DOMESTIC STRIFE.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17786, 10 August 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

DOMESTIC STRIFE.

DISCORD BETWEEN MUSICIANS. SINGER SEEKS DIVORCE. (From a Correspondent.) CHICAGO, June 29. Details of the domestio strife of Edith Mason, prima donna, and her husband, Giorgio Polacco, conductor, both of Chicago Civic Opera Company, were recounted in her suppressed divorce bill, which was made public to-day by Circuit Judge Harry M. Fisher. The bill also makes_ charges of cruelty, reciting threats with a revolver and beatings.

All the charges in the bill are on the grounds of mental and physical cruelty. There is no mention of another woman, although Miss Mason hinted in an interview that this was the underlying cause of her action. She refused to make a definite statement.

“Scenes” Behind Stage. The bill states that the Polaccos were married June 29 1919, and that they have a daughter, Graziella Polacco, 4 years old. "The defendant (Mr Polacco),” the bill stated, “appeared to take particular pleasure in creating scenes just before oratrix (Mrs Polacco) was due to appear on the opera platform, for the purpose of disconcerting her and making it impossible for her to appear at her best in such productions. “Many times while she was on the platform he made derogatory remarks about her, both to her and others, seeking to accomplish her entire discomfiture and embarrassment until it was impossible for her to proceed with her duties.”

These actions are said to have caused Mrs Polacco to have a nervous breakdown in February of this year, and to have compelled her to discontinue her opera tours.

Vicious and Vulgar Habits. The bill characterised Mr Polacco as a man of vicious and vulgar habits, and charges him with the use of obscene language towards his wife. It declares that he repeatedly told her “that wives and cattle should be of your own country.” In April, 1927, during a visit to Florence, Italy, Mr Polacco is said to have become enraged because lie was without funds. At the time he shook and cursed his wife, the bill states. In Milan, soon afterwards, he seized a revolver and threatened to kill her, according to the bill. The bill recites an instance of cruelty in their Chicago home in December of 1928; It also mentions others in Boston last February, and in a hotel in New York three hours before Mr Polacco sailed for Europe on April 12.

Seeks Custody of Child. Mrs Polacco asks the custody of the daughter, alleging that Mr Polacco is wholly unfit to be entrusted with her care because of his vulgar habits. She asserted that Mr Polaccu was not deterred in cursing by the presence of their daughter. The bill states that Mr Polacco has stocks and securities valued at £40,000 and real estate of unknown value. She asks that he be restrained from removing the securities to defeat her efforts to obtain alimony, and she also asks for the right to use her former name of Edith Mason Barnes.

The bill was filed on Friday and suppressed for service by Judge Fisher. Its publication was authorised by Thurlow G. Essington, attorney for Miss Mason. The suit had been suppressed to permit securing of service on Mr. Polacco, who is on a ship on his way here from Italy.