Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-21
]. COLEMAN DRAYTON
Likely to Fight a Duel With His
Wife'S PlatOniC Lover,
ALTHOUGH THAT PRIVILEGE HAS
Been Denied Him by the Seconds Of the Young LO-
thario in Paris-A Very Sensational Scan
dal Involving a Leader Of the Four Hun
dred-Both on One Vessel.


ago, ]. Coleman Drayton, Of Philadel-
phia, a member OF one OF the wealthiest
and best known families in the Quaker
City, and one that stood pre-eminent
in the social world, was married to Miss
Gusse Astor, youngest daughter Of
William B. Astor, Of New York. Mrs.
Drayton is sister of Mrs. Orme VIII
son, and was one of the upper ten Of
New York's "Four Hundred" She is
described by those who knew her be-
fore her marriage to Drayton as one Of
the most modest and demure women in
New York society, and at the same
time one of the most charming, both in
mind and personal appearance. She is
a pronounced blonde, with beautifully
carved arms and neck and profusion
Of the most beautiful hair.
To such degree was sha looked upon
as the personitication Of innocent loveii-
ness that she was taken as model for
the celebrated picture Innocence,
which represents her beautiful figure
and face in repose and her wealth of
golden hair coiled about her shapely
head, while she presses snow-white
dove to her pure maidenly bosom. The
picture Is one OF great artistic merit and
intrinsic value, and her friends, many
of them have copies Of it and feel proud
in It's possession.
After their marriage Mr.. Drayton and
his bride made an extended tour OF
Europe, and returning settled near New
York in an elegant mansion to life Of
elegant leisure. Near them lived q
young man we'll known in New York
society and club life, Mr.. Hallett Alsop
Burrowe. Mr.. Burrowe soon became a
fond admirer of Mrs. Drayton, and fre-
quently went driving with her and spent
much time in her company at her home.
Mr.. BCrrowe and Mrs. Drayton de-
clared their affection for each other was
purely Platonic, but Mr.. Drayton seems
to have deemed 1t little too intense
nevertheless. 1t Is related that Mr..
Drayton frequently found Mr.. Burrowe
and his wife alone in the drawing room
of his house as late as l o'clock in the
morning, and on several occasions rather
than meet the man whom he suspected
Of being too intimate with his wife he
reached his room by way of the SER
wants staircase.
IL is also related that a coachman
who drove Mr.. Burrowe and Mrs. Dray-
ton on their pleasure jaunts became
very lax as to his duties, frequently be-
coming intoxicated and in every way
showing his lack of regard and respect
for Mrs. Drayton and Mr.. Burrowe, and
boasting to his friends that Mrs. Dray-
ton dared not discharge him because of
knowledge he had Of the actions Of her.
self and her Illicit though Platonic
lover, Mr.. Burrowe.
Mr.. Drayton demonstrated with his
wife concerning her actions and called
her attention to the publicity her con-
duct was getting. AS a result OF this,
family council was held, at which it
was agreed by the relatives OF Mrs.
Drayton to pay to Mr.. Drayton S5, 900 a
year and SIS, OC0 year for their three
children, the children to be under the
care OF the mother, provided she cut the
acquaintance of Burrowe. II she failed
TO cease receiving the visits of Bur
rowe, the care of the children and their
$4,000 was to revert TO Drayton.
After this arrangement had been
made, Mr.. and Mrs. Drayton sailed for
London and took house atWimbledon,
Mr.. Drayton spending most Of his time,
however, In London, where he made
the st. James Club In Piccadilly, his
headquarters. Burrowe arrived In Lon
don in January and took up his abode
at the Hotel Victoria.
Burrowe's presence IN London is said
TO be in response to note from Mrs.
Drayton, who told Mr.. Burrowe that
her life was miserable without him.
Soon after his arrival DraYton found
Burrowe and Mrs. Drayton lunching to-
gether at the Midland Grand Hotel. Ac-
cording to Burrowe's friends, Drayton
came upon them accompanied by two
detectives and said:
"Ah! caught you again; when are you
two going to bolt?" and left the room.
1t was not long afterward that the
correspondence passed between the two
men which is printed below, and Drayton
endeavored TO bring about duel. Bur
rowe was ready enough, but his Sec
onds, Harry Vane Milbank and Edward
Fox, refused to allow him to fight oil
the ground that Drayton's conduct In
accepting money and the fact that he
had been suspicious OF his wife five
wears before he had challenged Burrowe,
forfeited his right TO ask for the sat
isfaction of a gentleman. Neverthe-
less. Drayton has notp hesitated among
his friends to attribute Burrowe's
conduct to cowardice. Burrowe tele-
rrauhed to friends in America some
time ago that he would sail yesterday
on the Majestic. Fearing that the cir
stances that he had announced his de-
partnre by the Majestic and had not
sailed on her while Drayton had, might
lend color to Drayton's charge that
Burrowe was afraid OF him, he started
for Queenstown at an hours notice.
This is the reason why there may be a
tragedy on board, though Milloank will
do his best 10 prevent It,
Following is the correspondence
above referred to:
81. james Club, PicddillH W., Feb. 1, 90.
Sir:
wrote you a week ago informing
Won would be in Paris on the 27th or
2sth of January and my address in case
YOU wished TO have an interview with
me there. Perhaps the letter never
reached you. II you should be willing
to meet me in Paris 10 discuss certain
matters of interest to us both, can
meet you there on couple Of days no
tice. and can assure gou we can have a
sufficiently long interview to settle any
disputes between Us.
/ shall expect an answer, therefore,
before Thursday, or ] will take 1t for
granted you do not desire the proposed
interview. Signed,
J. COLEMAN DRAYToS.
To the above the following reply was