The New York herald., 1920-01-22

Mrs. Milia .. Shonts filed suit for
si.oco,o 900 In the Supreme Court yesterday
against Mrs. Amanda C. Thomas. of No
$50 Park avenue, residuary legatee under
the will Of the late Theodore P. Shonts
president of the Ipterborough Rapid Tran.
sit Company. Mrs. Shonts charges Mrs
Thomas with the alienation of the affee.
tons of her husband.
In raising the issues involved by her be-
lated complaint-the action having actu-
ally been started almost a month ago
when summons was served on Mrs. Thorn
as counsel, Mrs. Shonts creates an un-
usual situation of asking a jury to deter
mine the relations between the defendant
and person dead many months While
the alleged acts complained of extend over
"a period of thirteen years, beginning in
1905. when Mrs. Shonts went TO Paris to
arrange for her daughters marriage to the
Duo de Chaulnes, several lawyers and at
tache of the court yesterday said the suit
was the first of its kind within their
knowledge.
In accusing the prepossessing defendant
Mrs. Shonts does not nince words or con-
ceal her purpose behind legal verbiaee
She directly charges Mrs. Thomas witt,
''preying" on the affections of her hus.
band and attributes to her the estrange.
ment OF the traction man and his wife
eight years ago.
Backed by Her Daughters.
Before the controversy has it's closjne
chapter many sensational development
are promised. Arrayed with Mrs Shonts
IN her fight to regain control of her hus.
bands estate and convict the defendan,
IN the civil court of weaving away tn.
directions OF her husband are her daugh.
ters. Theodore, the Duchesse de Chaulnes
and Mrs. Rutherfurd Bingham.
Supporting Mrs, Thomas and firm II
their belief that she Is being cruelty ma
llisned are many of Mr.. Shonts' most influ
ential friends. Clarence J. Shearn. for,
nnerly Justice of the Appellate Division
and attorney for Mrs. Thhomas, made q
bitter retort to the charges Of Mrs. Shonts
Il will simply say that II these prepos.
ferrous charges are ever brought 10 tria
their utter faisty will be demonstrated, .
cruel slander upon Mrs. Thomas, behind
whom all OF Mr.. Shonts friends are stand
Ing. The filing OF this belated complaint
is mere propaganda for supposed effect
upon the pending will contest"
Mrs Shonts' sworn statement, amplified
by her close friends. says she was aware
OF more than platonic relations existin 6
between her husband and Mrs. Thomas
from early in 1906 until 1910, when Mr.
Shonts left her at the instigation of the
defendant. During those four years, Mrs
Shonts says, she strove to retain her hus.
bands affections, keeping secret from SO
ciety the strained conditions i'm her house
hold.
"RuthIessIy Pressed Conquest
While this was going on. she says. Mrs
Thomas "ruthlessly' pressed her conquest
and by her "artifices" succeeded in dis
rupting the home and induced Mr.. Shonts
to leave his wife. At the time OF her al.
legged abandonment, tho plaintiff says, she
was without means OF adequate support.
Preliminary 10 her charges Mrs. Shonts
who was the daughter Of Governor Drake
of Iowa. and sister or John A. Drake
ca pitalist and financier, says she was
married TO Mr.. Shonts on December 2s
I1ss1, at Centreyille, Iowa. and that she
had continued as his wife until his death
on September q, 1919.
From tho date of her marriage until
1910, says Mrs. Shonts, she and Mr. Shonts
lived together, and as his wife she en-
joyed his affection, support and protection
Her more serious charges against Mrs
Thomas are then recited as based upon
information and belief"
"The defendant, well knowing the