“Cast-off Son”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 10, 13 January 1936, Page 9

“Cast-off Son”

YOUNG ACTOR’S CLAIM LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18. Tlio claim of Mr. Robert E. Thomas, 27-year-old actor, that he is the cast-oil son of May Yohe, onc-timo possessor of the famous Hope diamond, was branded in Boston as “preposterous and false” by Miss Yohe. Mr. Thomas was moved to take his claims to the Now York Supreme Court, involving a 2,000,000dollar estate.

“I will light his claim if necessary,” tho now Mrs. John Addey Smuts declored. Sho was supported by her husband, who said, ‘‘lt looks like a publicity stunt.” Mr. Thomas alleges that ho is the son of Putnam Bradley Strong, May Yoho’s second husband; that Miss Yohe gave up custody of him and that he was adopted by Mr. E. E. Thomas, Hollywood apartment manager. The marriage of Miss Yoho and tho wealthy, socially prominent Mr. Strong stirred theatrical and social circles in the early nineteen hundreds. Mr. Thomas first made the assertion that he was tho son of Miss Yohe last July. Since then, Hazel Potts, reared on a farm near St. Peter, Minnesota, has laid claim to being the daughter of May Yohe and Lord Francis Hope. Lord Francis, once owner of tho famous Hope diamond, was Miss Yohe’s first husbandThe present denial was the first statement Miss Yohe has made since Mr. Thomas first claimed to be her son. She has boon seriously ill since she foil down a flight of stairs last summer. ‘‘lt seems funny to me,” she said, “that he did not get in touch with mo when he learned ho was supposed to bo my son. Instead/ho let the story break from other sources. It is all rubbish, Perl/aps ho is looking for some publicity and a share in tho Strong fortune,' We’ll fight it to tho end.”