The Washington times., 1919-04-30
JULIA FRENCH
ASKSDIVORCE
ON CHARGES
OF CRUELTY

NEWPORT, April 3O-MrS. Jack
Geraghty, formerly Julia French, of
the aristocratic old family so closely
identified with Newport and Tuxedo
Park, has filed suit for divorce from
her husband, who was a chauffeur at
the time Of the marriage.
Thus a new chapter is opened in
the romance of the young couple
which so startled Newport in 1911
and which society always has whis-
pered was the cause of the divorce
OF Mrs. Geraghty's parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Amos Jack French.
1t is understood Mrs. Geraghty
asks her decree on grounds of ex-
treme cruelty and neglect to provide.
She also is seeking the custody of
her little son, Jack, jr.
Picks Handsome Jack"
Handsome Jack" Geraghty, the
French family chauffeur and son Of
Newport hack driver paid secret
court to Julia French during the
brilliant summer season Of 1911. She
was then only eighteen years old.
From the galaxy Of eligibles which
besieged the French home, Julia could
not pick a man who so suited the
dictates Of her heart as Handsome
Jack" driver OF the luxurious auto
mobiles,
In August Of 1911 Miss French de-
ned the consequences she knew were
bound to come and eloped with Jack
tC Center Village, Conn. The motor
trip required a great part OF the night
and they were married by a parson
they routed from bed. Afterwards a
Catholic priest re-pcrformed the cere-
meny.
Brides Father In Rage.
The doors Of fashionable Newport
villas closed automatically to the
young couple. Mr.. French, the brides
father. ragged over her rash act"
Mrs- French, for a time. seemed
equally offended, but the gossip in
the villa colony has always been that
she really, deep down in her heart,
was not so upset over the match.
A little more than a year later old
Dr. Stork hovered over the honey
guckle-covered cottage Handsome
Jack" and his bride occupied in one
OF the by-ways Of Newport. 1t proved
that the long-legged bird was bring
ing more than an heir to the eou-
pie. he brought an olive branch
With the basket, which won for Mrs
Geraghty full forgiveness from her
mother, her grandmother and her
aunt, Mrs. Elsie French Vanderbilt
But Mr., French could not forget and
forgive at least for a while; but
sometime later he looked with less
severity on his daughters "rash act"
which so disturbed him.
Happy for n Tine.
When. in March OF 1914, Mrs.. Amos
Tuck French won suit for divorce
from the millionaire and clubman,
rumors became current in Newport
that the real cause Of the trouble be-
tween them had been the. elopement |
Of their daughter with the chauffeur |
Some Of these reports went so far as
80 indicate that Mr.. French quarreled |
with his wife over her attitude to- !
ward the marriage and actually ac- |
eused her Of knowing OF the eIope- |
ment before it occurred
At any rate Handsome Jack" and |
bis bride continued to live happily. /
They moved from Newport to Wo- |
burn. near Boston Jackson entered I
politics and became an alderman. but /
resigned. He did we'll in the auto /
mobile business. Some time ago, how
ever. Mrs. Geraghty returned to New
port and lived with her mother and /
ErandmotheT.
Reports became current that She 4
had separated from her husband and |
their divorce proceedings were likely |
These were confirmed yesterday when /
suit was filed. Handsome Jack" is !