Evening star., 1923-04-25
BLOWS MARK GRON
EXPOSE OF DIVORCE
Row Starts as Wife's Attor-
ney Attempts Reply Before
1900, Who Hear Diplomat.
ipecial Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PORTLAND, Me, April 25.-Neils
Gron, Danish diplomat, and Attorney
Joseph L. F. Connolly, counsel for
Madeline Marsters Stone Gron in her
successful divorce case, came to
blows and wild excitement reigned.
necessitating the calling of the police,
following public meeting in Pythian
Hall last evening, where Gron had
explained to some 1900 persons his
side of the divorce case, and his for
mer wife's attorney undertook To
warn Portlanders against following
Mr. Gron's leadership.
The two men engaged in a debate.
talked In unison at times and called
each other such names as traitor -
''contemptible brute" liar" ant
criminal"
Connolly Seeks 10 Speak.
Mr.. Gron announced his adjourn
ment OF his meeting at $3.50 O'CLOCK
after a peaccable session III which
ne explained his plan for vote o.
Portland people on board Of publiE
guardianship for his nine -year-old
son, Niels, jr. He made several ref
erences TO ''pharisees." and, looking
in the direction of Connolly. said thar
there was one present This evoked
dress but when the latter, with u
wave of his hand. announced that til"
session was adjourned until ThursdaE
night, Mr.. Connolly arose, While peo-
pie were starting to leave the hall.
and ordered all TO remain, adding thai
he had something to say.
Astounded, Mr. Gron asked Mr.. Cor
molly to wait until he got an inv
tation.
hi a6
Gron descended from the platform.
He shouted TO the assemblage in thu
hall he had hired. this is a tribunal
of public opinion"
The audience was asked to mani
fest by a rising vote whether II de-
sired to hear from Connolly, who is
former Judge of Portland superioC
court. Some fifteen arose and said
they wished to hear him talk. The
balance arose and sided with Gron.
People Cheer Gron.
1--WE are dismissed" said Gron. tri
umphantly. as he put on his overcqa'.
70 the Pharisees. If he wishes"
But Connolly was unperturbed. Hc
continued to talk, and Gron continued
to shout in unison. and the greatcT
part Of the audience voiced its dis
pleasure by rafting chairs. pounding
their feet on the floor, Kissing and
booing and shouting to Connoll:
Hire a hail. Applause and cheer
were given for Gron. This interfer
ence did not disturb Connolly.
He continued. You have sat he.n
listening to an attack on our court.
and you do not realize what thai
means. You are getting near to con
tempt of court. This man has assail"I
our judges and you are following hiia
in his fool effort. This man. unG"-
the protection OF our flag, is dragging
the courts in the dirt and degradin-
their judgment. He was deprived o.
entering this country during the W.
because he was trafiiching with our
enemies
Wife ApPlauds Gron.
Gron walked into the hall with ltf
bride, who was Mrs. Sadie Dusenberry
Gowan, an Psychologist. His wife
seated herself in the front row ana
applauded her husband.
Gron attacked Judge Sanborn for
granting the divorce and custody -oS
the child to the first Mrs. Gron. 4
sister of Edgar Lee Masters. the poet.
and charged Bishop Brewster had
conspired with Mrs. Gron TO ruin his
career.