New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-22
CARUSO SUED FOR
100000 BALM
Miss Meffert Alleges Tenor
Trifled with Her
Affections.
RAPID COURTSHIP
CAME TO NAUGHT
He Made Many Promises of Mar
riage, She Asserts, but Never
Kept Them.

Enrico Caruso. through his attorney,
accepted service at g o'clock last night
n a summons and complaint in suit
for 100000 damages for breach OF
promise Of marriage. The plaintin is
Miss Mildred Meffert, who is said to
be about twenty-seven years DID,
pretty. fairly stout and well known to
operaeoers. Her whereabouts are not
revealed in the papers, but 1t is said
that she has lived in New York all her
life
In the fan he put her off till spring
when he neglected to bring up the SUD-
iect, but did AK her TO go abroad N
June She didn't go she says, but met
him later in Paris. They then visited
Italy and England. still according TO
the papers, and he promised repeatedly
10 marry her He continued to do TINS,
she AYERS. until March IS, 1913, when
he abandoned her.
Since then. she charges. she has oeen
ostraciZed by her relatives and friends
They had expected the tenor to marry
her, and the severance Of their rela-
tions after his absolute refusal to do
so has made it Impossible for her TO
move in the circles frequented by her
loved ones and former associates.
The plaintiffs lawyer Is Irving f.
Ziegler. Of - William St on Saturday
Wise e. Seligsberg. of 10 William ST.
that he was about 10 bring suit against
the tenor. The tenor's lawyer told him
90 20 TO the Hotel Knickerbocker at b
o'clock last night and he would be
there TO accept service. Caruso him
self refused TO be seen last night, and
his counsel did all the talking.
The papers charge that Miss Heffert
met Caruso in this city April 3, 1909.
at 225 West S0th St, and that twelve
days later he promised to make her his
wife. He did not do so in the fall, al
though she says he agreed to their
marriage before the opening Of the sea
son at the Metropolitan.
MIR. Seligsberg. after the departure OF
Mr.. Ziegler. who served the papers IN
person, discussed the case briefly.
II have just been retained by Enrico
Caruso," he said, lin an action brought
by Miss Mildred Meffert for breach Of
promise Of marriage. Mr.. Caruso was
served this evening at the Knicker-
booker Hotel with a summons and COM
plant. The damages asked are S1O0.-
900
Il should prefer TO make no state
ment whatever about a matter which
is being litigated. but l believe it is
only fair to Mr.. Caruso TO state that
the plaintiff has no cause Of action
whatsoever against Mr.. Caruso for
breach Of promise Of marriage or on
any other grounds.
"Mr. Caruso is under no legal or
moral obligations whatsoever to Miss
Meffert, and the case will be fought to
the end"
Since the alleged abandonment, it is
alleged. Miss Meffert has written TO
the tenor for money on several occa-
sions. At Christmas, il is said, her ap-
peal was successful to the extent Of
$500. while a letter only few weeks
ago had not been answered.
About two years ago Caruso was
sued for breach OF promise by an
Italian girl. Elisa Ganelli She asked
$4,000. The suit was brought by her
father, and the singer declared that
the girl had no claim on him,
Because | am a public character"
he said, he thought l would pay $50
COO to hush up a scandal But will
not be cheated in any such manner"
The court gave verdict in Caruso's
favor, but levied the costs of the ac-
lion on him. Later in the same year,
1912, he won another suit in which a
woman was concerned. He sued Sig
noriana Giachetu. with whom he had
been intimate, and others for defama-
ton Of character The signorina got a
years Imprisonment and a fine. The
others were also severely dealt with.
The most recent story of the singers
unusual attentions 10 a woman was
sent by cable message to The Tribune
on May 81. 1913. and published the
following day. The story told OF
Caruso's making woman conspicuous
in crowd, whereupon her escort up
braided him. He disappeared in the
hotel throng after exploding:
Il can do anything l want. l am
CarusO."