New-York tribune., 1912-02-27
BREEN DIVORCE SUIT ON
Correspondent Named by Croker'S
Daughter on the Stand.
DENIES AMY WR0NGDOING
Detectives Tell of Telephone
Operators Meeting with
Former Groom.

The divorce suit of Mrs. Ethel Croker
Breen, daughter Of Richard Croker, for
merly boss of Tammany Hall, from her
husband. John j. Breen, a former groom at
Durland's Riding Academy, came TO trlal
Yesterday before Justice GoH. The couple
were secretly married in Hoboken on April
q 1910. but there was nothing secret about
the effort TO undo the marriage in court
The crowd" attracted by the name OF
Croker, was all there, much 10 the annoy
ance Of Justice Goff. who had TO clear the
courtroom after several warnings because
the audience viewed the domestic drama as
a comedy. The spectators made no efort
to suppress their laughter when one OF the
correspondents dissented from the opinion
of Francis l. Wellman, counsel for Mrs.
Breen, that a gin rickey was rum. Ihls
woman in the case was Miss Maud Diehl,
of Toronto. Canada. She is one of three
correspondents mentioned by the plaintiff,
all OF Rreens alleged wrongdoing having
taken place in Canada, where he is now
employed. Several witnesses were brought
from Canada for the trial
Former Judge William Nj. K. Olcou'
counsel for Breen, made it out that the
meeting of his client and Miss Diehi was
Just a harmless Irritation, and she was IN
court with the young man TO whom she is
engaged to be married
Breen has a suit pending against Richard
Croker, his father-in-law. and Richard
Croker. jr., and Howard Croker. his broth
ers-in-law. for $4,000 for alleged aliena-
ton of his wifes affections One OF the
witnesses testified yesterday that breen
said after detectives had seen him and Miss
Diehl in a room at the Grand Union Hotel
in Toronto: 81 expected to get bunch OF
money from those people, but l guess that
is all off now They got me before sot
them"
Stanley +, German, formerly private
detective. nov a New York police detec-
tive, furnished the story about the presence
of Miss Diehl in Breens room at the To-
ronto hotel Miss Diehl was telephone
operator at the Walker House, across the
street from Breen's hotel.
Germans version Of the affair was that
Breen and the correspondent had dinod
together and later partook of drinks in the
palm room. Then Miss Diehl went up in
the elevator to the floor where Breen had
his room, and Breen ascended by means
and a half later he knocked on the door OF
the room occupied by the defendant and
for five minutes there was no answer.
When he entered Miss Diehl was fully
clothed. August p. Duryea, a detective
partner of German, told the same story.
Miss Diehl. a good looking brunette, told
about the dinner with Breen She pro-
tested at first when Breen invited her TO
his room, but finally consented Then the
witness went on 10 tell what happened in
the room:
1T sat down in the rocking chair" she
said, and Mr.. Breen sat on couch. He
asked me to come over to the couch, and
did. for moment. He put his arm around
me and kissed me- and then got up and
went back to the rocking chair. l never
had a drink In the room"
The witness went'on to say, under exami-
nation, that she was fully dressed, with
the exception of a coat. She even had her
hat on when the detectives looked In.
After the visit Of the detectives the core-
spondent testified that she said to Breen:
.Afe for out OF this" and he took her
Home. 1t was then o'clock.
FThe case will be continued this morning,
when Breen will take the stand in his de-
fence.