New-York tribune., 1905-08-12
"BLACKMAIL, -FORNES.
TURNS ON SUING WIFE.
Acting Mayor Denies Charges, and
Tells of Legal Plot.

acting Mayor Charles ". Fornes yesterday turned
on ms WIFE, who is suing him for divorce declaring
tnat her suit was part OF plan to blackma him.
ne asserted that she had demanded 10000 from
ihm as the price of keeping back slanderous and
seandalous charges. He said that A H Humme
no" under indictment for alleged conspiracy and
suoornation OF perjury in the Dodge Morse divorce
ease. mad tried TO scare him into settlement with
his wife.
The FIRST heard of my wifes divorce suit" Mr
norhes said yesterday. was when A H Humme
sent me a request 10 cali him in September last
l Sd" hifn' and he told me that my wife about
20 sue me for an absolute divorce in the OF
vermont. warned him that such action by her
was dangerous, that she had no cause that I could
ana would meet any charge she chose to make and
would punish to the best of my ability any one
who should do me wrong in this most important
matter.
He told that 1 was public man. that n
woman was the favorte of the public and the
courts. and that had better settle the matter
with her amieably by paying her satisfactory
sum of money and arrange for the divorce told
him that my wife had wIfuly deserted me- that
she had not the slightest cause for divorce, but
insisted on living apart from me; that I under
no legal or moral obligation for her support. but
that would provide her with proper income even
II she persisted in violating her duties my wife
and In living apart from without just cause.
made these conditions however, that she should
conduct herself my wife. and should live under
the protection of her mother, then living and
should abandon any steps she had taken for divorce
4 heard nothing until November 2S, when her
lawyer, William NJ. Sullivan. asked TO meet
Mrs, Fornes at his office. which I did. Mrs
Fornes then demanded that 100000 should be paid
to her at once or she would create great scandal
This. l said. impossible for comply
with. l offered to give her for her the net
rents OF our former home No. 539 West Eud-ave.
at s6th-st. and in addition tho of $500
in monthly instruments with proper secur-
ty for its payment. upon the conditions named
before. She refused the offer later made an
other and the best offer my means and income
would permit. This she also declined.
On December %. Mr. Fornes said. he was called
from a meeting OF the Board of Estimate to meet
a stranger, who handed him note and dsap-
peared The note simply said: IF this is not
settled by 3 o'clock 1t will be given to the news
papers" Later he asked by telephone to
consult a firm of down town lawyers about his
divorce case but when he called at the office no
one there would admit knowledge of such case.
MY wife evidently has grown angry and impa-
tient" Mr. Fornes said 'and. with the assistance
of such people do that sort Of work. she pub
fishes this disgraceful and Hbeuous attack upon
me. hoping that I shall. at proper price buy her
silence and my liberty. That hope never shall be
realized. My honor is involved, and shall remain
unshaken in my determination TO resist her assault
TO the end
Regarding the charge Of adultery made in his
wife's suit for divorce Mr.. Fornes said that il
wicked fabrication and that there had been
said he intended District Attorney Jerome
about II, and. If possible. send the perjurers and
suborners to jail" The plot. he said told to
him by private detective, who met him in Mas
sau-st and said him. Mr.. Fornes. you are too
good old fellow, honest old Dutchman,
to be treated this way. I to tell you that I
have been employed to frame up a job you.
They want to implicate you with a shopgirl
Pleasure Bay. Testimony that you were caught
there with the girl March "a is ready II we are
caught in hole Will have TO say 1t was man
who looked like you"
Mr.. FOrnes said his wife's charges of cruelty
were equally untrue. He said she had replied to
one of his letters. in which he had offered a
monthly allowance saying she had no charge of
any kind to make against him. and that he al
ways had treated her kindly, and then had brought
her suit. When she at the Martha Washing
Hotel" he added, her attorney Mr.
Rounds. partner Of Charles 2. Hughes. and Mr.
Rounds gave her much sound advice, but il appears
she would not listen TO ii. Mr.. Rounds was very
from childhood"
Mrs. Fornes could be found in the city yes
terday. A. II. Hummel In Saratoga. William
NJ. Sullivau's office, at No. IS Nassau-st..
closed and it was said at an adjoining office that
he had been away from the city three weeks.
close friend of Mr.. Fornes said yesterday that
the young Frenchman, who with Mrs. FOrnes
much of the time when she maintained studio
in the Carnegie Hall building Raoul Berthe
lot. grandson Of president OF of the large
years ago. 1t believed, Mr.. Fornes's friend
said. that Mrs. Fornes wanted to marry young
Bertheot II she could get a divorce and sufficient
alimony to live