New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-01
Duff Says Wife
Tried to Ruin
Him i'm Revenge
Father-in-Law Called in
$500, 0OOLoan and Made
it Impossible for Firm to
Continue, He Asserts
Husband Declares He Was
Shielding Name of Young
New York Society Woman

New 1Ork society WOmaH
The matrimonial and business az
fairs Of Jenness C. F. Robinson-DufY
are peculiarly associated in a suit
which the Trust Company Of New
Jersey. Of which Colonel William c.
Heppenheimer, father-in-law Of Mr..
Duff, IL president, has brought in the
Supreme Court.
The trust company is trying to re-
cover $12,5oo, said to be due on a
$17,500 note made by Mr.. Duff and
his partners as part Of an agreement
between Mr.. Duff and his wife, Mrs.
Gladys Robinson-Duff. Mr.. Duff filed
his answer to the action yesterday
alleging that he made the agreement
under duress and because his wife and
her father threatened to make public
certain charges against him which
would involve the name of a young
woman socially prominent in New
York whose husband was with the
time.
Duff Made War Fortune
Colonel Heppenheimer formerly was
k1SSO-
citation Of New Jersey. He is a law
yer and at one time was mentioned
as a possible candidate of the Demo-
cratic party for Governor Of New
Jersey. Mr.. Duff made a fortune in
war stocks in 1915 and bought the
Stock Exchange seat Of Frank K.
Sturgis, q former president Of the
Exchange.
According to Mr.. Duff his father
in-law. exercising his power as presi-
dent Of the Trust Company Of New
the trust company had made to Duff.
Freddy & Co., which act, it is alleged,
made it impossible for the firm to
carry on their business further, and
compelled them to sell their invest
ments and liquidate their accounts.
This move by the trust company, it
Is alleged by Mr.. Duff, was an act of
reprisal in connection with his matri-
monial affairs and was made to ruin
him. Mr.. Duff is suing for separa-
ton, alleging abandonment. Mrs. Duff
is in Paris with her two sons.
Mr.. Duff'e answer to the suit Of the
trust company is that he and his
brokerage partners have paid $4,000 of
the s17,50o note made by them to pay
certain legal expenses of Mrs. Duff,
and that, his wife having violated her
agreement not to publish certain
charges against him, the defendants
are entitled to recover the full amount
Of the note-s17 500. In all the bust
to the present litigation, Mr.. Duff al
leges his wife was aided and advised
by her father, Colonel Heppenheimer.
Mrs. Duff, her husband says, is a
stockholders in the Trust Company of
New Jersey, the latter being de-
pository Of her property.
Husband Says Wife Quit Him
Mr.. Duff alleges that his wife
abandoned him. in September, 1919,
and concealed herself and their two
children. The children are Miller
Robinson-Duff, seven and half years
old, and William Jay Robinson Duff,
five and a half. The husband ex-
presses the belief that his wife in
tends to make the abandonment per-
manent.
About the same time that Mrs. Duff
left him, Mr.. Duff alleges, he was
"falsely and wrongfully'' accused Of
relations with "a young married wom-
an prominent in New York social cir
cles." Mr.. Duff says he felt aggrieved
over this accusation and told his
father-in-law about them.
Touching on his business relations
with Colonel Heppenheimer's corpora
tion, the son-in-law mentions that the
trust company had lent to the firm Of
Duff, Freddy & Co. 100000 and had
transaction. This loan had been re-
newed from time to time. Mr.. Duff
relates that he asked his father-in-
law to tell the whereabouts of Mrs.
Duff and her achildren, whereupon
Colonel Heppenheimer made the threat
that If Mr.. Duff proceeded to establish
his rights in an action against his
wife, his firm would be ruined finan-
cially by calling the loan and Mr.. Duff
bringing of suit naming the society
woman. The fulfillment Of this threat,
says Mr.. Duff, would mean that his
firm would be unable to do any under
writing as it contemplated or to con-
tinue in business. He told his part
ners what had transpired.
There followed meeting between
Mr.: Duff, his wife and her father, at
which. it is alleged, the threats were
repeated. I'm fear and apprehension"
Gays Mr.. Duff, he executed a separa-
SIT 500 note to pay his wife's ATTORNEYS
for certain services which included the
drawing up Of the agreement. Mrs.
Ouf's attorneys were Wellman. Smvth
& Scofield. The firm Of Mr.. Duff also
became liable for the payment Of the
.hote. All this, he alleges, was done
under duress.
Father Falls TO Get Children
1t was agreed that the accusations
against the broker would not be re-
peated. Soon after the agreement waa
made, which was on October II. 1918.
Mrs: Duff went to Paris with her
children E They have been there since.
Duff notified her husband that she
would not deliver the custody Of her
;n ore .t to her husband as provided
he went to Paris to get his sons. his
wife refused to surrender them for
the period in which tho father was to
have the custody.
His wife refused to be bound by
the agreement, says Mr.. DUFF. He adds
f fass she IN not 10, only was advised BY her
sent to his daughter documents con-
tanning accusations Of misbehavior on