New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-14
BREACH or PROMISE.
SUIT AGAINST MAX STRAKOSCH.
MISS sMEDLEY CLAIMS $4,000 DAMAGES FROM THE
OPERA MANAGER-HE DECLARES 1T CASE OF
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BLACRMAIL.
Max StrallOsch, the operate manager, was
arrested yesterday, in civil action, brought
by Miss Clementine smedey. OF Chicago.
for alleged breach Of promise OF marriage
and attempted seduction. The damages were
laid OF 10000 Mr. strakOseh appeared at the sherAs
Office In the afternoon and after bail had been furnished
went back TO his Fourteenth-st. home.
Tie complaint OF Miss smedey alleges that
the plaintiff became acquainted with the de-
PENDANT IN Chicago, where she lives, in
1875; that their acquaintance continued during
the same year in New-YoIk that September 90 1879,
he promised TO marry her. that IN consequence OF this
promise OF marriage she remained single. and
that in October, 1877, he married Miss Nelson.
in Oakland. Call thereby taking unjust ad-
vantage Of the plaintiff The complaint further
alleges that during the engagement OF mar
rage lie tried compass her ruin by trick and su5er
fuge and TO persuade her TO unlawful intercourse with
him lie represented to her she that she could
never become a great and successful singer unless she
would throw away her modesty and virtue aud yield
to his solicitations. But she refused TO comply
with bis demands solicitations. TherenpoD, she
says the defendant became cold and negligent toward
her and on August 20. 1870, nc refused 10 marry
hei alleging rs a for such action that ne was
jew and his religion would not allow him 70 marry
Christian.
Before their engagement, the complaint further
affirmed, he undertook her musical education. lie
told her after testing her voice. that she lad excellent
vocal capacities and would become great singer On or
August % 1876 the defendant came to her while
she stopping az the Everett House aud said that lie
wished TO talk with her Of her prospects, lie said
however that what he had to say he wished TO speak
oOnndentialy, and such public place as the hOtcl
would not DO private enough FOR such conversation
But "a friend Of his lived on Thirteenth r.,
where they could talk freely together, II che
would 20 with him. She went with him
L.. hon st,tfu
sgnaton. Mr. stakosch, she alleges. conducted her TO
a room on the second floor aud soon
as thef had entered closed and locked
the door Al this she expressed surprise The defendant
sat down and drew her to his knee she screamed, and
called for help The defendant begged her forgiveness
aud she granted 1t.
At bis request Miss smodley further alleged she left
her home and friends in Chicago, and came TO make her
home in New-York. lie assigned a reason for this
request the necessity that she should be near HIM
In carrying on her musical studies Tho faith
lessness OF the defendant and his liccutious
advances and his subsequent refusal 10 marry
her. tho complaint continued, had 40 pros
trated her nervous system that FOR many months she
was under the OF PHYSICIANS and suffered great
mental aud bodily pain, and pecuniary injury.
Mr.. sTRAKOSCH DECLARES IT BLACKMAII.
Max strakosch playing cards with his wife and
number OF friends at his residence, No. 10 West Four
toenihst.. when TRIBUNE reporter called upon MN
last evening. 1t was "a very merry party, that
did not seem disturbed by trouble. Mr. strakosch
led the reporter into another rOOm and evidently
derstOOd II once his errand.
the shoulders and smile at the fret question. The
whole thing Is "A scheme to eXiOrt money out Of me,
and 1t II hardly necessary for say
that there word OF truth IN the charges that Mas
Sncdcy makes against Will tell the story OF
nay acquaintance and experience with her, and
shall judge IOr yourself In the summer OF 1870 was
I'm Chicago operate business. Miss smedlPy
and her sister Introduced themselves TO me
there. The one who makes this complaint
WAS about twenty years Old, and her sister ten
years older The oder one said that her sister
had strong aspirations 10 become IN operate singer;
that she had good voice and confident she cOulI
make name for herself II she could not succeed in
singing, she afrsid OF tho future,
look TO. tested the young woman and found that she
had fair soprano voice. promised 70 do what
York I was followed by letters from her aud
then she came herself / gave her les
sons ! felt sorry for the woman and determined
10 do my best by her. continued the lessons
and the tests for six months. The result was that
sne showed herself 20 have good voice for parlor
sinqbg and for small cOneertroOms; but for npcia
AZ would never do. finally obliged 10 tell her the
conclusion had reached. and that doubted whether
could be OF any 10 her In that direction.
she felt very deeply thisfailure and worked hard 10
improve She said frequently: Mr. strakOsch II YOU viii
ONLY help and not desert me now WITH pay you back
hundred fold when my success comes. sac was very
n'oatic stupid girl, with an aGectiOnate dispOsi-
lion iut Of last her health broke down aud
II was very plain shat her public singing was something
she should go back 20 Chicago. ! paid her ex-
penses aud frequently aiterWard gave her hmAl sums
81 m0ney because OF my sympathy with her VI her dt'
6cultics The last amount gave her was 800 just ne
frc NV MARRIAGE After my marriage did not think II
nroner or ghf 20 continue these gifts. Bnt she sun
wrote letters u asking my assistance Dut
have NOT needed them and she has taken this way,
inst before am going 10 Europe eXtort money IRON
me But 10 will not succeed