SECRETLY MARRIED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22738, 26 November 1935, Page 21

SECRETLY MARRIED

HEIRESS TO MILLIONS MOTOR MAGNATE'S DAUGHTER OWNER OF PRICELESS PEARLS. Mrs Dodge Baker, one of the richest young women in the world, and owner of the priceless Romanoff pearls, was secretly married recently to the equally wealthy Mr Timothy Godde, her third husband. He is a naturalised American, but was bom in France of an ancient French family, which owned celebrated castles. They could have had a prodigal London wedding, writes a special correspondent of the Daily Express from Ascot. For she is the daughter of the " mushroom " millionaire, Mr Horace E. Dodge, who had a romantic rise to fortune through the colossal motor car busi< ness which still bears his name. But they decided to have a quiet wedding. They put all inquirers off the scent by vaguely saying they would be married some time in September and huve a reception at St. Leonards, Mr Horace Dodge's magnificent estate at Windsor. Then two motor cars drew up before the registrar's office of Bracknell, a village near Ascot. Out stepped Mr Godde, his bride, and one or two members of the family. They arrived half an hour late for their own wedding, which was due to begin at 2 o'clock. BRIDEGROOM'S RUSE. So anxious were they to keep their wedding a secret that when I talked to Mr Godde afterward he said he was a friend of the family, continues the correspondent. I met this distinguishedlooking man with thick black hair greying at the temples, walking about the beautiful grounds of his brother-in-law's estate. " Oh, yes," he said, " I can tell you about the bride. She is blonde, tall, slim, and good-looking. She is the best woman motor boat driver in the world. She is absolutely fearless, and has tremendous courage. Why, I have seen her take chances on the water no man would dare take." His voice became more enthusiastic. " Music? She has given five concerts in this country. Yes, she is a celebrated pianist. And Mr Godde? Oh, he . . . Yes, he is all you say. He retired from business rather early, as his family had a fair amount, and played a bit of golf? " My suspicions were coufirmed. Mr Godde is one of the best amateur* golfers in America. No other man would have talked so casually about a scratch golfer. " But," I pleaded. " Isn't there any chance of seeing Mr Godde?" He hesitated, smiled, and disappeared. There was a laugh. Then the " friend of the family" came back, handsomely reintroducing himself as Mr Godde and "my wife." Then were obviously enchanted with each other, and talked about each other in and out of turn. HONEYMOON PLANS. " We're going away for our honeymoon to the Continent, as I have gone into the importing business here, and have to travel in various countries for my business," he said. " When I come back it will be to my London house, where T have lived for two years," said Mrs Godde. Then they explained the mystery of their wedding. "You see," said Mrs Godde, "we decided to keep it quiet because I am so sick of false reports which have appeared about me in the American press. I decided that I would not tell anyone anything about it. " They said that I was disowning the American flag, that I was going to bring all my money to this country, that I was going to renounce my American citizenship. That is not true. Besides, my mother has temporary control of the money. PEARLS LEFT IN UNITED STATES. "My pearls? I left them with my mother in New York. My daughter, Christine Cromwell, I left there. You kno%v I was first married to Jiminie Cromwell, who is now married to Doris Duke (tobacco millionairess). This is the daughter of my second marriage." A pretty little girl dressed in sugarcandy pink played between them. Her father was Mr Raymond T. Baker, a director of the United States Mint, who died this year. " How long have we known each other?" They looked at each other. " Not for long," said Mr Godde. " But we knew each other in America," said Mrs Godde. I was left to add that up myself. The Romanoff pearls, said to be the most perfectly matched in the world, have had a strange history. They were said to have been owned by the Roman general, Ponpey, by Catherine II of Russia, and -were in the possession of the Romanoff family when they were overthrown. The legend is that they have brought misfortune to all their owners. The "curse" seems to have lifted with their present owner, the brilliant daughter of Horace Dodge, for no one ever looked happier than she did.