New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-07
CROKERS DAUGHTER
SIZES FOR DIVORCE
Compliant Filed on November s
CarfuIIy Hidden in County
Clerks Office.
REVEALED BY NOTE OF ISSUE
Counsel for Former Groom Asks
That Case Be Tried Before Jury
Defendant Accused of Mis-
conduct in Canada.

note of issue on file yesterday in the
Supreme Court in an action OF Breen
srt Breen revealed the fact that
Mrs Ethel Breen, wife Of John J. Breen
and younger daughter Of Richard
Croker, was suing her husband for a
divorce. The existence of the suit. In
which the complaint was filed in the
County Clerks office on November s.
was carefully hidden in the record book
of suits under a half number, written so
closely 10 the foregoing case bearing a
full number that probably it never would
have been discovered If it had not necn
for the note Of issue filed by counseI 'or
Breen Yesterday on motion Whlch JUS
tice Lehman will hear tomorrow. ASKING
that the issues be framed so that the
case will be tried before jury instead
~ 2 Justice in special term Breen mas
rot filed his answer.
Tho fling of the suit by Mrs. Breen
Is inst one more move in matlnoh'dl
life that has been anything except
g,oootb since the couple were secretly
,..rried IN Hoboken. on April y. 19lo' by
iuetice Of the peace. Breen was ior-
n7.rIv a groom at a riding school, Anu
since then has followed his vocation ot
bos.seman. sometimes as Instructor Cl
horsemanship and at other times as
, ,racor Of stables Tor rich owners
Miss Croker's family was always OPP
nosed 10 the marriage. which mace nee
essarv the secret ceremony. The Oppose
t,on Of the Crokers has also. 1t Is said'
heap responsible for the couples living
,oyetber only short time, as the young
wife was sent to Europe by her lathei
soon after the marriage
only a few weeks ago Breen brought
: suit for 800. 900 damages against Rich
ard Croker and his sons. Richard Croker
a. and Howard Croker. alleging that
tbev alienated from him the affections OF
b;e wife and caused her to abandon him'
Vow 81 is learned that this action by
Rreen was not brought until month
sitter Mrs. Breen had filed her suit Tor
divorce.
Breen Was Closely Watched.
The complaint Of Mrs. Breen, based on
The usual allegation in such SUITS men
,,ons an unknown woman and the al
dress No 1O6 Alexander street To-
ro7to. Canada, and the Grand Chio"
JIotaI IN the same city. and place IN
poterboro. ontario. The alleged onences
wore committed in August three monthS
before the filing Of the suit for divorce
and the indications are that Breen was
closely watched while away from 'hiS
citv. Breen has been handling s'rlhs
y, blue ribbon horses owned by ). t.
S.ratton. of Peterboro.
There VAS much mystery at the Tune
,s -h., marriage Of Miss Croker TO BreeH
,. IA the identity Of the couple who were
married bv Justice Samuel Engler, In
J1ohoker. He denied that they were
,tfss croker and Breen until he was
..Ead to identify photographs OF the
,,pplo which he did. at the same time
explaining that Breen had asked MN
not 10 tell about their marriage
Miss Croker was a horsewoman and
friend If the family whose horses Breen
cared for. which made possible their fire.
ono,t meetings The marriage was real
T.. an elopement. Miss Croker was living
At tho time at the home Of her brother
Howard At No 3 East 74th street, Breen
,,.;ted ror her in Hoboken, where she
serretlv TONED him. Justice bhgier sup
LII .bo witnesses. After the marriage
: - i,nav-n Breen told about a mNs-
to.io,,e rival for the hand of MISS croker,
-,as , rich man. and was lncehsed
- 49,, because he had beaten MN ia
Tire game Of love
Thought Rival Tipped" Newspaper
INV employers found ont about the
edding. and then ny rival came 1or-
...ard and called me beggar, ne SAID
ca. said that I had taken the girl away
fr,n, him and that he was a rich man
snd-cou,d afford TO give her every lux
my. The man tipped off one OF the
newspapers, 1 believe.
Breen said he felt sure that Richard
croker, his father-in-law, was not op-
rosed 70 the marriage, but other lnflu-
ences interviewed between his wife and
bi-, Mrs, Croker. the brides mother,
MAS in Paris at the time Of the mar
rage. Breen told of his sorrow at haY-
ing 70 hermit his wife to go TO Europe,
yean zing that It might be the last time
~ would see her.
1t vas useless for me 10 attempt a
fight against the family" he said. They
had money and influence to back them
20 I-reluCtantIv agreed 70 stay here