressed a circular to all the Episcopal clergymen of the diocese, declaring that Bishop Binnie was backing up Professor Sumichrast, a man whom he knew for years had been living with a woman not his wife in the eyes of tho church. This produced a crisis. When Bishop Binney called his attention to Hind’s attack ho acknowledged that, at seeing that his first wife, whom ho had for long years thought dead, was still living, in the eyes of the church his second marriage was unlawful, he immediately determined to separate from wife No. 2, and regard wife No. 1, living with the French officer in Algiers, as his only lawful spouse. He went home and communicated his resolve to the woman with whom he had lived happily for fourteen years. The blow fell upon her with .crushing effect, but like a heroine she agreed that it was the things they could honorably do, and she immediately left her home and sought the protection of the Rev. F. R. Murray, her pastor, at whose house she now is.—‘New York Tribune.’ >