New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-01
FRITZ SCHEFF FREED
Singer Gets Decree Separating
Her from John Fox, Jr.
PAPERS IN CASE SEALED
Rumored Trouble in Novelist's
Domestic Affairs Verified
by Court Action.

Rumors Of a rift in the domestic hap
piness Of John Fox, jr, novelist and his
wife. known to the stage as FRITZ Scheff.
received confirmation Yesterday when an
interlocutory decree was awarded to the
singer by Justice Keogh sitting in the SUI
rreme Court in White Plains
The papers in the case were sealed and
filed without their contents being made
public. II Is said however. that no 90
respondent was mentioned in the suit
against the novelist The singer was rep
resented by the law firm Of Clarke.
Breckenridge and Cafey. Of No. 80 Mas
sau street, Manhattan None Of the
members Of this firm would consent TO
sneak of the case last night nor could
the attorneys for Mr.. Fox be communi-
Gated with.
The suit. despite emphatic denials by
Miss Scheff. was begun several weeks
ago There had been rumors that the
singer and writer would part, but these
were always denied by both.
FRITZ Scheff FIRST achieved fame in this
country when she was "A member OF Mau-
rice Grau's company at the metropolitan
Opera House. Her voice was acclaimed
one Of unusual purity and sweetness ana
she filed many leading roles on the le-
citImate opcratic stage with almost un-
varying success.
Most persons would have been satished
with such honors. but Miss Semen lohEeo
for the more ouispoken adulation OF the
comic opera audiences, with Hitting. laugh
Ing music and background or choruS
and show girls. She attained TINS desire
in 1908 by entering comic opera under the
direction Of Charles 3. dillingham; man
ing an instant success, first in "Babette,
then "Mile. Modiste." THE Prima Don
ma THE Duchess" and others Even
when the play did not possess the ingre-
d,ents Of success, Miss seheh carried IL
through by her personality
FRITZ Schefi's entire career has been
marked by capriciousness on more than
one occasion. when PLAYING in mn esiao-
lished Broadway success, she LETT the
company abruptly. announcing that she
was through with the stage forever. Tier
nrivste life was somewhat the same.
In 1904 she was married 10 Friedrich
Uu,o,m Gustav Carl Won Bardeleben, a
lieutenant in the German army. who re-
signed his commission 10 make The singer
his wife. -Four years later she divorced
him. and within three days Thereafter
runor said FRITZ Scheff was TO be mar
ried to John Fox, jr
The reports proved true. for on Deceni-
her 10. 1908, Miss scheff and Fox were
married in the home OF the Rev. Is. Fox
tho novelist's brother, at Mount kisco.
Everybody acclaimed the match an ideal
romance OF the stage and the literary
world.
Rumors of trouble between Mr.. Fox and
his wife began to be heard. however, and
they would not be downed They con-
tinued until the action in White Plains
proved their verify.
Jobn Fox. ir., before he became one Of
the leading novelists of this country. was
a NEWSPAPER man. He served as war
correspondent in Cuba and IN the
Japanese- Russian war. and printed many
short stories before entering the larger
aelJ OF novel writing. Among his big
oest successes in literature are The
Little Shepherd OF Kingdom Come. Ihe
Heart of the Hills" and THE TRAN oil
the Lonesome Pine" The last named
hook was dramatized and achieved
marked success on the stage.