Divorced Two Husbands

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 287, 4 December 1936, Page 7

Divorced Two Husbands

Mrs Simpsons Decree Granted

ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS Accompanied by one of King Edward’s personal detectives, Mrs. Ernest Simpson, pale and agitated, was driven away at high speed from the Assize Court this afternoon, released from the ties that bound her to her husband, stated the London correspondent, of the New York Times in a wireless message from Ipswich dated Octo ber 27. Her petition was based on the charge of her husband’s adultery with a woman at the Hotel do Paris in Bray, a summer playground for London society' on tho Thames river near Maidenhead, The woman’s name was not revealed. The trial occupied just 19 minutes. The public galleries were empty. Mrs. Simpson, who is 42 years old.

appeared to have aged considerably since her summer Mediterranean cruise with the King. Sh 6 had spent the past few weeks in strict seclusion at Beach House, Felixstowe, 12 miles from Ipswich, on the Suffolk coast. Thus she obtained the residence qualification for the transfer of her case from the crowded London High Court to the local Assizes. King’s Detective Guards House. A padlock was placed on the gates fading to the beach house and under

the direction of a detective who had attended the King on his Mediterranean cruise, a police guard was posted night and day in the private road leading to the house. Nobody was admitted to vacant property overlooking the house without a police permn. Tho King’s friend was able to reaeli the Court this afternoon without suffering irritating attentions of curious per sons. All speed limits appeared to have been waived on her drive to the Court. A small round bluo felt hat with a double brim, which was set off by a red ornamental button in front, was tilted to tho right. Her trim, upright figure was shown to best advantage in a closefitting, double-brested, tailor-made coat and a skirt of navy blue. The dotted collar of the shirtwaist showed higu around her throat. When the light from tho skylight above the well of the Court caught her hair it seemed a deep auburn colour. Evidence For Petitioner. Doubtless to save time in taking the Bible for the oath on the witness stand her right glove was already removed. In the hush while waiting for the Judge her slow American accent could bo overheard at tho back benches of tho Court, where rows of newspaper men sat shoulder to shoulder. Mr. Simpson was not present.

Evidence was heard on behalf of the petitioner. The witnesses included two floor waiters, formerly employed at the Hotel do Paris in Bray. Archibald Travers and Dante Buscha testified that on tho mornings of July 22 and July 23 respectively they had served breakfast in bed to a man they identified from a photograph as Mr. Simpson and a woman who was not Mrs. Simpson. Mr. Norman Birkett, K.C., then asked for a decree nisi. Mr. Justice Hawko seemed to hesitate. Was there to be a hitch at this last moment?

“I assume what your Lordship has in mind,’’ said Mr. Birkett. “What is it that I have in mind?” the Justice asked. “That this is ordinary hotel evidence,” replied Mr. Birkett. “But the lady’s name has been divulged in the petition to my Lord and notice was served on her.”

Citizenship Retained. “Well, I suppose I must come to the conclusion that there was adultery in this case,” said the Judge. “Very well, decree nisi!” Mr. Frampton, who had examined the hotel witnesses, asked, “Decree nisi, with costs, my Lord?” “I suppose so,” Mr. Justice Hawke answered, and the trial was over. Uniformed policemen who had backed their bulky forms around the witness stand to forestall any attempt at photographing Mrs. Simpson, now closed all exits, Mrs, Simpson, on tho arm of a

solicitor, hurriedly descended the stairs and Mr. Justice Hawke turned his attention to the next case. A moment later came the roar of her car as it rushed her out of the Courtyard. Mrs. Simpson will retain her husband’s British citizenship. Mrs. Simpsou was a Baltimore beauty named Warfield, before her marriage to Commander Earl Winfield Spencer, jun., of the United States Navy. They were divorced, and in 1928 she married Mr. Simpson, a Canadian, and former Grenadier Guardsman, now a stockbroker.