The New York herald., 1921-08-06
LOU TELLECEN ASKS
Sep ARATION FROM
GERALDINE FARRAR
Locked Out of West 74th st.
Home. Actor Accuses Wife
of Desertion.
HINTS OTHER CHARGES
Her Professional Aspira-
tions Incompatible With
His Desire for Home Life.
FIRST RIFT CAME JULY 25
Marriage i'm 1915 Was Her.
aided i'm Theatrical Circles
as "a Perfect Union

Lou Tellegen, actor, has begun suit
for separation from Miss Geraldine
Farrar, grand opera prirna donna and
movie star, in the Supreme Court of
Westchester county. Harry n. Stein
field. attorney for the actor, said last
night that Mr.. Tellegen, among other
things, alleges the singer deserted him
Papers in the suit were served on Miss
Farrar Thursday night. the lawyer
said, as she stepped out of an auto
mobile in front of her home. 20 West
Seventy-fourth street. This last state
ment, however was denied by Alvin
Untermyer. Miss Farrar's attorney.
Mr.. Tellegen began the suit. his law
yer said, only after ne had tried un-
successfully for eleven days to enter
his Seventy fourth street home. The
door was barred against him, the locks
were changed, and. Mr.. Steinfeld de-
clared. servants peered through the
window blinds as the actor stood ring
ing the doorbell for as long as fifteen
and twenty minutes at time. Mr..
porary quarters at the Ritz-Carlton.
Locked out OF Home.
The first rift in the happiness OF Mr.
and Mrs. Lou Tellegen appeared July
% last. it was learned. when a clerk
Of the law firm OF Gugsenheimer Inter
myer & Marshall 120 Broadway, at
torneys for the singer. appeared in Long
Beach. where the actor had been spend
ing d few weeks The clerk handed a
letter to Mr.. Tellegen. 1t suggested he
call at the offices OF the firm to dis
cuss certain differences that have
arisen between you and herself Cmean-
ing Mrs. Tellegen).' The letter went on
to say that under the circumstances
you are not in the meantime to enter
Mrs. Tellegen's house" The actor also
was advised that IL he would let his
wife know what his address would be
Mrs. Tellegen will forward your wear
ing apparel and other possessions"
Instead Of going to see Mr.. Inter
myer. whose name is said to have been
signed TO the letter. Mr.. Tellegen, his
lawyer states. went direct to his
Seventy-foursh street home. As he
walked up the steps he took his key
from his pocket and started to insert
II into the lock, but II would not go In.
The lock on the door had been changed.
The actor then rang the bell and waited.
Ten. fifteen minutes passed but there
was no response. Glancing at the win
dows. Mr.. Steinfeld says, the actor could
see his servants peering through the
blinds.
Mr.. Tellegen went to telephone and
called UP the house on his wife's pri-
yate telephone. One or the servants
answered the wire. mo, Nine. Farrar is
not at home.' was the reply the actor
IS said to have received. He then went
back TO the house and tried the doorbcll
once more. but to no avail
waited Eleven Days.
Mr.. Steinfed is authority for the state
ment that his client followed this pro-
cedure for eleven days-that is from the
afternoon OF July % to Thursday--with-
out ever getting so much as beyond the
top step OF the stoop Mr.. Tellegen then
called on his lawyer and asked that the
suit be instituted. Other allegations are
set up in the complaint. the lawyer adj
niitted. than the charge of desertion.
"All win tell you now Is that suit
has been begun" Mr.. Steinfed said last
night. "Other matters will come out In
the course of time
The "other matters Mr.. Steinfcld re-
fers TO are said to concern the home life
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Tellegen. and particu-
larly the desire of the actor for a quiet
home. which. II Is said. he found to be
in conflict with the professional aspira-
tions OF his wife
Process servers took up a position out
side the home OF Miss Farrar Thursday
evening while she was out for an auto
mobile ride. They waited three hours
until she returned and as the singer
al;gsted from the car the summons and
complaint was thrust into her hand
upon an admission of Identity. accord
ing 10 Mr.. Steinfeld.
Mr. Untermyer made this statement
last night
1T Is not true that Miss Farrar has
been served with any papers what
ever either in al action for separation
or otherwise. Nor have ] received any
such statement Tor her.
THE fake proceedings III which Tel
legen IL SO dlsgra cefully indulgent would
alone Justify her In having nothing
further TO do with him
Miss Farrar does not propose TO try
aer case In the newspapers and regrets
nat II has become necessary for me TO
make this statement In her behalf She
has been far too lenient with this ar
NJ