The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-04
DUKE DIVORCE PLEA
SHOCK TO FRIENDS
Tobacco Millionaire Welded
Last November.
CORRESPONDENT is KNOWN
Frank T. Huntoon, Man-About- Town,
Accused-Mrs. Duke Not to Be
Found.
CORRESPONDENT is KNOWN

and social associates of James 3. Duke,
multi-miiionaire and president of the
american Tobacco Company, received a
shock when the news leaked out that
he had started an action for absolute
divorce from his wife, Mrs. Lillian Nc
Greedy Duke
1t caused no less of a sensation than
his marriage. which took place last No
vember.
The wedding last fall was quietly per-
formed. and was not publicly known I'M
til Mr. and Mrs. Duke had sailed for
Europe Immediately following the cere-
mony. The marriage had been pre-
coded by a warm friendship of several
years.
Friends of both were surprised to learn
that the romance had not survived even
n year of married life. 1t made par
ticularly palatable food for gossip, as
Brodie L. Duke, of the same famous to-
bacco company, now has a suit for di-
vorce pending against his wife, Mrs
Alice Webb Duke.
This is not the first time that Mrs
James 3. Duke has been the defendant
William Z. McCredy, wealthy coffee
broker. obtained a divorce from her in
1892. after they had been married for
eleven years
One Correspondent Named.
M. Duke, in his suit. papers in which
were served on Saturday last. names
Frank t. Huntoon, president of the
White Rock Mineral Water Company of
No. II West Twenty-fifth street, and
well-known man about town, as the CO.
respondent, specifying six instances in
which he alleges Mrs. Duke and Hun
toon were unduly intimate in New York
city, Long Island and elsewhere in the
State of New York
The action is brought in the Chancery
Court in Trenton by Lindabury. Depew
& Faulks. of the Prudential Building
Newark, who are Mr.. Dukes lawyers.
Richard v Lindabury served the papers
on Mrs Duke on Saturday in her home.
No. IL West Sixty-eighth street. She
has one week in which to prepare her
answer.
Duke has declined TO see any callers
n is not known positively whether she
VIII defend the action. a close friend.
however. says she will fight the suit to
a finish and will employ the best law
yers she can obtain.
The Dukes were married in Camden
on November %, 1904 in the presence
of two witnesses. They went of once
to Mrs. Dukes home In Sixty-eighth
street. which had been given TO her by
her nrst husband. The next day they
sailed for Europe on a honeymoon trip
and were gone several months. II was
not until they had sailed that the mar
rage was made public. Then the all
nouncement came from one OF Mr.
Dukes friends. In whom he had confidad
the happy event
Separated Quietly.
The news created great sensation
among the friends and relatives of
James B. Duke. IT was said at the
time that the Duke family did not rel
ish the marriage and have never been
friendly with the bride.
On their return from Europe they
went to live in the Sixty-eighth street
house. and for several months enter
tanned extensively Then they moved
TO Mr.. Dukes summer home in Somer-
vile. N ].
Mrs. Duke was supposed 20 have been
living there when her husband was in
Europe This was not the case, how
ever. 1t is learned that she has been
in her own house from the day ne
Mr.. Lindabury says his client has re-
Gently learned that Huntoon and Mrs.
Duke have been intimate friends for
number OF years, but that * was not
until last January that Mr.. Duke met
the mineral water man. From that time
on. the lawyer said. Huntoon and Mrs.
Duke were frequently seen together
but 1t was not for some months that
Mr.. Duke suspected there was anything
improper in their friendship.
LINDA bury says Duke received his
first intimation from servant in his
employ. Then he put private detectives
to work ana they soon told him enough
TO cause him to bring suit
been fled in the case Huntoon and the
wife were Indiscreet from February last
up to the present time. The house fl
Sixty-eighth street was one of the
places mentioned.
Huntoon occupies handsome apart
ment in the Wolcott Hotel. in West
Thirty-first street. 1t was said at the
hotel that he had not been seen there
e: several days. They knew nothing
OF his movements.
He is well known by the better class
Of sporting men in this city. and several
of his friends. when told OF him being
named as n correspondent in the suit.
thought the matter a huge joke Ore
man sitting in the Rossmore Hotel roar
ed with laughter and 7aid:
Frank is a dead game sport. and VIII
see this thing through all right, even
II he has TO 'perjure himself Ike
gentleman"
Then those gathered at a round table
drank TO Franks health
Nrs. Duke Beautiful Blonde.
Huntoon is a single man. and at one
time was connected with the Hoffman
Club on Twenty-fifth street. He is said
to be making lot OF money in the min
eral water business
hrB- DUKE, WHO was MISS
Fletcher before she was married to Nc
Greedy. is forty years old She does
not lock her age is blonde. and
spoken of as beautiful. She had been
much with Mr.. Duke before her mar
rage, and personally had much 10 do
with the building and construction of
llie country home.
She is a woman OF much magnetism
and possesses splendid musical ability
which II she cared TO use IL would have
won honor for her on the stage.
II II believed she went out Of town
on Saturday. Immediately after being
served with the papers IN Mr.. Dukes
suit No one came IN answer to re-
pea.ed rings of the bell at her home yes
terday.
Mrs. Duke brought suit against her
first husband IN 1892 for a limited d.
vorce. and he responded with a counter
suit for absolute divorce and won.
The tobacco milliorni-o was at his
home In Somervilie yesterday, but re-
fused 20 receive any callers. He sent out
WORD tnat his lawyer would do all the
talking that was necessary
MI Dukes financial interests are large
ana varied outside the tobacco business
His summer home n, Jersey extends
over 200 acres and is on the banks OF
the Raritan river. II is estimated that
he spent over $2.50o.0O0 on IL
When Brodie l.. Duke ua--ied M-s
Alice l.. Webb James r DUKE aidad ,be
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