Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-23
BOTH BAT0NYlS BRING ACTION
IN COURT
HE NAMES ELEVEN AND SHE TEN
CORRESPONDENTS
Husband Says He Was Offered $780,
900 Annually to Drop Suits and
Keep Quict-Trial Is
Public

most sensational divorce cases ever
heard in the United States and which,
it is promised by one of the parties
thereto will make the Thaw trial sink
into insignificance, is to come up soon in
New York city, when the Batonyi di-
vorce suit Is heard.
Mrs. Burke Roche Batonyi and her
husband, Aurel Batonyi the young
Austrian who married into the four
hundred when he won her hand and
has become a famous whip OF Newport
society, have had a more or less open
warfare for the past six months.
Mrs. Batonyi names ten co-respon-
dents, while her husband in his counter
action names eleven men.
These two actions have been begun in
special term, part l, of the supreme
court, Justice O'Gorman presiding. The
whole case in all it's details will be
argued In open court.
BatonyI names as his chief cores
pondent Frank K. Sturgis, who is one
of the Lest known leaders of the four
hundred. He and his wife live at II
East Fifty-first street, in a handsome
residence. Sturgis is secretary of the
Jockey club and is a banker and broker
as well as prominent in many exclusive
society circles.
Sturgis is named by Batonyi as the
chief offender against his domestic hap
piness, and mentions the formers pri-
Vate yacht as the place where the
actions of which he complains occurred.
Prominent Architect Figures
Batonyi also names man, Chapman,
among his eleven, while still another
is an architect well known in his pro-
fession and a well known man. Several
4 feI4 Ia a
concerning him took place, 1t is alleged,
in Mrs. Batonyis chateau on her New
York state farm.
Referring to the series of damage.
suits which he instituted several months
ago, Batonyi claims that his wife's
father, Frank Work, Peter Cooper
Hewitt and Sturgis, among others, en-
tered into conspiracy to alienate ms
wife's affections.
Then he makes the startling asser-
tion that he was offered an income of
s120 900 a year to drop all the actions
he had planned and remain silent.
Batonyi is not to be deferred by the
rumor, it is said. that his wife still
loves him and would be willing to with
draw this action If permitted TO nave
her own way.
The young Austrian does not lay so
much blame on Frank Work.
1t is Sturgis whom Batonyi claims is
the main mischiefmaker, and 1t Is
Sturgis against whom he will bring
all the machinery of the law.
"No Compromise" Says Batonyi
mo compromise" is the one slogan
of Batonyi.
EXPOSE Newport in a manner that
will make the revelations of the Thaw
trial tame in comparison" is his other
watchword in this matter.
A 1Ar. a ~
sci. has specified that the hearing be
held in open court.
However the court calendar is so
crowded that it will be some time De-
fore these two cases can be brought up.
But when they are the curious ana the
naturally inquistive will have an op-
portunity of hearing one of the most
sensational cases ever tried in the
country.
The trial will be by jury.
The people who figure most prom
inently in the case do not consent TO De
interviewed, but simply say that the
facts will come out in due course or
time in the trial
he was rooming, and gone out OF tne
CITY,
Mrs. Arthur Scott Burden, daughter
of Mrs. Batonyi and formerly Miss
CYNTHIA Roche, said recently that her
mother was resting with her at her
home at 90S Fifth avenue, New YORK,
and was indisposed, and hence does not
care to be interviewed.
Mrs. Batonyi Hopeful of Result
However. Mrs. Burden says that she
feeIs that there is no doubt that the
prosecution will end successfully.
Sturgis, whom Batonyi names as the
chief offender in alternating his wire 8
nf hp
Arm of which Mrs Batonyfs father.
Frank Work. was for some time the
senior partner.
like ali the others, Sturgis refuses
to be interviewed.
The start of the whole matter oc-
Cured last September.
AT this time the Batonyis separated
rather suddenly
Frank Work. Mrs Batonyi's father,
threatened to cut off her annual al
lowance of 100000 and also disinherit
her and her two sons If she continued
to live with the Austrian, who came
10 New York as instructor in horse
manship and succeeded in landing IN
the four hundred by marriage.
It was said even then that Mrs.
Batonyi loved her husband But that
for the sake of her two sons, now at
tending Harvard. and who are the issue
Of her marriage with Burke Roche, she
is willing to separate herself from the
brilliant Austrian whom she loves, next
to them, the most devotedly of anyone
on earth.
Society Is All Agog
The pent up excitement incident to
discussion of the case while final ar
rangements for trial are being made is
a perfect harvest field of all sorts of
runors and stories of the fast days
and unseemly incidents in the lives of
both the participants in the suits.
''Where there is so much smoke there
must be some fire." is the old saying
being quoted by club men and society
leaders of both sexes; while the gossips
have an unlimited field in which to
ramble now.
But summed up the facts, as known
so far, are these:
Mrs Batonyi has brought action for
divorce, naming ten correspondents.
Batonyi has brought suit for divorce,
naming eleven correspondents.
Batonyi also has brought three
actions to recover 100000 each for con-
spring to deprive him of his wife.