November 24, 1912

JACQUES BUSTANOBY SUES FOR DIVORCE

Thomas L. Reynolds and Ernest L. Britton Named as Co-respondents by Restaurateur

Wife Heiress To Millions

Husband Produces Letter She Wrote Upbraiding Reynolds for Drawing Her Into Misconduct

One of the most remarkable letters figuring in divorce
proceedings in this State for many months was made public yesterday as one of the exhibits in the suit being brought by Jacques Bustanoby, the restaurateur, against Ruth Boyd Bustanoby, heiress to millions and stepdaughter of Frank H. Ray, an official of the Tobacco Trust. Mr. Bustanoby resides in Huntington, L. I., and the divorce action is being brought in the Supreme Court of Suffolk County. Two co-respondents are named in the complaint, which alleges misconduct on the part of the defendant in the years 1910, 1911, and 1912. Both of the co-respondents mentioned in the complaint are well known, the first being Thomas L. Reynolds, brother of State Senator William Reynolds. Reynolds conducts a large real estate business at Madison Avenue and Forty-second Street, and was a former business associate and intimate friend of "Big Tim" Sullivan. Ernest L. Britton, a Manhattan stock broker and member of the New York Athletic Club, is the second man named in the complaint. Mr. Bustanoby charges the young wife with misconduct with Reynolds in 1910 at 17 East Forty-fifth Street. He fixes the Belmont Hotel in this city and the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Canada, as the places of her alleged transgressions with Britton. He further asserts that his wife and Britton left this city on April 5 on the General Grant, representing themselves as uncle and niece. Mrs Bustanoby is now a resident of Brussels, Belgium, where she has purchased a chateau. The complaint charges that Britton, who is advanced in years, is at present living with the defendant in her new home. The court has ordered that the summons be served by publication.

Mrs. Bustanoby's Letter

In support of his allegations against his wife Mr. Bustanoby has delivered to his lawyer, Herman L. Roth, of 1,402 Broadway, a number of letters. The attorney yesterday declined to make any of these public with the exception of one written by Mrs. Bustanoby to Reynolds. The missive reads as follows:

June 22, 1911

My dear Mr. Reynolds:
You have often heard the old adage, "Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good," and to my mind it is a very true one and very apropos in the present situation. Although I have sunk deep in the mire of hypocrisy and deceit, and the "ill wind" has blown very strongly on me, in the end it has awakened the dormant woman in me, and the child that was is absolutely vanished. It is now the woman who rises up in indignation to judge you.

Remember, I do not hold myself guiltless. I admit and confess that the glitter of deceit blinded my eyes and attracted me, but the eyes were those of a child and were therefore deserved a little forgiveness.

But yours were the eyes of a man old in years and experience and in the ways of the world. What right had you to take advantage of my inexperience? You can only argue that you thought me unhappy with my husband. Even so, a man, a real man of natural honesty and good intentions would have respected my unhappiness and would not have attempted to enter my life in any way, whatsoever.

But you, a man supposed to be upright and honorable, presented me, a child. Ignorant absolutely of the world--your world--with temptations to leave my husband, to secure a divorce from the man who loved me, and thank God, who does yet; the man who offered a safe, sheltered life, protected from danger--you attempted to make me forget the loyalty I owed him when you knew that I was under the influence of a woman whose whole life has been a pernicious offense to all who love good.

Was that a manly thing to do, Mr. Reynolds? Is there any excuse that you can offer? Why, of course, there is none. I fully realize your purpose now. You and that woman were very clever, but good must prevail and the mistake you made was that you overlooked the fact that I am good.

I despise you both now more than I can ever say. I so abhor you that if ever I should pass one of you in the street and my dress should by accident brush against one or the other I should burn the dress as something foul and unsanitary.

Tells of Love for Husband

I love and respect my husband with my whole soul, and the "ill wind" has blown me some good in making me realize that men of your stamina are a blot on the human race. I want you to fully understand that these words come right from the bottom of my heart--the heart of a woman now--and that I mean every syllable of what I have written.

RUTH BUSTANOBY

Ruth Boyd, then a schoolgirl, ran away with Bustanoby, whom she had known only a few weeks, on June 10, 1907. She was then a student at Miss Ely's school, and at the beginning of the Summer holidays was introduced to Mr. Bustanoby at her mother's home, 104 Riverside Drive. Later, with her parents, she was invited to spend a weekend at Mr. Bustanoby's home in Huntington. He pressed his suit with impetuosity: but Ruth's mother declared that she was much to young to become engaged. The pair came from Huntington to this city and were wed at The Little Church Around the Corner. Mr. Bustanoby was then 27 years old and his bride was barely 17.