New-York tribune., 1919-10-01
Count de Clairnont
Sues for Libel and
Demands Million
Says He Was Referred TO il,
''New York American'' in
Way 20 Imply He Was Spy
for German Government

Count Robert de Clairmont, who was
arrested in the spring of 1913 by agents
of the Department of Justice, has filed
in the Supreme Court libel suit for
S1,oO0,000 damages against the Star
Company, publisher OF "Thc New York
American The count, who is citizen
OF France but has lived continuously y in
the United States for many years, says
That III a series Of articles published in
the Sunday section Of Hearst's news
paper in May, June and July, 1918. ref
erences were made to him such as to
IMPLY that he was engaged in spy work
tor the German governm ent, thus i'm
putting to him the commission Of q
crime against the laws of the United
states. These statements, Count de
Clairmont alleges, were false, wicked
and malicious" and were known to the
publishing corporation of "Thc Ameri-
cam to be false.
Count de Clairmont says he is we'll
known in the United States. France
Great Britain and other European
countries. where he has travelled con-
siderably. He cultivated many bust
ness and social friends. He was ar
Storch, an alleged Turkish SPY en-
ployed by Berlin was taken into Gus
tody. Nine. Storch died while under
arrest. Count de Clairmont was de-
tanned Tor time on Ellis Island
The articles to which Count de Clair
mont objects appeared in "The Sunday
American under the title Of "Mme.
Storch, Vampire and German Spy" On
June 2, 1918, the plaintiff alleges, an
instalmcnt Of this article appeared.
"wickedlv and maiciously intending to
lnJure this plaintiff in his good name.
fame and credit and bring him into
pubic scandal, infamy, contempt and
disgrace among his friends. ncighbors.
associates. acQuaintances and fellow
cltlZeNS, and to cause him TO be sus-
pected Of having been guilty of illegal
ana immoral acts, and having been
guilty of having committed the crime
or beng German spy in the paw of
the German imperial government"
at one point in the complained of
article reference was made to "Count
de Clarmont and other gav spend
thrlfts Of her Nine. Storch) satel
lite court"
Again he quotes the alleged libel
lous article as follows:: "In the band
or which the government soon found
-hiie. Nlorcn 10 be the centre, thcre
were al so number of foreign men.
Count dc Clairmont, Count de BevilIe
and various others, nearly all of whom
are safe in PRISON. He alleges THE
American also said: "Investig CATION
CONVINCED the Department Of Justice
that the two women and the two
men Cone Of whom was Count de
ClalrmonD claiming French citizen
ship recently arrested in New York
on suspicion of connection with the
German spy ring, can only be classed
as undesirable citizens rather than
as spies. On this conclusion they viii
be deported."
Count de Clairmont complains that
ne was wrongfully charged with being
an enemy of this country, which has
caused him to be held up to "scorr
and scandal by persons in this coun-
try and throughout the world"
Also by reason OF the alleged libel
lous publication he says, "hc has beer
denied ready and FREQ access to var.
ious hetels, inns and public places
and that he has been denied the usua
liberties accorded TO an alien travel
ling in this country; his papers anC
documents have been taken from hin
and he has been made sick, sore anc
III hle6 ~