New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-25
Noted Surgeons Wife Had So
ciaI Leaders Attorney Served
Months Ago with Papers in
S1,000,000 Action.
WON'T FREE HER HUSBAND
Plaintiff Aims Only at Society
Woman Whom She Accuses of
Alternating Doctors Affec-
tions-Mr. Mackay Said To
Be Protecting Income.

The 100000 alienation suit which
Mrs. Joseph A. Blake has brought
against Mrs. Clarence II. Mackay,
social leader, suffragist and the wife of
the head of the Postal Telegraph sys-
TEN. alleging that Mrs. Mackay had
robbed her OF the affections of DR..
Blake, was begun. it was learned yes
terday, more than six months ago.
Service of the summons and COM
plant in the action was made upon
Arthur c. Train, former Assistant Dis
t1ct Attorney, who acted as Mrs. Mac
kays legal representative. AS the law
provides that personal service is un-
necessary. and also that the papers in
the action need not be filed until the
Dtigants are ready 10 have the case
tried. Mrs. Blake's action did not be-
come known until after II had been
stated that the wife OF the prominent
surgeon contemplated a suit for sep
aration.
George Gordon Battle. Mrs. Blake's
attorney said last night that he could
only repeat his statement 10 The Trib-
une printed yesterday morning.
NO papers have been filed" he said,
Tut l will not confirm nor deny the
statement that Mrs. Mackay has ac-
cepted service through her attorney"
II was learned yesterday that Mrs.
Blake has no intention Of releasing Dr.
Blake through divorce proceedings.
Under no circumstances. it was stated,
would she consent TO an absolute
divorce. She is determined, also, that
al the present time she will only press
the action against Mrs. Mackay
Accuses Society Leader
Beyond the allegation that in the fire.
quent association OF Mrs Mackay with
Dr. Blake the love which the surgeon
had formerly felt for his wife had be-
alienation suit does not 20 into details
Mrs. Mackay, who has maintained a
close silence since the transfer Of her
dover rights in Harbor Hill. the Mac
kay estate at Roslyn, Long Island
first gave intimation that she and her
husband had separated. is now in
Portland, Ne. where she has rented
the home Of former Mayor Adam p.
Leighton. She went there soon after
Mr.. Mackay. taking their three chill
dren with him, left for Europe last
June His action was sudden. and he
took every precaution that his depart
ure should not be learned.
In Portland Mrs. Mackay has kept
in retirement, seldom appearing out
side the cottage. Her unexpected
taking up Of a residence in Portland
aroused much speculation as 10 her
purpose. some saying that she intend
cd 70 live there a year TO establish a
legal residence.
The only ones outside OF her personal
acquaintances who presumably are fa-
miliar with her plans are her attor-
neys. Mr.. Train and Henry W. Taft.
At the office Of Mr.. Taft II was said
that in his absence nothing was known
Of any legal action In which Mrs. Mac
kay was concerned.
Neither would Or. Blake, at his
country home at Litchfeld. Conn,
make any comment on the coupling OF
his name with that Of the society
eader
in the light Of Mrs. Blake's suit 1t
was thought yesterday that Mr.. Mac
kay's motive was 70 get out OF the
country so that he and the children
Continued on third page, third column.