First Wife Would Like to Set Aside 18-Year-Old Divorce, March 29, 1925

First Wife of James B. Duke Is Seeking to Set Aside His Divorce Granted 18 Years Ago. . . Attempts to be Proclaimed His Legal Wife; Duke Married Again in 1907 and Has Daughter of 12

By International News Service

New York, March 28—A sensational divorce suit of nearly two decades ago may be drawn from the forgotten past and one of America’s greatest fortunes again involved in litigation if the first Mrs. James B. Duke has her way.

Divorced 18 years ago, she today attempts to be declared the legal wife of the tobacco millionaire, on the grounds that the New Jersey divorce he obtained was not legal because he was not at the time a resident of that state.

Mrs. Lillian Duke started action in the supreme court here. Eighteen years ago she withdrew an appeal from the decree when Duke paid her, it was reported, $500,000 as a settlement on a maintenance claim. In 1922 Mrs. Lillian Duke was a witness against Alfred E. Lindsay, who was shown to have swindled many women through an alleged brokerage house. Her claim against him was $375,000.

Duke recently gave $40,000,000 to higher education. In July, 1907, he married Miss Nannie Hinman. They have a 12-year-old daughter.

From the front page of the Durham Sun, Sunday morning, March 29, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020732/1925-03-29/ed-1/seq-1/#words=MARCH+29%2C+1925