The herald., 1894-08-30
SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE.
Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt's Suit
for Divorce.
Nellie Newsletter the Cause Of
the Trouble.
The Young Millionaire Lavishing
His Wealth OH Her.
UnavailinE Efforts OF the Family and
Friends to Prevent the Divorce
Procesdings-society
All Agog.


New YORK, Aug. 29.-The statement
in a morning paper that Mrs. w. K.
Vanderbilt is about to bring separation
proceedings has not, it is alleged, ere.
ated surprise in circles where the rela.
tions OF the pair have been known.
That they have not lived harmoniously
for the last two years has been the gossip
OF fashionable circles for some time.
The crisis in their affairs. according to
the Commercial Advertiser of today,
was reached Immediately after the run.
ming of the Grand Prix de Paris June
18th of this year.
Mr.. Vanderbilt, says this authority,
won 10000 francs on the race and al
most Immediately after receiving his
winnings was introduced to q woman
we'll known for her beauty and numsr-
GUS following among the lights in SWELL
dom. This person was Nellie Neus-
tretter. She fascinated the mil
lionaire. and as an evidence of his
appreciation of her company he paid her
the 10000 francs so openly that several
friends saw the unusual occurrence, and
demonstrated with him. The story of
how he fitted up a magnificent estsb-
lishment for her in Paris, and snbee.
quently gave her a residence at Dean
vile, with servants and every luxury
she desired, is true. It shocked and
surprised the American residents OF
Paris, but Mr.. Vanderbilt was so open
in his attention as to puzzle everybody.
- ho - okn ~,
was to allow the servants of Nellie
Neustretter to wear the same livery as
worn by Mrs. Vanderbilt's servants.
This was commented upon by those who
saw her and her equipsge in Paris and
Dsanville.
The Vanderbits, according to n
afternoon paper, have lived apart sinc~
early last spring. Mrs. Vanderb bilt has
spent the summer in England at an
estate on the Thames, near London,
which had been rented for her, while
Mr.. Vanderbilt has spent bis time in
Paris. 1t is alleged that when some
time ago tentative agreement of sep
aration was reached, Mr.. Vanderbilt
agreed to settle upon his wife $4,000
900.
When the news of the gift OF 40, 900
francs to Nettie Newsletter reached Mrs.
Vanderbilt, she at once communicated
with her friends in America and set
about to procure divorce. Cornelius
Vanderbilt went over to Paris hastily to
patch up matters. and the story is that
he met William K. his brother, with
whom he has influence. and hearing his
story, secured from him q premise not
to mako the details of his differences
with his wife public.
Cornelius Vanderbilt also saw Mrs.
William X. Vanderbilt and heard her
story. He made every effort to bring
about q reconciliation, but failed in
everything except the stopping of di.
vorce proceedings. 1t was at this time
that Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt began
to suffer from nervous prostration. 1t
was during her illness, it is understood
generally, that she changed her mind
about the courts and was willing to do
anything to avoid the publicity that
must follow suit for divorce.
Col. and Mrs. William Jay, both
friends OF Mr.. and Mrs. William X. Van
derbilt, then went over and they are
even now trying to effect reconcilia-
ton and save the publicity of a scandal,
but are not meeting with exceptional
success.
have found that Mrs. Vanderbilt has
made propositions to her husband to
provide her and her children with an
income, and the uss of their town house
at Fifth avenue and Fifth-second street,
and the Islip house. The marble man
sion at Newport is hers, and in her
name that William K. Vanderbilt gave
her outright. 1t is the general impress
sion this side of the water, that Mrs.
Vanderbilt will not ssek divorce and I
have not heard that Cornelius Wander
bilt has a promise from William K. that
he will not attempt proceedings Of that
nature in his own behalf.
''Nellie Newsletter ia one of the most
notorious women OF the upper class of
her kind in Paris. She is acknowledged
to be one of the handsomest women in
Paris, and has been for some time one
of the gayest of the gay set. Who in.
troduced her to Mr.. Vanderbilt do not
know exactly. l have heard, but that
does not matter.
There has for several years been more
or less talk in society here and at New
port concerning both VIM. K. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt. He has been fond of yacht
ing and pleasure generally, and
naturally would excite comment on
account OF his great wealth and
habit of travelling from place to place.
sometimes with, and often without,
Mrs. Vanderbilt. Mrs. Vanderbilt is
fond of society and is greatly admired by
women as well as men. She found
pleasure in entertaining and at times in
travel. Gossip did not amount to any
thing, however, until two years ago
when it was currently reported at New
port that Mr.. Vanderbilt had decided to
leave America and reside abroad. away
from Mrs. Vanderbilt. At that time
friend OF Mr.. Vanderbilt in explaining
his determination. said Mrs. Van
derbilt was too exacting and that
she demanded too much OF him.
and that he did not care to create
scandal il they could not agree. How
the matter was patched upl cannot say.