The New York herald., 1920-01-22
MRS. THEODORE P. SHONTS SUES
MRS. A. C.. THO MAS FOR 81 900, 900
Widow of Interboroug President Charges Resduay Legatee
Under Husbands Will Alienated His Affections by
wicked WileS' Finally and Caused Their Separation

Ipremises," says the complaint "wilfully
and wrongfully intending TO injure the
plaintiff and deprive her of her husbands
protection. society, aid and support. in or
iabout 1906 and from then on continuously
until September Il, 1919. wilfully. wickedly
and maliciously engaged in gaining the
affections of Theodore p Shonts from
the plaintiff and subsequently, induced him
to leave the plaintiff and sought and did
persuade him to go with the defendant
to other places in the United States and
elsewhere.
"The said defendant did prey ruthlessly
upon Theodore r. Shcnts. and by her
articles, immoralities and wies entice
Mr.. Shonts from the society of the plaintiff
and alienated his love and affection from
her.
"UnIawfuI, Wrongful ReiatiODs.'
Upon information and belief. at various
times between 1905 and the date of Mr..
Shonts' death the defendant continued her
unlawful and wrongful relations with Mr..
Shonts, and in or about 1910 enticed him
TO desert the plaintiff absolutely and 10
leave her without adequate support.
Thus she deprived the PLAINTIFF of her hus-
bands society and induced him to take
up his residence in the same buildings oc-
cupied in part by the defendant, in whicn
places the defendant harbored and de-
tanned the plaintiffs husband against
her will until his DEATH"
Mrs. Shonts AYERS that by reason of the
acts of the defendant the affections OF
her husband were destroyed and the happi-
lness and benefits she would have other-
wise received as his wife. were denied ner'
In fixing the amount OF damages at sl.ooo'-
900, Mrs. Shonts says she suffered great
distress in body and mind.
Mrs. Thomas was about twenty-tour
years old when she first met Mr.
Shonts. She is the divorced wife OF Her
bert II. Thomas and has a son, Herbert,
who lives with her. Thohse acquainted
with Mrs. Thomas frankly admit her
personal attractivepess. which is neight-
4, ened by a sha apely, slender figure and
large, luminous blue eyes. She is the pres
ident of Davis e. sanford Photographic
Galleries, at No. 507 Fifth avenue.
i Since the controversy started several
months ago, when Mrs. Shonts was ap-
pointed Administrative OF her husband
estate and later removed by Surrogate
Fowler, she has received many commuhi-
cations from persons in Central America
lCalfornia. oregon and states in the Middle
West. advising her of visits there by Mr..
Shonts and a woman companion. Her law
yers have a mass OF documentary evidence
which they purpose introducing at the
trial in support OF the allegation that Mrs.
Thomas was constantly with Mr., Shonts
on his travels.
While those familiar with Mrs. Thomas
| financial standing scoffed at the amount
OF damages sough. in the suit and frank
4 ly declared that such a sum could never
be collected IL an adverse verdict was
rendered, friends Of Mrs. Shonts insisted
that the defendant would have no diff
Guilty in paying such a Judgment.
/ "Mr. Shonts is believed 10 have trans
ferred one or two millions TO another per-
son shortly before his DEATH" was the
statement made yesterday by one close 70
| Mrs. Shonts.
Argument on the motion TO set aside the
order removing Mrs. Shonts as admin
! istratrix of Mr. Shonts' estate will not
be heard by the Appellate Division today
as scheduled as the attorneys for the
widow are said to be unprepared.