New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
Hypnotists and
Spies Encircled
Her, Says Diva
Mrs. Claburgh Recites Long
List of Indignities Heaped
Upon Her by Husband
in Her Suit for 1898. 900
Watched by 10 Servants
Charges She Was Under the
Authority of Butler and
Was Constantly Swallowed

Mrs. Alma Claburgh, grand opera
.,neer. of 27o Park Avenue, last night
through a representative of her counsel
made public alleged events in her life
vAieh have caused her TO bring four
suits for damages aggregating $685.
asefs against her husband, Albert, a
millionaire broker.
The statement alleges such cpl
sodes as:
A multiplicity of marriages on her
husbands part.
Servants with wild hypnotic eyes
sad weird influences.
A home hrewed secret service made
an of nineteen servants in one house,
augmented by dressmakers, theatrical
neople and women acquaintance who
s;rnaled with call bells, lamp fiickers
md window shades.
A divorce suit in which several CO.
respondents were named.
The charges as listed above were made
ii the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in the pres
see Of Mrs. Claburgh and six newspa-
wr men. 1t was said the charges would
K recited in Supreme Court, where Mrs.
Clsburgh has brought her four suits. bv
Attorneys Blandy, Mooney & Shipman.
who are protecting Mrs. Claburgh's in
terests. The charges were part of a
long and unusual story of alleged indig-
mites suffered by Mrs. Claburgh.
False Accusations
The damage suits brought by Mrs.
Ciaburgh are;
First: Charging "false and defama-
tory accusations made by Mr.. Claburgh
sgainst his wife in a suit for divorce.
shich was discontinued just before it
vas to have come to trial, February 25.
1920, and before Mrs. Claburgh had
q chance to clear her name in court, ~
Damages in the sum of S15O,0OO and
attorneys fees in the sum of S8.92319
are asked in this action.
1t was in this divorce suit that the
several correspondents are said to have
been made. One correspondent was a
prominent banker. Another was q Mr..
Carr, a liberty bond salesman. Mrs.
claburgh said she knew the bond
salesman only through his having sold
her bonds. The banker, she saws. liked
her singing, and that is all she knows
about him. Six correspondents, she
says, she knew only slightly or not at
all. Mrs. Claburgh sold bonds, too.
and was appointed the only woman
member of the Mounted Police Associa-
ton, for her efforts in behalf of the
Liberty loan drives.
Second-Based on answers her hus-
h.nd filed to suits she brought for non
payment of alimony. Damages in the
sum OF $3.50, 600 are asked, with counsel
fees OF $4,000. These alimony suits
we're brought March 1, 1919.
Third-Demands judgment in the
sum of $4,000 for the alleged failure
Of the husband to deliver to her yari-
eds articles of personal property that
we're in the family home at Mount
Msco and in the town house at 318
West Eighty-frst Street.
These articles were allotted to Mrs,
Caburgh under separation agree.
nent which she charges she signed
under duress October 81, 1916. The
property, it is charged, included we'd
Ding presents of herself and mother,
includlng picture frame, gift from
Alma Gluck, her clothing and heir
looms. Under the agreement the hus-
eand took custody of the son, Albert
i, now under twelve years old, and
.ae mother took custody Of the daugh-
ter, Alma jr., now five years old.
Fighting for Children
Fourth-This suit prays Judgment in
the sum of $2,546 for wages for a
nurse for the baby girl when she was
seven months old. Under the separa
,lon agreement it is charged Mr.. Cla-
oargh agreed to pay the wages of
nurse. The wages jumped from $40
tos75, and Mr. Claburgh failed to re-
nit the difference between $40 and SITS
aweek over period of time.
i will talk to you of my children
and on no other subject" said Mrs.
Gaourgh in the Ritz Hotel last night.
1T is only for my children / am fight
ing. My husband has attacked my good
name in his suit for divorce which he
was afraid to go ahead and try in court
ana an, which has given me no chance to
gear my name. | want custody of my
10y, too. and we will fight this out
,a.er. Am l a mother to sit back and
nave my life and the lives of my chill
qfsn ruined lii an ugly divorce scandal?
! am innocent. If my children want to
g. INTO a good school this divorce
ssa'as can keep coming up and they will
W oarred because of the unwarranted
s sna improved charges brought by their
iaa9er against their mother.
i have suffered terribly and have
remained s silent, because I was twenty
aus years younger than my husband
g sna 1 really knew no better. I signed
T 1aee agreements at different times.
t hue nfst put every servant in the
svuse over me- l was not to have
s 49,, to say to any servant or give
ssny one of the nineteen any orders
NV NV my maid. had to live and suffer
won,a ahpuaence of the servants, who
'0uio not take orders.
opera Contract Cancelled
u had contract with a grand onera
ssnpany calling for $1,000 a week and
es spenses amounting to $500 week
s.ueeiied because Of the divorce suit