New-York tribune., 1922-06-07
New Yorker Granted a De-
cree 2 Weeks Ago, Ii l.
Revealed: Prima Donna
Drops Counter Charges
Given Settlement
OF 100000, Report
Greatest Secrecy Shrouds
Proceedings: Diva May
Return TO New York
BY Wilbur + orrest


PARIS. June s. Alexander Smith
Cochran. New York multi-millionaire.
has been granted divorce from Nine
Gamma walska. Polish prima donna. by
the Paris Court m which Cochrans
action was brought
Under the terms OF the decision the
singer agreed 20 accept a financial set
dement, reached out OF court and TO
withdraw any counter action that had
been instituted against the millionaire
Details in the case arc extremely few
although IL is known that the decree
was handed down about fortnight
ago after an extremely brief hearing,
and that the papers were finally signed
and sealed last Friday.
Cochran was not present Al the hear
ing The evidence presented by his
lawyers is understood 10 have been
sufficient to convince the presiding
Judge that the ineompstibility between
the couple was permanent and could
not be overcome
100000 TO Singer. Report
Although the exact sum Of money
settled on Nine. Walska by Cochran Is
not known. d, Is believed 10 be in the
neighborhood Of 5000, 900. Out Of this
her lawyers are 20 be paid The size Of
the settlement Is said 10 be extremely
disappointing 20 the singer, who had
expected greater sum because OF
what she had referred 10 as the mental
cruelty OF which she said her husband
was guilty.
The greatest secrecy has been main
tanned In the case since the return 20
Paris recently on the same ship of
Dudley Field Malone. Walska's lawyer.
and Alvin Untcrmyer, representing
samuel Untermyer, Cochran's chief
counsel. The fact that the case had
heen disposed OF has been suspected
Z mere for some days, although Il could
rot be established definitely until to-
day.
Nine. Walska wanted 100000 - the
Y price of divorce. her counsel hinted
Y last October. six months after she
separated from Mr. Cochran. but this
was far too high In the estimation
~ the millionaire's lawyers. He pre-
vious.y had offered her $4,000 a year.
After considerable negotiating. both In
New York and Paris, IL was reported.
MAY Is. from France that a settle
,mcnt had been agreed upon under
which Nine. Walska would receive the
Income from trust fund Of 5000 900
and possession Of the Cochran home
In Paris. A report that the singer
would get Sl.5Oo.0c from Mr. Cochran
was denied as "an absurd fabrication
by Samuel Uniermyer.
The grounds upon which Mr. Coeh-
ran sought divorce have not been made
clear IN cable dispatches. One report
. was ;ha, he would incidentally chal
ienge the legality Of Nine. Walska's di-
voree from her first husband. Captain
Archadie d'Eingorn, Of the Russian
army That separation came IN 1914
soon after the marriage when Nalska
was only seventeen years old. Other
rcports said that Mr.. Cochran would
charge desertion.
soon afterward Nine. Walska came
% New York. A short time later she
received report % the death Of Cap
tain d'Eingorn on the Polish front m
1914 Later sne became tne prlde OF
DR. Joseph Frankel a New York psy-
eholoris,. but he died within q few
months. She decided 70 go abroad. On
the Aauitania, which carried her 20
Europe. were two men who subsequent
lv were 10 play leading parts in her
life-Mr. Cochran and Harold ?. Nc
Cormiek. former president OF the IN
ternational Harvester Company Nc.
Cormick. interested in music, hacker OF
the Chicago Opera Company and
sponsor for Nine Walska in getting a
contract for her with the Chicago com
pany. introduced the widow TO Cochran.
Clashed With Mary Garden
Mr.. Cochran. known widely As Amer
iea's wealthiest bachelor. was forty
hve and no longer considered by most
women he met as giving any thought
10 marriage. But IL was different IN
This case. and Mr. Cochran and Nine.
Walska were married in Paris IN Sep
tember. 1920 Returning 20 America
with her husband. Nine. Walska was
signed TO appear in "Zaza" with the
Chicago Opera Company. On the eve
of her appearance. which was 20 have
been marked by the wearing Of many
Jewels. she suddenly left Chicago for
fconunusd on pass thrs