New-York tribune., 1921-01-06
Mrs. Bonaparte
Asks 100000
On Libel Charge
Sues Town Topics, Which
Called Her sSVain and
Foolish, Living Only for
Personal Admiration''
Reports Health Impaired
Wife Of Ex-Navy Secretary's
Nephew Is a Descendant
of Napoleon's Brother

Having borne for long time, she
81 s. the shafts Of ridicule aimed at
her, and false implications Of marital
nfeicity. Mrs. Blanche Napoleon Bona
oarte, Of New York, Newport and
Palm Beach, began suit for libel yes
terday against Town Topics, in which
the society woman demands 100000
| damages.
Besides the EN- mbarrassment and hu-
initiation Of being publicly character
lied as "a vain and foolish woman"
by the defendant periodical, as Mrs.
Bonaparte alleges she has been, the
plaintiff also asserts that her health
and nervous system have been greatly
impaired by such publication.
Mrs. Bonaparte is now living at the
Hotel Biltmore with her husband,
jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of Wash
ington, great grandnephew of Napoleon
and neL ew of Charles j. Bona
partc, at one time Secretary Of the
Navy and later Attorney General She
was Miss Blanche Pierce, daughter Of
the late Edward N. Pierce. Of Newton,
Mass, when gac married Harold Str
Deigh, member OF the Union Club and
Rockaway Hunt Club.
Divorced and Remarked
Mrs. Bonaparte obtained a divorc.
on April 3, 1914, and five days later
married MIR. Bonaparte at the City
Hall in this city. The Bonapartes have
occn spending the winters in Palm
Beach and the summers in Newport,
where they have an estate.
Mrs. Bonaparte complains that there
have appeared in Town Topics several
such articles as that on which she sues.
and says that requests to the defend
ants that such publications cease were
Jlsregardcd
In her complaint, served yesterday,
Mrs. Bonapar,e set forth that she and
hel husband were persons Of wealth
and social standing and were we'll and
favoraDly known in society. One of
the items to which she objected was
published in December, 1919, said the
plaintiff.
This stated, according to her com
plant, that Mrs. Bonaparte was "a
vain and foolish woman who de-
lighted in having her photograph taken
to satisfy her personal vanity. A
similar article, it is alleged, WAS pub.
lished in July, 1920 This one re-
yeated. it is charged, that Mrs. Bona.
partc mad an ''unduc desire to have
er photograph printed in newspapers,
and also that she liked to pose as q
member Of the great Bonaparte family
and as q cousin OF Empress Eugenic.
Tells of Husbands Ancestry
Mrs. Bonaparte said her husband wa.
great-grandson Of the King of West
phalia, who was brother Of Emperor
NApo con, and therefore was related by
blood to that great family.
Another reference 20 her as "fool-
ish woman" sad Mrs. Bonaparte, was
made in Town Topics in February
! 1920, when the society sheet added i,
is charged, that she was diving only
for personal admiration" for the sake
of which "shc would neglect her do
nestle duties and marital relations'
Mrs. Bonaparte alleged that this article
intended to imply that her married
lie with Mr.. Bonapartc was unhappy
and unpleasant. On the contrary, she
said, "the relations between the plain
tiff and her husband have at all times
| been harmonious and ever since THEN
marriage they have lived happily to-
ppthern