Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-07
COUNTS DAUGHTER SUES
HUSBAND FOR DIVORCE
Present Spouse Tried to Have His
Wealthy Wife Adjudsed Insane.
She Sues on Grounds of
Cruelty

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 6.-"Amalia
Fink VS.. Robert G. Fink. Libel in di-
vorce, A. V. M. Cruel and barbarous
treatment"
Back of the brief statement of this
bit of legal phraseology as 1t Is made
on the proper records at city hall lies
one of the most sensational stories of
swift romance and involved litigation
that has for long time occupied the
attention of the local courts. 1t is
story in which the leading male role
Is played by former county and city
treasurer of Omaha, Neb., and in
which the chief feminine part lbs been
assumed by a woman OF noble birth,
whose first husband was German
scientist, and whose second vainly and
strangely endeavored only last October
to have her declared insane.
Mrs. Fink, who now lives on Dia-
mo street near Twentieth, was born
countess, and her father, the Count
Won Plate, was a delegate to the court
of international arbitration at The
Hague. AS a young girl she met, fell
In love with and finally married in
Germany DR.. Paul Grossman, savant
who went to Omaha to l45e while still
a mere youth, but who soon became
wealthy and scientifically famous
throughout the west and abroad. In
recognition of his medical researches
the kaiser conferred upon him the
coveted decoration of the Iron Cross,
the jewel OF which his widow still
proudly wears.
Married for Fortune
In 1905 DR.. Grossman died while at
tending an international medical con-
gress In his native Ind. His widow
returned to her $4,000 residence In
Omaha, where she now became pos
sessed OF rich Inheritance in city real
estate.
According to testimony later given
by Fink, Mrs. Grossman knew him at
this time. She was then about So and
he about AZ. He was a widower with
two children and little means, and her
son had died as the result of injuries
received in a football game at the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania.
AS Fink told the story, he and Mrs.
Grossman eloped to Wheaton. ILL.,, and
were quietly married there on August
8, 1906 The marriage was not generally
known until after the honeymoon.
Life, however, did not run smoothly.
Mrs. Fink began to suspect that what
her second husband wss particularly
in love with was the estate Of her
first spouse. She charged that he tried
to induce her to place her property in
his name. There was quarrel. Fink
went away to Excelsior Springs, Mo,
and when he returned found that his
wife had packed up most OF her be-
longings-even her horses-and had
gone to Philadelphia.
Hither the husband followed her. He
had her arrested on charge of undue
intimacy with Thomas Aiken, hostler
at an express company's barns in
Omaha. To make this arrest the serv-
ers of the warrant broFe into the house
on Diamond street whilo Mrs. Fink
was i'll in bed. Yet the charge was
speedily dropped, and 1t was tacitly
admitted that 1t had been used merely
as a means OF OBTAINING Mrs. Fink so
that she could be adjudged insane and
incapable OF managing her own prop
erty.
And now the woman becomes the ag-
gressor. She has brought suit for d.
vorce, making the general allegation
Of cruelty anG barharous treatment.