The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-23
BLACkMAlL, SEWELL' SANSXER
LAWYER SAYS WIFE'S COUNSEL
ASKED HALF MILLION

70 Call or Suit in Tennessee to Annui
Divorce Decree-Adds That Demand
Was Reduced TO $50 600 and That He
May Appeal 10 the District Attorney.
The charge was made yesterday on BE-
half OF Barton Sewell, VICE. president OF the
American Smelling and Refining Company
and president o. the United Lead Company,
that the bill filed in Tennessee demanding
an annulment OF the divorce secured by
Mr.. Sewell in that State and an action
brought in the Supreme Court in this State
we're steps In proceedings to extort money
from the defendant.
The charge was made by Henry j. Mo-
Cormick OF Jones Mccormick, 81 Pine
street. who is Mr.. Sewell's lawyer. He
absolves the first wife, Julia Thayer Sewell.
OF wrongful intent, saying that she Is easily
led and is being used as tool by lawyers.
This attempt to annul Mr.. Sewell's
divorce and to declare illegal his second
marriage" said Mr. Mccormick, lis moth
ing new. More than three months before
the filing OF the bill in chancery in Ten
nessee an action was begun in the Supreme
Court in Suffolk county, this State, to secure
divorce for Julia Thayer Sewell. 1t was
things that no proceeding for divorce had
been brought against the former Mrs.
Sewel. Issue was joined on this allega-
Carman of Patchogue.
Both before and since the commence
ment Of this action repeated attempts have
been made to blackmail my client At first
certain lawyers approached me as his
representative and demanded $500, 900 as
the price Of peace.
There are such serious defects In the
divorce proceedings conducted by Mr.
Sewell in Tennessee they said, that the
divorce can easily he set aside. Once
that Is done Mr.. Sewell will be indicted
and prosecuted for bigamy and also for
subornation Of perjury. and these things
will be done unless the money Is forth
coming
Later other lawyers came to me, rep
resented themselves as attorneys for Mrs.
Sewell and agreed to settle the matter
for $500 900. At still later time an offer
was made to stop all proceedings for
$4,000.
mfr. Sewell Of course, absolutely re-
fused to be blaokmailed II he thought
that his former. wife was in want undoubt-
edly he would assist her, but he knows that
TO be impossible, for he has settled upon
her property giving an annual income Of
$4,000. He Ia confident. too, that the vari-
GUS demands for money are not animated
by his wife, but spring entirely from the
cupidity Of certain lawyers.
"Mr. Sewell, from the time OF the first
attempt at blackmail, has been anxious
that turn over the whole matter to the
Diatrict Attorney. Acting under his orders,
have prepared case which may give to
the authorities any day.
Just who the lawyers are would be a
matter Of great public interest. but l shall
not disclose their names until criminal
proceedings are brought. One Of them Is
4 member Of very we'll known Wall Street
firm. Some Of the others are comparatively
unknown and some have names which
every one would recognize. OF course, I
want 1t understood that I by no means
charge improper practises against all the
attorneys who have acted for Mrs. Sewell.
She has had q great many lawyers. and
even now there il q controversy among
three firms as to which has been retained
by her.
The last assertion was coroboratsd
by court proceedings in this city and Brook
lyn Yesterday. In this city q hearing was
held in the Offices Of Cornelius j. Early,
2n Broadway. before Referee Carman.
The object OF the hearing was to take testi-
money in the divorce action brought by
Julia Thayer Sewell. Two firms Of at
torneys, each purporting to appear for
Mrs. sewell. were represented and an ad-
jounment was taken pending decision Of
motion made by one Of them to Dust the
other from the naae. Mr.. Mccormick
objected to the adjournment.
Il served notice at prior hearing two
weeks ago. he said, when attorneys for
the plaintiff were unprepared to go ahead
that I would not consent to another ad-
journment. There is no merit to this case
and it ought to be dismissed.'
In the supre mo Court IN Brooklyn no
decision was given on the motion to sub
sx,,<A 40