The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-08
Vanderbilt Divorce
Justice Barrett Grants Mrs,
William X. a Decree.

Given the Custody of the ChiIdren.
Result of the Scandal in Which
The Name of Nellie Neustretter
vieured-The Papers Sealed-Wh.
lies Cav Life.
New York, March 6.-Mrs. Alva e.
vanderbilt was granted a decree of
shso,ute divorce from William K. Van
Asrbilt. by Justice Barrett in the su-
.ranoe court yesterday. Under the de-
Gree Mrs Vanderbilt may marry again,
hut Mr.. Vanderbilt cannot do so during
bis divorced wifes life time. VIM. K,
as he is commonly called, Is to be per
rnttted to visit the children at all prop
or times They are to receive their
education in the United States. upon
consent OF both parties. The three
children are Consuelo, William K. jr.,
and Harold S. Mr.. Vanderbilt has
made ample provision for his wife.
He has formally agreed to pay her
hmm sum. considered entirely sufficient
nv Mrs Vanderbilt and her attorneys.
n Is said that Mrs. Vanderbilt will sail
for Europe to-day for a long visit, her
three children to accompany her.
Histo v of tie Trouble.
The domestic trouble between Mr..
and Mrs Vanderbilt. which eliminated
In a divorce, became public gossip in
soctal circles last August. The first
intimation that Mr., Vanderbilt and his
wife were to separate came to public
notice when a cable dispatch from
Paris was received announcing that
Mrs Vanderbilt was arranging with
her lawyers to institute divorce pro-
eeedngs against her husband. There
was considerable mystery who the
woman In the case was but soon the
news came from Paris that the woman
who would be named by Mrs. Wander
hllt as correspondent was Nellie Neus-
trN5tter, a young woman of American
birth who had been living in Paris
quietly until she attracted the atten-
ton OF Mr.. Vanderbilt. Then, 1t was
said Nellie Neustretter established
herself in grand style In a suite Of ele-
gsnt rooms with many servants.
His Gay Life.
The first indication that all was not
as 1t should be between Mr.. Vanderbilt
and his wife that started their ac-
duaintances in Europe talking, was
when the party on the yacht Valiant,
which had been cruising in the Med
iterranean, broke up suddenly and to
the surprise Of many of the guests
Of the Vanderbilts
II is said that Cornelius Vanderbilt
went to London to act as peacemaker
but failed to make compromise.
The proposition submitted to her was,
1t Is said, that she should consent to
Eepera ton and that Mr.. Vanderbilt
would give her So 900, 900, the custody
Of her children, and the possession Of
the three houses at Newport, Islip and
in this city.
Then came stories from Paris to the
effect that Mr.. Vanderbilt was leading
4 very gay life aud was spending mon
ey in a way that made all Paris Won
DIR and talk These stories were de-
med by Mr. Vanderbilt's friends who
did not hesitate to denounce the state
ment that he had established Nellie
Neuatretter as his mistress, as false
hood
she Was Miss Alv smith
On September 2S last. Mrs. Wander
blt and her three children arrived in
this city by the steamer Lucania From
the wharf SHE Went at once to Newport
and family council was held. 1t is
said another effort was made to In
duce Mrs. Vanderbilt to keep out of
the divorce court. She would not do
as her family wished, but insisted upon
am absolute divorce
Mr.. Vanderbilt first met his wife In
1875 when he was 20 years old. She
was Miss Alva Smith, a southern girl.
then is years old. They met at a re-
ception given by his sister, Mrs. Elliott
F. Shepard. Within year they were
married. They went to Europe on their
honeymoon and then returned to this
city Mr.. Vanderbilt built a gray-stone
house at SD street and Fifth avenue
which cost s3,000,000 He also built a
marble house at Newport which cost
H,OOo.0O0. which he gave to his wife.
The espondcnt.
Nellie Neustretter, the woman who
said to have caused all the trouble
X native of this country. She was
ecrn in Eureka. Nevada, and received
good education at Miles seminary,
Alameda county. She then went to
san Francisco and had gay life.
In 1884 she met and married a cigar
drummer named Henry Neustretter
He was away from home most OF the
ume and Nellie led a rapid life. In
1897 she came to New York with a
notorious woman named Laura Edel-
men. Of Los Angeles. Neustretter got
divorce from Nellie. About a month
ago. 1t Is said, she gave birth to a boy