The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-30
mrs. pRAYsoA,s DEFENCE.
VIII Claim y Confess'on Her Husband Ha'
Wac (ss, Under Dorsss.

NEW YORK. Jan. 29.--This was TO
have been the hrst day OF a public hear
ing Of the famous suit OF J. Coleman
Drayton, 10 divorce the daughter OF Mrs.
William Astor, on the statutory ground.
II had been settled that IN the Vice
Chancellor's Court. in Newark. the law
yers on both sides were 10 argue Mrs.
Draytons demand that her husband
should show cause why she should not
file an amended answer to the complaint,
but X. A. Lndaberry. one Of Mrs. Dray-
tons counsel was engaged I'm Jersey City
for the American Tobacco Company, and
got Mir. Drayton's counsel TO agree TO a
posiponement until later in the week.
Az soon as this preliminary point Is
settled the divorce case will proceed 10
trial at Bernardsville. N. j.
The Astors, that Is the mother OF Mrs.
Drayton and her brother. John jacob,
are standing behind her IN this case, and
propose TO fight IL TO the last.
When this case came up several months
ago Mr. Shipman said Mrs. Drayton
will win her case. when she answers
MIR. Drayton she viii do II In such fash-
ion that she cannot fail 10 win.
so confident are the Astors that Mfs'
Drayton cannot lose, that Mrs. W1lham
visit, In order that she may De Win hci
daughter.
IL is being freely circulated. ana upon
excellent auth ,rity that Mr.. Drayton,
with other evidence OF Mrs, Drayton
guilt, will present letter IN her own
handwriting, both body and signature, in
which she admits her guilt.
lie thinks that this I'm itself VIII De
sufficient 10 decide the case In his favor
dspute the authenticity of this letter.
At first glance, 1t would seem that she
thus gives up her case. but 1t Is said mat
her defence completely destroys any Ell
feet such letter might have.
IL is said that she claims that the let
ter was written under duress: that she
did 10 entirely against her Will, being
oyerpowered and driven to 1t.
She will deny absolutely that there Is
any truth in the letter.
No confirmation of this story could be
had last night as both sides are very
close-mouthed, neither knowing 10 what
extent the other Is going 10 80 III oi"'i
TO win the case.
This letter. so Il Is said by Mrs. Dray-
TOMS friends. will be the most sehsatloh-
al feature Of the ease. ON the othcI
hand. Mrs. Drlytoh's trierds say lhat
her defence against this letter VIII pe
even more sensational. 49,
While II was manifestly impossiOie ior
the Astor family to let this SUIT 20 ny
default. still that would not explain inc
s,rong confidence they have that
Mrs Dravton will not only beat her nus
hand but win come out of the trlal III
such good condition that society VIII re-
ceive her with open arms. for sOoic'S
TO receive her thus means that MT DldS
ton will be cast into outer darkhess;
among the weepers ana WALTERS anu
enashers OF teeth Mr.. Draytons irleius'
on the other hand, are Just as CoIi,u''.
that Mrs. Drayton will be utterly peat
en-. -, eh,
IL seems most probable that the heht
will cendre about this letter. IL 1t exists
A. will be as strong a card as MI. pray
ION could possibly play TO relule II
Mrs. Drayton must get upon the stahu
and swear TO some most potent COERCION
I'm order to get judge and jury to pelleVe
her And this Testimony of hers must
be corroborated by many details OF inc
private life of these two, when VIII To-
feet most seriously upon Mr. Draytoh'
Roth sides are playing for tremendous
stakes in this stiit-about the biggest
stakes ever laid upon the table In a game
OF this kind.
Mr.. Drayton Is playing for the children
Tor his own character as man OF hohoI'
and for the ruin of his vie and for an
indelible stain upon the escutcheon OF
The Astors. $780,,
Mrs. Drayton plays for the chlidreh-
as she Is "A mother. IL Is Just ana reason
ahle 10 nut these nrst-for the everlasting
ostracizing of her husband. for the re-
-nabitation of her clouded character, ana
for the fair name of the women Of the
great Astor family.
II is mighty game. with broken lives
and broken hearts as the inevitable re-
suits of the losing.
And II looks as If IL were all 10 turn
about a letter. which Mr.. Drayton VIII
say his wife wrote Of her own free Will;
which Mrs. Drayton will say she wrote
,,n1ar iurpps.