THE WOLVERHAMPTON EXPRESS AND STAR

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England

24 November 1909

(page 3)

SINGULAR STORY.

THE WIDOW AND THE COUNT.

In the Court of Session, Edinburgh, to-day, Lord Salveson granted a divorce, with the custody of the child of the marriage, and £52 a year ailment for the latter, to Rose Edith Kelly [Rose Kelly], or Crowley, from Alister 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 defendant, who called himself Count Skellet. Later he called himself Macgregor to identify himself with Scotland, where he had bought an estate.

After the marriage he called himself Lord Boleskine, saying people in Scotland called themselves after their estates. In July last she left him, and by the accidentally opening of a letter she ascertained that he was the father of a child by another lady.

Plaintiff’s brother [Gerald Kelly] said the 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 studied ancient manuscripts. Defendant got some mark of distinction from an Indian chief, and thereupon called himself Lord Boleskine. There was a lot of land round Boleskine, but it was mostly perpendicular. Defendant’s father was a Plymouth Brethren. He had lots of money, but was stupid where money was concerned.

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