The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-06
STRIKES BACK.
Katherine ClemmOns Fights For
Her Good Name
HOunded and Humiliated by
Relentless Prosecutors
SHE INVOKES THE LAW
Brings Suit For Malicious
SIander and Libel
And Places the Amount Of
Damages at 100000.

misrepresent and annoy, is the treat
ment to which Miss Katherine Glenn
mons says she has been subjected, I'M
til at last has found herself in a position
to strike back. Miss CIemmons has de-
termined that the annoyances shall
cease. and will invoke all the power OF
the law in her defense.
It was with this end in view that Miss
Clemmons, through her attorneys. Howe
& Hummel, today caused the papers to
be served against the New York World,
placing her damages at 100000 for the
publication OF an article which she con-
sidered to be Of so libelous and scan
dalous a character that it was impossi-
bic to permit it to pass unnoticed.
When Miss Clemmons was seen this
afternoon in her apartments at the
Holland House, where she has resided
for several years, she was still greatly
agitated by the publication of the ar
ticle in question, and said that she
of the annoyances to which she had
been subjected and the steps she had
taken to effect their abatement.
Il have no desire to air my trouble in
public" said Miss Clemmons, "and I
court nothing but privacy, but the per-
sistent manner in which I have been
attacked makes it imperatively neces-
Sary, both for my own sake and that OF
my friends, that what have endured
should be known This persecution has
now been going on for several years,
and the annoyance has become simply
insupportable.
"Of the reasons for this persecution
think it is not necessary that I should
say anything, for they are sufficiently
obvious. That I should be prosecuted
with unsought publicity is simply an
outra geous invasion of my private right
which I am now determined to defend.
VINO my prosecutors are I have known
all along, but in the absence of proof I
have bided my time until I could find
myself in position to act, and that
time has now arrived. I could give the
names of these persons who have insu-
gated every kind of vile attack on me,
but for the present feel that 1t is best
that I should not do so.
I am simply a private person. desir-
ing only that privacy which is my right
and yet for years no effort has been
spared to invade this privacy in order
TO make me ridiculous and to impute to
all my actions the most unworthy mo-
tives. For years I have not been able
to stir beyond my onwn door without
having my footsteps logged by the
spies of a private detective agency, who
have reported every move to those who
seek to injure me.
MY own servants have been approach
ed by these people, and my very apart
ments have been invaded and my pri-
vate correspondence stolen. Matters
reached such a pass that I was even
afraid to drive up Fifth avenue for fear
that some ridiculous and malicious
story would be told of my movements.
1 could not even entertain my nearest
espionage. Recently gave a little din
ner to a few of my most intimate
friends. and an attempt was made to
make it appear that had been guilty
of giving an entertainment of the most
wildly extravagent character.
THE climax was reached last Friday
when my attention was called to the
announcement of the coming publica-
ton of an article in which I was de-
scribed as the ward of Colonel William
F. Cody, who had deserted him in his
illness and old age in order to go on
yachting trip with well known New
Yorker.
Through my counsel, Messrs. Howe
& Hummel,I notified the publishers that
I should proceed against them if the ar
ticle appeared, but on the following day
there was printed another announce
ment even more offensive than the first
in which the name of Howard Gould
was coupled with mine. I again remon-
strated, but on the following day the
article appeared and proved to be an
outrageous tissue of malicious false
hoods designed to infiict the deepest an
nOyance on Mr.. Gould and myself In
it was stated that I was indebted for
my theatrical education to Colonel Cody
who had fallen desperately in love with
me and desired to marry me, and that
I had basely requited his generosity by
casting him aside while he was lying at
the point of death and going away on
a sya chting trip with Mr.. Gould.
utterly preposterous as all that was
it annoyed me greatly, after all had
previously undergone. AS a matter Of
fact, am indebted to Colonel Cody for
nothing. He thought I would be a sue
cess a star and engaged me on a
regular contract, just as he would have
done with any other actress.
'I never touched a penny of Colonel
Cody's money, for it all went through
the hands of his own treasurer, who
was appointed by him. If, as is stated
n no a Ia "a
amount of money on the venture, the
risk was wholly his own. and the loss
was sntlIely que 70 DaQ hahageIheht
fulfilled my part OF the engagement
acceptably and to the best of my abil-
ity, and when Colonel Cody finally broke
the contract / was pleased to be re-
leased. Our business relations termina-
ted then, about four years ago, and no
! other relations ever existed between US
I than those of star and manager.
ITO say that Colonel Cody was in love
with me and wanted to marry me is
| absurd, for Colonel Cody has a wife liv-
ing. Against Colonel Cody have no
/ complaint to make, for our relations
/ were of a purely business character. and
| these, as have said, terminated several
| years ago. I do not believe he has had
/ any part in the publication of this dis
! graceful article, which I am satisfied
| was instigated by the same influence
| that has taken such an unWarranted in
| terest in my private affairs and has
! for so long persistently subjected me to
! the most painful representations
| What I hope is that the example
| intend to make in this instance will
| have the effect of putting a stop to this
| persecution, but if it does not am full
! ly determined to proceed to the last ex-
| tremity in the defense Of my rights and
| my reputation"
Howard Gould was greatly incensed
| by the announcement that the article
| would appear and protested vehementlS
/ against it's publication, but all to nc
! purpose.