New-York tribune., 1900-04-28
DIVORCE FOR MRS. STOKES.
REPORT To BE CONFIRMED
GIVES HER $1,000 A YEAR
AND THE CHILD.

The motion to confirm the report Of ex-Justics
William y. Cohen. OF the Supreme Court as referee
in the action for divorce brought by Mrs Rita Her.
nandez dAlba AcOsta Stokes against her husband.
William EarIe Dodge Stokes was called before
Justice BischOT in Special Term Part III OF the
Supreme Court yesterday Mrs Stokess attorneys
Sheriff. & lockwood stated the motion merely
TO confirm the report OF the referee The Court
asked II there was any opposition, and in
formed that there was none
The papers submitted 20 Justice Bfschor con-
sisted of the findings and report of the referee n
proposed decree be signed BY the Justice and an
application to have all the papers. and especially
the evidence taken ir the case. sealed UP against
inspection by any person except the parties inter-
ested in the action and those authorized by order
OF the Court The proposed decree set forth that
the action brought for an absolute divorce on
the statutory ground, and that the referee after
hearing the testimony has found that offence as
charged mas been proved. and dissolves the
riage between Mr. and Mrs Stokes Mrs. Stokes
Is permitted 70 marry again IN the same manner as
II her husband were dead. and Is allowed retain
her maiden name OF Rita Hernandez dAIba
Acosta- The custody of their only child. William
Earle Dodge Stokes. jr. is awarded 70 Mrs Stokes
but the decree directs that ne shall be removed
from the United States without the written
Of his father. who shall be permitted 20 visit the
child and be visited by him upon such days
requested by MS father Mr.. Stokes is be allowed
to receive letters from the child and TO write 10
him. and in the event of the renarriage OF Mrs
Stokes he may make application TO the Court for
the custody of the child.
Mrs. Stokes is TO receive aulnony at the rate OF
$1,000 a year from the date Of the Judgment IN
monthly tnstalments Of s. coo. be devoted 10 the
support and maintenance OF herself and child dur
ing her life until shall marry again. in
which case the aimOny Is terminate
Justice BischoH said that would confirm the
referees report. The usual formal recited
IN the opening Of the report viz that the plainttn
and defendant married in this city Janu-
rs4-~ rHs ~4r~ -rz arrTau At
the time Of the commission 0f the offences charged
the plaintiff and defendant were actually residents
of the State If New-York- that the issue OF the
marriage is William Earl Dodge Stokes. IT.. Who
was born January s. 1856.
The fourth finding Of fact reads as follows:
That al the Hotel Lafayette. in the city of Phil
adeIphla, State of Pennsylvania, the defendant
herein, on November % 1859, in one OF the suite OF
terry with a woman known Mrs. ". e Coates,
the real name of the said woman being unknown
The fifth finding of fact says
That in the year 1899, and prior 70 February 2
and on February - 1895, at No. 22S West Seventy
T. n t3e Borqggh Of ManRan bL city and
adultery with woman known as y, the res!
name OF the said woman being unknown
The referee fnds that the bonds OF natrirnony
between the plaintiff and defendant should be dis
solved. and that judgment should be entered IN
accordance with the decision
While the newspaper, reporters were reading
b ugs Too end s s Th+ 35 Gsnar3
IN Igo-n dI 1-l,
the report had been left told the clerk that law
made the report public document and that any
body had right see H.
After much discussion Mr.. Saunders and the law
yer's clerk went before Justice BiSchOf. After
hearing the statements OF Mr. Saunders. Justice
BschOff the report back TO the reporters.
ing that they had perfect right TO see the facts
contained in it.
Mr.. Stokes valuable real estate in this
city and is multl-rnillionalre- He IS the son Of
the late James Stokes banker and brother OF
Arson Phelps stokes and a nephew OF the late
William Earl Dodge He and Mrs Stokes sep
arated winter, Mrs. Stokes taking their child
with her Mr.. Stokes denied his wt1e's charges OF
I inddelity in the answer fled by him.
The SuOkeSeS married January s, 1885,
/ when Mrs. Stokes nineteen years old Mr.
I Stokes then thirty-seven. and was supposed to
be a confirmed bachelor. Archbishop COrrigan Of
fciated at the ceremony. Mrs Stokes IS daugh-
ter OF Ricardo AcOsta. a rich Cuban who lost his
Cuban estates because Of his hostility the Span
iSh cause.