£10,000 LIBEL ACTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13187, 26 May 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

£10,000 LIBEL ACTION.

A PRINCE, AN AUTHORESS, AND TOWN TOPICS.

New* Yoke, March 26.—Mr. John Aimstrong Chani'er; who is closely related to the Astor family, has commenced it suit for libel, claiming £10,000 damages, against Colonel W.D. Mann, the editor of Town Topics. Mr.Chanlerwas. formerly, the husband of Amelie Rivers, the author 'of "The Quick and the Dead," the marriage being dissolved in 1895 on the ground of incompatibility of temper under the easy divorce laws of "South' Dakota.

In the following year Mrs. Chanler married Prince Pierre Troubetskoi, who was then visiting America, and staying at the Rivers' mansion in Virginia. Mr. Chanler was soon afterwards declared insane; and confined in the Bloomingdale Asylum, whence he escaped, subsequently establishing his sanity at a judicial investigation. ~\ v ' ,

Town Topics published in 1903 a paragraph which created a sensation by alleging that Mr. Chanler was hanging around Charlottesville and constantly riding and driving with the Princess, at whose bouse he was a frequent visitor, and to whom lie made costly presents, during Prince Troubetskoi's absence. It. was further said that an understanding existed between the two men, and the paper gave what purported to be the text of telegrams said to have been interchanged as follows:— ?,; "Our Amelie ill, needs money. Will you sunply?Teocbktskoi" : and" the. reply : "Will with pleasure. How much"'— LEK.'' "■ .' " ['■.' ': : ■ -.v l '. :?■

Mr. Chanler alleges that the article suggests an infamous condition of collusive familiarity. . , ' '