The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-27
AUTHOR OPPENHETM'S
WIFE GETS DIVORCE
Trouble Is Kept Secret Until
Ten Days After Court
Grants Decree.
WOMAN INCASE NOT NAMED
Friend Watched NOyclist-Is
Reproduced for "Spying."
Then Forgiven.

James Oppenheim. author and short
story writer, has been divorced SO Sc
cretly by Mrs Lucy Sockcl Oppenholm
that although the intcrlocutory decree
was signed by Supreme Court Justice
Guy on July 10 the fact did not become
known until yesterday. Even some Of
the most intimate friends of Mr.. and Nv.
Oppenheim were not aware that divorce
proceedings had even been brought
Mr.. and Mrs Oppenheim have been liv-
ing apart since last January, when Mr..
Oppenheim took quarters at 81 Washing
ton Square South. His wife and their
two sons. Ralph. years old. and James,
?. remained In the Oppenhcim apartment
at sol West l3Sth street.
Mr. Oppenhem. who is 80 years. old.
married Miss Lucy Seckel in 1906 when
he was acting superintendent of the He
brew Technical School for Girls and be-
fore he had achieved literary fame. I,
| was learned yesterday that as Mr.. OPP
penheim's successful stories and novels
! brought increased demands from publish
ers his work began to intrude on his
domestic life, until finally Mrs open
! holm decided she was one OF the neg
lected women NJ whom her husband wrote
! In idle Wives and the couple parted
Many OF Oppenheim's stories deal with
lower life In New York. lie has been an
| industrious seeker FOR literary material
and when Mrs Oppenheim learned after
her husband left her that he was seer
frequently in tho White Light distric'
she believed NJ first that he was making
studies for a book. but after q while sh.
became distrustrul and appealed to friend,
TO tell her just what the author was do.
| ing Their reports led her to hire pri
vate Detectives To- watch Oppeuheim. ON,
Of tho friends who aided Mrs Oppeu.
helm was Clement r. Wood an cx-JudEe
Judge Wood and one Of the detective,
we're watching Oppenheim on the might
Of April 10 last when they saw him NEE
a woman al Broadway and Fortieth street
| and go to cafe at Fortieth street auc
Seventh avenue. whcr" they draak clare
punch. Later they went to q hotel a.
the neighborhood which was afterwar,
raided by the police AZ disorlerly re
sort.
James ". Hyde. referee. heard tn
stories OF Judge Wood and the detectives
and recommended that divorce b'
granted.
After Judge WOOD had appeared befor,
the referee. Oppenheim went to see hin
and said: "po YOU call that q friend,
thing to do Judg" Wool asked tn
author what he meant
Spying on me In connection with tn
troubles between my wifo aud myself
replied Oppcnheim. IF thought You wer
a friend OF both of US You should hav
kept your hands of in case Of this KIND
You know all along We had been sept
rated since last January
Your wife hasn't 10 sam" right 10 ru
around that you have" said Judge Wood
"In view ~ the facts, think she ough
To have a helping hand
This puts rather severe strain ~
our friendship remarked the author. a
he went away. But later he notified Judg
Wood that he held no resentment
When Justice Guy confirmed the ref
erecs report. he directed that The test
mony in the case he sealed. I'm this Wa
the case was kept secret and did not be
come known until Yesterday.