The New York herald., 1921-04-17
MRS. ROCHESTER
WINS HER DECREE
Baroness Castelli di Villanova,
Once Miss Anna Preston,
Named i'm Action.
HER ROMANCE RECALLED
Dancing Academy, East 59th
st. Flat and Raid by Detec-
tives Figure in Case.

remarkable story of domestic diff
culties was barred yesterday when SUI
preme Court Justice Arthur S. Tomp
lSins granted an interlocutory decree
of divorce to Mrs. Amy Rochester of
Washington avenue, South Nyack,
from Richmond Rochester, Jr., Of this
city. upon testimony in which the
Baroness Castelli di Villanova, for
merly Miss Anna Preston. was named
as correspondent.
The court action disclosed the fact
that the Baroness, whose marriage ex-
cited considerable comment among her
American friends several years ago,
had been working under her maiden
name as hostess at the Roseland Dan
cling Academy, In Broadway, since last
October, when she went to that place
asking position and saying she We
In great need Of money and too
proud" to seek assistance from her
society friends.
1t threw an air OF mystery about the
fate of tho romance OF the Baroncsy
and her husband, for as far as could be
ascertained yesterday. no one outside
OF the Roseland Dancing Academy knew
that her relations with him had had any
unhappy turn. According to the latest
reports available yesterday, he was in
Mexico when last heard from The
Baroness could not be found to dispel
the mystery, for she had resigned her
position at the dancing place and had
vacated her apartment at 10 East Fifty
ninth street on Friday, leaving no for
warding address.
Both Families Prominent.
The Rochesters are quite as prominent
socially as the Baroness and her fam
lily. and the report of their domestic
trouble was surprise to their friends.
Mrs. Rochester. II was stated last night,
is related to the family OF Leland Stan
ford, and her husband is a descendant
of Gen. Nathaniel Rochester, from
whom the city OF Rochester derives its
name.
Although the divorce proceeding had
been kept secret. the record of the tes-
timony seen yesterday In Nyack showed
that the principal ground for divorce
was the tale of William Hazelton, de-
tective. This man, II appeared. testi-
fied to having been employed by Mrs.
Rochester to trail her husband.
He told story Of meeting OF Roch-
ester and the Baroness Castel,i in the
north entrance OF the Ansonia Hotel
and OF trip to the woman's apartment
in East AFifty-ninth street whore ne.
with three other detectives. obtained
admission in the early morning 10 dis
cover Rochester, clad in pajamas, IN an
attempt to conceal himself behind por-
there's. The detective testified that tne
Baroness. on the occasion OF chis visit,
was attired in kimono which ap-
peared to have been thrown over night
dress. A summons IN the divorce ac-
tion was served on Rochester tho tel-
lowing day at an office al Amsterdam
avenue and Sixty-ninth street. where
he has been employed. He did not con-
test the divorce action.
II appears that not only were the hus-
band and wife estranged through this
affair. but the husband was also cs-
tranged from his mother. Mrs. Richmond
Rochester. Sr, who went to her daugh-
ter-in-laws aid. IT was said yesterday
that the Baroness vainly entreated the
young mans mother to keep her name
out OF the case.
Both known nj the RoscInnd.
A representative Of THE New YoRK
HERALD was informed last night at the
Roseiand that Mr. Rochester was we'll
known about the place and that his
business had taken him there frequently.
The Baroness was known there merely
as Miss Anna Preston" AZ one OF two
hostesses she mad part supervision or the
dancing instructresses and made prac-
tice or greeting new patrons.
Little was known by her associates
there about her affairs except that she
lad been married and one employee had
ieard about some "alimony trouble"
She gave her address as the Plaza Hotel
but as far as could be learned she never
Continued on Trenfieth Pd1r