Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-01
BoRRowE TO AID MRS. DRAYToN

Hallet Alsop Borrowe, VINO figures
so prominently in the proposed D:ay-
ton divorce suit, will be present at the
hearing of the suit at Jersey City next
Monday. Mr.. Borrowe says he has
been importuned by Mrs. Drayton's
counsel to appear as witness for her.
and that he will do so. The nature OF
the testimony he would II OF divulge.
The Astors, that is the mother of Mcs.
Drayton and her brother, John jacob,
are standing behind her in this case,
and propose to fight to the last. When
the case came up several months ago
Mr.. Shipman said Mrs. Drayton will
win her case. When she answers Mr.
Drayton she viii do it in such fashion
that size cannot fail 10 win.
So confident are the Astors that Mrs.
Drayton cannot lose that Mrs. William
Asior has arranged to delay her Paris
visit in order that she may be with her
daughter 1t is being freely circulated,
and upon excellent authority, that Mr..
Dray,on, with other evidence of Mrs.
Drayton's guilt, will present letter in
her own hand writing, both body and
signature, in which she admits her
guilt. He thinks that this in itself will
be sufficient to decide the case in his
favor. 1t is also said that Mrs. Dray-
ton viii rot dispute the authenticity of
this letter.
AT first glance it would seem thu t
she thus gives up her case, but 1t is
said that her defence completely de-
stroys any effect such letter might
have. 1t is said that she claims that
the letter was written under duress,
that she did it entirely against her will,
being overpowered and driven to it..
She will deny absolutely that there is
any truth in the letter. No confrma-
ton of this story could be had We'd
nesday night, as both sides are very
close mouthed, neither knowing to
what extent the other will go in
order to win the case. His letter, so
it is said by Mr.. Drayton's friends, will
be the most sensational feature of the
case. On the other hand, Mrs. Dray-
tons friends say that her defence
against this letter will he even more
sensational.
While it was manifestly impossible
for the Astor family to let this suit 60
by default, still they would not eX-
plain the strong confidence they have
that Mrs. Drayton will not only beat
her husband, but will come out of the
trial in such good condition that society
will receive her with open arms. For So
cety to receive her thus means that
Mr.. Drayton will be cast into outer
darkness among the weepers and wall
ers and gnashers of teeth. Mr.. Dray-
toms friends, on the other hand, are
Just as confident that Mrs. Drayton
will be utterly beaten.
1t seems most probable that the fight
will center about this letter. Ifit exists
it will be as strong card as Mr.. Dray-
ton could possibly play. To refute it
Mrs. Drayton must get upon the stand
and swear to some most potent coercion
in order to get judge and jury to believe
her. And this testimony of hers must
be corroborated by many details of the
private life Of these two which will re-
fleet most seriously upon Mr.. Drayton.
Both sides are playing for tremendous
stakes in this suit-about the biggest
stakes ever laid upon the table in a
game of this kind. Mr.. Dray ton is play
ing for the children, for his own char
acter as man of honor, and for me
ruin of his wife, and for an indelible
stain upon the escutcheon of the Astors.
Mrs. Drayton plays for the children
as she is mother, it is just and reason
able to put these frst-for the everlast-
ing ostracising of her husband, for the
rehabilitation of her character, sand for
the fair name of the women of the great
Astor family. Itisa mighty game, witt
broken lives and broken hearts as the
inevitable results ofthe losing. And 1t
looks as if it were all to turn about a
letter, which Mr.. Drayton will say bis
wife wrote of her own free will; which
Mrs. Drayton will say she wrote under