A PECULIAR WEDDING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 November 1901, Page 4

A PECULIAR WEDDING.

Millionaire procures Divorce Law before Marriage.

The New York correspondent of the Daily Mail sends interesting particulars of the wedding of Mr. Henry M. Flagler one of the most prominent of the coterie of Standard Oil Multi-millionaires, and recently nick-named “ King of Florida,” now in his 72nd year, who has now married for the third time. The wedding takes place under circumstances which have caused some comment throughout the country. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Flagles, 15 years ago mprried the daughter of a poor Episcopal clergyman, A few years later his only child, a daughter of his first wife, died. Mr. Flagler, to show appreciation of the attending physician, who had done his utmost, presented him with £20,000. Mr. Flagler was very anxious for a son to inherit his vast wealth. Five years ago his second wife went insane. Mr. Flagler set apart £200,000 for her support, which sum he has since doubled, and he paid a sanatorium £2OO a month for her board and treatment. The childless old man last year left New York for Florida, where he had millions invested. He acquired a legal residence, and persuaded the Legislature to pass a law making in sgnity of four years’ standing a cause for divorce if the party seeking divorce provides for the maintenance of the other. Mr. Flagler then became engaged to Miss Mary Lily Kenan, of Wilmington, Nooth Carolina, whom he has known eight years. They were to have been married in June, but his attorneys failed to give 00 days notice of the application for divorce provided tor in his own made to-order law, so it was necessary to postpone the wedding. The divorce was granted a few days ago. Miss Kenan is 36 years old. Mr. Flagler’s wedding gift to her is £200,000, and two members of her family have received a sum of £IO,OOO each.