The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-14
SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE
Batonyi Names II Co-respon-
dents in Divorce Suit.
MAKES STARTLING CHARGES
Accuses Banker SturSis Of Wrong
fully Securing Control Of Frank
Works millions and Influencing His
Wife.

fully Securing Control Of Frank
Works Millions and Influencing Iis
Wife.
New York. March l2.-Aurel Ba
tonyi has filed his answer In the SUI
preme court To the suit for divorce in
stituted by his wife. who was Mrs
Burke Roche. In his reply Batonyi
makes charges far more sensational
than any that have been forecasted
and names eleven correspondents.
Batonyis chief accusations are di
rccted against Frank X Sturgis the
banker. broker and secretary OF the
Jockey club. who lives at IA East
Ffty-trst street Sturgis is the chief
correspondent. but the charges against
him embrace an alleged conspiracy for
millions
Mr.. Sturgis. who. as shown in the
court papers. rose from once boy for
Frank Work. father Of Mrs Batonyi
TO president OF the stock exchange by
Mr.. Works aid. is accused OF having
covertly and wrongfully secured con
troll OF the millions possessed BY Frank
Work. the aged father OF Mrs. Burke
Roche Batonyi and having compelled
the latter TO yield to his wishes or &C
ccpt the alternative OF being left pen
niless and friendiess when her father
dies
Named as lieutenants OF Mr. SturEis
are Henry Work. Peter Cooper
Hewitt and Lucy Cooper Hewitt. his
e feh .
relatives or the Work family an effort
Is being made 10 induce the aged mil
lionaire TO make last will and tesla
meut appointing Sturgis. Charles
Drake Chapman and a Mr.. Clark ex
ecutors and trustees thereof. Charlie:
Drake Chapman. who is a business as
sociate OF Sturgis. Is referred 20 as hi,
handy man
Part OF Bstonyis sworn stateme nj
saws that his wife. who. for two de
cades. has been pet OF the Four Hun
dred. has hecoEe degraded on account
Of the influence welded over her b,
the broker
This Information. according 20 Ia
tonyis statement was obtained b,
confessions made to him by his wifi,
after their marriage
With the object in view Of keepinl
Mrs Batonyi under his control tn.
former whip declares. Sturgis encour
aged her 10 do many eNtravagani
things and gave her presents OF Jew
elry. carriages etc. He says the broker
did everything in his power to regair
control OF her after her marriage
10 l.
his chief argument with Mr.. Work tn,
story that Batonyi was not a proper
husband for the daughter OF the age
millionaire and that the most errectiv,
means OF getting her TO give up be-
husband was to place the entire mat
ter In his (Sturgis's) hands. that h,
might bring pressvr. TO bear tina
would seem harsh emanating from I
father
To this end. 1t Is averred. the coupl,
were first told that II they would leav,
this country and exile themselves fl
Europe they would be given an annua
stipend OF $4,000.
The most astonishing allegation o
the entire document Is the sworn state
ment OF Batonyi that. after they wer,
married and had gone 10 live at New
port his wife confessed that she ha,
been the mother OF a child. Facts viii
be laid before a jury In an effort e
prove that Frank X. Sturgls was tn,
father
None of the persons mentioned b,
Batonyi will discuss his charges. anC
he declines TO make any further state