Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04
DUKE ASKS DIVORCE
Papers Served on Wife
Through Ruse.
SHE DENIES CHARGES
NONE OF THE PRINCIPALS WILL
DISCUSS CASE.
Letters introduced In Evidence In
Former Trial Referred to
In Present Charges.

A dispatch from New York says: Reti.
cence characterized the attitude yesterday
OF all persons connected with the Duke di.
vorce suit. James B. Duke. who has
brought suit In New Jersey for absolute
divorce from his wife. formerly Mrs LII
Ian N. McCredy. was reported to be on
his big farm in Somerville, N. J. Mrs. Duke
remained secluded in her house. No. II
West 6Sth street, where she denied herself
to all callers
Through a friend she authorized a denial
of Mr.. Dukes charge that she had been In
discreet, and requested a suspension Of
judgement until she was ready to give out
her side OF the story
Frank T. Huntoon, who Is mentioned In
Mr. Dukes suit, left New York and kept In
the background in Southampton. L. I.
Richard v. Lindabury counsel for Mr..
Duke. was communicated with In his sum-
mer residence in Bernardsville. N. J. He
declared he did not know the whereabouts
OF Mr.. Duke, and said Mrs. Duke had been
served with notice Of the suit.
Mrs. Duke. 1t was told yesterday. has
been aware for some time that her hus-
band contemplated a suit for divorce and
she had kept resolutely within doors for
disguise OF q gas Inspector and so gained
entrance to the house.
First Divorce.
Leo Levin. an attorney. who represented
Mrs. McCredy in her first divorce suit in
1885, is understood to be her attorney in
this case.
She went into court seeking a limited
divorce from her husband, William e. Nc
Greedy. and counted upon victory. When
the case was tried before referee APP
pointed by Judge Giegerich the husband
introduced startling love letters from men
and produced testimony from acquaint-
ances, servants and policemen which stag
gered the woman. The result was a de-
husband. the wife being permitted to re-
sumo her maiden name, Lillian N.
Fletcher.
Mrs. Duke Is woman In the early forties.
OF graceful figure and fine features. Her
eyes are deep blue and her hair golden.
She Is cultivated and a musician Of rare
attainment. At the time OF her first d.
vorce she was just thirty. During the
pied expensive apartments in the Hotel San
Reno 10th street and Central Park west.
She had horses and carriages, costly gowns
and expensive jewelry. She was an accom-
driving a tandem team or toollng four-in-
hand from the box OF a coach.
Fond Of Flattery.
with her first husband remarkable evidence
was submitted to prove that the then Mrs.
McCredy was fond Of f1attery. 1t was said
that Mr.. McCredy had obtained compromis-
ing correspondence and had driven the wo-
man from his presence. He learned that
Mrs. McCredy kept private letter box in
Saratoga.
Among the correspondence introduced by
the husband was letter beginning MY
dear wife" begging for an early Interview.
The letter was forwarded to Mrs. McCredy
in Philadelphia, and affidavits were intro
duced accusing a former member OF the
produce exchange, one of the womans ad-
mirers. with being the author. Mrs. Nc
Greedy declared the letter was intended for
her sister, Mrs. Ball of Philadelphia. but
that young woman took the stand and in
dignantly repudiated the letter.
Another man who figured in the divorce
was broker who made a speciality OF get
ting ladies accounts" Mrs. McCredy had
speculated in the market through his firm.
The most sensational evidence, however,
young Cuban student. Jones, carriage
man OF the St. Reno, swore that the Gu
ban made his appearance each day after
Mr. McCredy had gone to business and
that Mrs. McCredy had code of signals
with the shades in her room which ap-
prised the young man just when to put in
an appearance.
Mr.. Duke is the son of poor farmer near
Durham. N. c.. where he was born in 1857.
BY the time young Duke was eighteen his
father had managed to establish a small
business in tobacco. He offered to send the
boy to college. but the latter said he pre-
ferred to have an interest in the business.
In course Of time he became head of the
tobacco trust, a concern involving a BUSH
ness OF $l25OOOOO0 year. employing one
hundred thousand persons and manufactur-
ing 30O.0OO.O0O pounds of the weed each
year. Today Mr.. Duke Is recognized all
over the world as the master of the tobacco
industry. He Is one OF the greatest four
creative manufacturers and merchants in
the world: the quartet being Rockefeller.
oil: Carnegie, In steel; Havemeyer, In SUI
gar. and Duke, in tobacco.
Mr.. Duke talks little, speaks in direct,
short phrases and Is devoid OF style in
dress. He works hard ten hours a day,
His secret OF auccess il sinannad IN II,