The Washington times., 1921-10-09
PARIS, September 80.

PARIS, September 80.
EVERYONE remembers how much mys-
r. terry there was about the marriage
of Madame Gamma Walska, the Polish
prima donna, and Mr.. Alexander Smith
Cochran, long known as Americas richest
bachelor" last September. But that mys-
terry was as nothing to that which shrouds
the breaking Of the Walska-C Cochran ro-
nance Just brief year after its inception.
Madame Cochran has made the amazing
declaration to friends that the spirit" of
her second husband, the late DR.. Joseph
Frankel, of Brooklyn, has urged her to
begin divorce proceedings against her
multi-millionaire husband. She AYERS that
she has been in frequent communication
with the "ghost" of the physician ever
since his death. ---
And it was upon his advice, she has told
her friends, that she married Mr.. Cochran.
in the first place!
OF course. these claims raise number
Of very interesting questions, and Paris 10
busily discussing all phases Of them. It
is the current belief that when a person
dies the immortal part Immediately gains
superhuman wisdom. II this is SO, 1t Is
permissible to ask how the ghost Of DR..
Frankel came to make such a mistake In
picking cut a partner for his former wife.
If Mr.. Cochran passed muster In the spirit
eyes back in September. 1920, when the
prima donna was welded to him in Paris.
what could have happened during that year
to make him ineligible now?
Furthermore, It would seem that very
great perplexity must confront Madame
Cochran If the shade Of her second hus-
band was wrong when he picked out her
third husband for her, may he not be wrong
again? What guarantee has he given her
of the correctness OF his present viewsi
Upon these matters the singer remains
silent. Beyond conHding to her friends
that this is the reason she Is contemplat-
ing divorce proceedings against Mr. Coch-
ran, she will not discuss the Communities
tions" from the late DR.. Frankel.
And Mr.. Cochran himself is in an I'M
enviable position II any living man should
whisper things about him to HIS wife and
prevail upon her to leave him and begin
divorce proceedings, Mr. Cocnran WOuiu
have his remedy either at law or by per-
sonal action. But you cannot sue ghost,
nor can you give him the drubbing that
you could give TO a living man.
You cannot oven give him "a piece OF
your mind" as the saying goes. Ghosts
are elusive and beyond the reach even OF
the telegraph or the mail. Where would
Mr.. Cochran go TO find out where and how
he could reach the departed DIR. Frankell
Apparently no one but his wife has an
entree to his phantom society. Mr.. Coch
ran, OF course could go around and try
mediums, but ne would have no way either
of compelling or, persuading the late DR.
Frankel 10 talk to him through one OF these
mediums IL DR.. Frankel did not want to.
So It can readily be imagined how help
less and perplexed Mr.. Cochran must feel
Despite the circumstances OF bis marriage
he was known for years as hard.headed
and clear-headed man Of business. His
fortune is about eighty million dollars and
Il takes considerable acumen and common
sense to handle such fortune as this and
keep Il intact. He has never had any deal
ings with ghosts before and the situation
must be entirely new to him.
But one thing Mr.. Cochran Is not doing
and that is TO let the shade" OF his prede
cessor get away with 1t without struggle
In his first blow against theN phantom
Mr., Cochran tcok advantage OF science
He was cruising In the North Sea In his