New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-20
Lillian Lorraine Must Tell
Court Why Separation
From Gresham Should
Not Be Declared Void
Husband Blames LAWYERS
Declares O'Neil and koelble
''Framed'' Evidence, Then
Failed to Keep Promise

Frederick NJ. Gresham obtained from
Justice Hotchkiss, in the Supreme
Court, yesterday, an order directing
Mrs. Muriel Gresham, known on the
stage as Lillian Lorraine, to show
cause why their divorce decree should
not be set aside on the ground of co}-
fusion and fraud. Greshams name
was Greishemer until he had it
changed in an Illinois court The order
Is returnable Wednesday.
In lengthy affidavit Gresham out
lined the alleged plot by which his wife
was to obtain her divorce. He men
tons Frank S. O'Neil, an attorney and
former Boxing Commissioner of New
York State, as one of two men who
manufactured the evidence. Alphonse
Il. Koelble, another lawyer. who sue
ceeded to the case when O'Neil quit
practising. is said to have promised to
discontinue the action, saying he would
have no part in a collusive case.
Gresham says that. instead of discon-
tlnuing the case. Koelble obtained a
final decree for his wife while he was
out of the city. AS Lillian Lorraine
Mrs. Gresham is appearing on the New
Amsterdam Roof.
Married in Hoboken in 1913
The Greshams, under the name OF
Griesheimer, were married in 1913 in
Hoboken. The divorce suit was brought
April 81, 1918.
Gresham's story is that one day in
March, 1918, man named Ford made
him an offer to act as witness IN
"friendly" divorce suit. ONeil was
mentioned as the attorney to arrange
affairs. In conference with the lawyer
n a bp Mt cd to 10 n a n
providing Lillian return his gifts of
jewelry and promise not to ask for
alimony. This promise, says Gresham,
was made by O'Neil, who agreed to put
it in writing.
Gresham says that few days later
he was introduced by Ford to a wom
an, who was accompanied by O'Neil.
Needing grip, Gresham says O'Nell
dispatched messenger to get one
from his room. This Gresham carried
when he and the woman registered at
a hotel as Mr.. and Mrs. Fred NJ. Cries
heimer.' The expected raid came In
about half an hour. The woman left
the party and Gresham. Ford and
O'Nell went down stairs together.
Friend Served Papers
The day after, it is alleged, O'Neil
called Gresham on the telephone and
asked where he might serve him in
the divorce suit. He named Consi
dimes Cafe. O'Neil took the papers
there, but being the attorney in the
case he could not serve them. A friend
of Gresham named Raphell served
them. in the meantime Gresham
waited for the return of the jewelry
and the written guarantee that his
wife would not demand alimony.
Finally he called O'Neil on the tele
phone
II said to him." says Gresham, chat
! was being misused and that he had
not kept his promise, and | threatened
to expose the entire matter and would
refuse to be party any further 10 a
collusive divorce" Gresham says AL
phonse G. koelble answered the phone
saying he had succeeded to O'Neil's
practice.
Koelble is also quoted as saying he
would not be a party to collusive
divorce and would so advise his client.
Gresham called on Koelble, he says in
his affidavit. and Koelble reiterated his
determination not to have any part in
the alleged collusive divorce, saying
that he would ask for discontinuance
Of the action.
Sent "Friendly" kilograms
Without paying any further attention
to the case, Gresham went to Los An
geleS. 1dA.. WutIc Ic liett a DlOhtl az
business During the seven or eight
months he WAS there, he says, he re-
ceived numerous kilograms from his
wife and they entered into an inter
change Of night letters (which were
couched in the friendliest terms
There was never a suggestion that {
divorce suit was going on. In the
meantime an interlocutory decree was
entered against him here, by the same
lawyer who promised he would take ne
further steps" On April 3, last, a fina
decree was obtained, on the affidavit o.
Koelble, it Is alleged, without a notice
TO Gresham. His attorneys notified
him OF what was going on.
Gresham alleges that Koelble admit
ted to his attorneys that he had reaC
newspaper stories that he was suing
Joseph L. PAM, owner of an inn, TO
100000 for the alleged alienation O
Mrs Gresham's affections, Gresham
meaning thereby that he still consid
cred himself the husband of Lillian
Lorraine. He charges that the collu
sion was known to his wife and to tn
attorney who represented her, that h
acted on impulse in agreeing to tn
divorce plan and regretted that he ha'
become party to it, For the sake o
mis- good reputation, he adds, and tina
OF his family, he wants the decree Sc
aside, so that he can defend the suit
Xictnry RyttOns Ready