THE BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO

Bournemouth, Hampshire, England

24 November 1909

(page 3)

A SCOTTISH DIVORCE SUIT.

Remarkable Evidence.

In the Court of Session, Edinburgh, to-day, Lord Salveson granted a divorce with the custody of the children, and £52 a year ailment for the latter, to Rose Edith Kelly [Rose Kelly] or Crowley, from Alister [sic] Macgregor Crowley, of Boleskine Foyers, Inverness-shire, and residing in London. The suit was undefended.

Plaintiff said that in 1902 when she was a widow, she met the defendant, who called himself Count Skellet. Later he called himself Macgregor to identify himself with Scotland, where he had bought an estate. After marriage he called himself Lord Boleskine, saying that people in Scotland called themselves after their estates. In July last she left him, and by accidentally opening a letter she ascertained that he was the father of a child borne by another lady.

The plaintiff’s brother [Gerald Kelly] said that defendant was very proud of having, as he thought, Scottish blood in his veins. He invented a new kind of religion. He was a cabalist, and studies ancient manuscripts. The defendant’ got some mark of distinction from an Indiana [sic] Chief, and thereupon called himself Lord Boleskine. There was a lot of land round Boleskine, but it was mostly perpendicular. The defendant’s father was a Plymouth Brother. He had lots of money, but was stupid where money was concerned.

His Lordship thought he might assume that defendant’s domicile was Scottish, whatever it was originally, and granted a decree.