Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-28
BERNSTORFF IN COURT
OVER AMERICAN WIFE
Former Husband Sues Spy En-
voy's Sons For Libel
in Berlin.

Amsterdam May 2S The libel suit
of Baron Walter Won Radcck against
Coun, Christian Gunther Won Bernstortt,
son Of the former German ambassador
10 the United States; Won Bcrnstorif
wife. and others, was begun IN \ Berlin
court SATURDAY.. Non Radcck is q son
of prlssian general and his former
wife Is now tho wife of Count Won Bern
storfl She was Mrs Marguerite Vivian
Burton Thomson of Burlington, \ J.
Sixteen persons prominent III German
official and social life and the defend
ants were in court Among tho number
was Prince Albert Of g-liolstcin,
brother Of the rcigninE duke
Counsel for Baron Won Radcck charged
that Won Rcrnstortf made love 10 the
baroness while Won Radcck was IN the
trenches This resulted in divorce
Count Won B Brnstortf also was accused
of circulating stories that Won Radcck
WIS spy.
After hearing the attorneys statement.
the Judge adjourned the case, saving
he considered that certain judicial points
were not clear
The plaintitTs counsel in his statemet
asserted that won Radock. who had mar
rcd Marguerite Thomason IN 1912, had
IRtJ&NtH3. Nitttt FtiNt ttlA ~ hA'' N''"f''A''
q letter from hcr saving that she wanted
70 hc frcc. Won Radcck returned 20
Berlin. the attorney continued, and when
he saw his wife enter Count Won Born
storff's home nc knocked At the door
and heard his wife say % the count.
Put vol1r revolver IN your pocket
Non Radccl entered slapped won
Rcrnstorf. tore otf ono Of his epaulcts,
and took his revolver from him. He
communicated the affair 10 a military
court of honor, rs he expected duel,
counsel sand, but instead von Bernstortt
went TO Won Radeck two DAYS later sug
costing divorce 50 that von RCrnstortf
could marry von Radeck : wife, and
asked Won Radcck 20 settle the court Of
honor affair hv gong 10 the then chief
of the general staff General von Moltke.
The general said hc could DO nothing.
Won Radeck. continued the attorney,
then challenged Won Bernstorif AZ the
same time requesting an inquiry INTO the
charge Ot espionage against hm- which
had been circulated The baroness
meanwhile had applied for divorce,
which WAS granted IN the husbands
favor. the accusation made by Won Bern
storff against won Radeck, counsel sad.
being contradlcted by witnesses II the
divorce action.
The attorney continued that Won Ra-
deck wrote 70 Ambassador Won Bern
storfT. then stationed al Constantinople,
asking hm to advise his son to give up
ac1uairtance with Won Radeck former
wife. but received no answer The
alleged hbels complained Of had been
subsequently, circulated counsel SAID
He charged that Won Bernstor1 had
used his father position TO support 'he
espionage charge against the plaintiff
Early this year Baron Won Radeck and
Count Won Bernstorff had physical en-
counter as a result Of the counts mar
riage TO the barons divorced wife Won
Radeck was forced to leave the army,
and Won Bernstorff was punished by
military court.
The baron then entered a libel suit
against the count and fourteen Others,
charging that they had caused his di-
vorce and dismissal from the army by the
circulation OF untruthful reports.