New-York tribune., 1918-05-28
Trial of Baron Won Ra-
decks Action for Dam
ages Begun in Berlin
is Others Involved
Plaintiffs Former Wife, Now
Married to Defendant,
Figures in Case

AMSTERDAM, May 27.-The libel
emit Of Baron Walter Won Radeck
.cs;nst Count Christian Gunther Won
perns.orf, son of the former German
Ambassador to the United States, his
wife and others, was begun in Berlin
.ourt Saturday. Won Radeck is son
~ Prussian general, and his former
r;se Is now the wife Of Count Won
Re-nstorF. She was Mrs. Marguerite
Vivian Burton Thomson, Of Burling-
ton, N. J.
Sixteen persons prominent in Ger
man official and social life and the
defendants were in court. Among the
number was Prince Albert: Of Schles-
wie-Holstein, brother of the reigning
duke.
Counsel for Baron Won Radeck
charged that Won Bcrnstorff made love
70 the baroness while Won Radeck was
in the trenches. This resulted in a
divorce. Count Won Bernstorff also
was accused Of circulating stories that
Won Radeck was spy.
After hearing the attorneys state
ment, the judge adjourned the case,
saving he considered that certain
judicial points were not clear.
Slapped and Disarmed Count
The plaintiffs counsel declared Won
Radeck, who had married Marguerite
Thomson in 1912. had while serving
IN the trenches, received letter from
81
Rsdeck returned to Berlin, the attor-
ney continued, and when he saw his
wife enter Count Won Bernstorf's
home he knocked at the door and
heard his wife say to the count. "Put
your revolver in your pocket" Won
Radeck entered, slapped Won Bern
stcrff. tore off one of his epaulets and
took his revolver from him.
He communicated the affair to a
military court of honor, as he expected
a duel, counsel said, but instead Won
BernstorfS came to Won Radeck two
days later. suggesting a divorce, so
that Won Bernstorff could marry Won
Radeck's wife, and asked the latter to
settle the court of honor affair by
going to the then Chief of the General
Staff, General Won Moltke. The general
said he could do nothing,
Challenged Won Bernstorf
Won Radeck, continued the attorney,
then challenged Won Bernstorff. at the
same time requesting an inquiry into
the charge of espionage against the
plaintiff, which had been circulated.
The baroness meanwhile had applied
for a divorce, which was granted in
the husbands favor, the accusation
made by Won Bernstorff against Won
Rndeck, counsel said, being contra
dicted by Witnesses in the divorce ac-
tion.
Won Radeck. added the attorney,
wrote to Ambassador Won Bernstorff
then stationed at Constantinople, ask.
Ing him to advise his son to give up
acquaintance with Won Radeck's former
VIE, but received no answer The al
legged libel complained of had been sub
sequently circulated, counsel said. He
charged that Won Bernstorff had used
his. fathers position to support the
espionage charge against the plaintiff.
Early this year Baron Won Radeck
and Count Won Bernstorff had a physi-
counts marriage to the baron's di-
voreed wife. Won Radeck was forced
TO leave the army, and Won Bernstorff
was punished by a military court. The
baron then entered libel suit against
the count and fourteen others, charg-
Ing they had caused his divorce and
salsmlssal from the army by the circu-
latlon of untruthful reports,