New-York tribune., 1922-03-31
Cochran to Sue:
" alska Threat
T. Called Bluff
Un'ermyer Bares Plan of
Millionaire to File an
Action for Divorce on
the Charge Of Infdelity
Suit Delayed by Request
Lawyer Says Diva's Gesture
Is ''Dust'' 10 Indicate
That She Has Grievance

Nine. Gamma Walska's offensive prep
arations for the legal battle with her
wealthy husband. Alexander Smith
Cochran, as they were reported yes
terday from Paris, were characterized
last night by Samuel Untermyer, Mr..
Cochran's attorney, as "just so much
dust kicked up to create the impre ession
that the woman has a grievance
"Mr. Cochran" said Mr. Untermyer,
"intends to carry the burden which he
has assumed from the day he left Nine.
Walska, of proving that she has been
unfaithful and that he is entitled to
be divorced from her.
Even the most clever and cx-
perienced matrimonial acrobat in Con-
'tinental Europe cannot change facts
by legal gymnastics
Dudley Field Malone. Nine Walska' S
counsel, was said in Paris dispatches
to be on his way to New York to file
divorce papers which will give an en-
tirely new complexion to the affair.
Nine. Walska is said to contemplate
naming as correspondent a we'll known
society woman.
First Hint of Counter Suit
"This oleventh-hour yarn, apparently
inspired by Mr.. Malone" said Mr.. I'm
termyer "is the first suggestion that
Nine. Walska- Cochran has any COM
plant against Mr.. Cochran, or that
she contempates bringing any suit
against him. If Mr.. Malone regards
that as tactics, it is rather a queer
and questionable performance in the
light of facts.
"We have been holding off the fling
Of the papers against this woman for
more than two months in response to
the urgent and repeated appeals of
senior counsel here, with whom Mr.
Malone is associated
"Mr. Cochran came all the way from
Europe in order to sign the complaint
in his suit for an absolute divorce
against Nine WalskA on the ground of
her various acts Of alleged misconduct
He executed the papers before return
ing to Europe on March H.
'The first excuse given to induce Us
to delay beginning this suit was that
the woman's counsel here wanted Mr.
Malone given an opportunity to consult
his client in Paris; then because they
wanted us to wait until Mr.. Malone
and another OF their counsel had re-
turned here from Paris, so as to dis
cuss matters with them.
Cochran Opposed Delay
"Much against my clients protests
and very reluctantly. the papers have
been withheld in response to these ap-
peals for delay. But before I would
consent, her counsel here were re.
quired to obtain from their client 6
written authority for them to appear
for her as defendant in Mr. Cochran s
suit That stipulation was signed in
Paris, and therefore granted the de
lay, as we were thus saved six weeks
time.
During ali these many months there
has at no time been the slightest sug-
gestion of any complaint or counter
charge against Mr. Cochran. and I an,
satisfied that it is a mere afterthought
1t is just so much dust kicked up tc
create the impression that the woman
has grievance, when, IN point of fact
she has been from the beginning. or
the defensive.
"If Mr.. Malone or his client have
any idea that they can take this sort
Of advantage of our misplaced conf
dence and indulgence to turn the tables
at this late date, they will find that
they are mistaken."
Nine. Walska married Mr.. Cochran
in Paris in September. 1920. She hac
been married twice before. Her first
husband was Captain Arcade d'Ein.
CORN, whom she married in Poland
when she was seventeen years old Dr.
Joseph Fraenkel, New York physician
was her second husband. She married
him in 1915 when she was appearing
as "Ma 'mselle Ntouche," at the Cen
tury Theater He died in April, 1920.
Prior to her marriage with Mr.. Coch-
ran. Nine. Walska was with the Chicago
Opera Company Mr.. Cochran inher-
tied from his father carpet mills il
Yonkers which, with other family
funds, gave him a fortune estimated
at 5000, 600.