The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-12
TATTNAMESDR. YANDEWATER
IN DIVORCE SUIT, AFTER FIRST
WITHHOLDING NAME.
Clergyman ~ Correspondent VIII Have
the Right to Appear and Defend Him.
self-His Vestry Exonerated Him
Last Year-Is Columbia's Cha plain.

the Right 10 Appear and Defend Him.
self-His Vestry Exonerated Him
Last Year-Is Columbia's Cha plain.
The Rev DR.. George r. Van De Water Of
St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church,
in Harlem. left town yesterday morning at
just about the hour when papers were
filed in the Supreme Court proposing to
submit to a jury the question whether or
not he committed adultery with Mrs. Adele
F. Watt, whom he married to Archibald
Watt. formerly commodore Of the Ameri
can Yacht Club. after she had obtained a
divorce from former husband. Besides
being rector Of st. Andrews, DR.. Van
De Water Is chaplain OF Columbia University
and was formerly Chaplain OF. the Seventy
first Regiment, and went to Cha with that
regiment in 1898. Mrs. Watt has been a
guild worker in DR.. Van De Waters church.
Last July Mrs. Watt began an action
for separation. alleging cruelty and abusive
treatment, and Mr.. Watt responded with a
counter suit for absolute divorce, mem
tioning as correspondent q clergyman
who was not named DR.. Van De Water
was named, however, by six Of his vestry,
who took cognizance OF current rumor.
and in the rector's absence in Europe
issued public signed statement, In which
they said:
II the statements in said afddavit refer
to DR.. Van De Water, we most emphatically
do not believe that they are true, wherein
they charge or insinuate any wrong on his
part"
After DR.. Van De Waters return from
Europe, the vestry discussed tho matter
and exonerated him.
The case came before the court again
yesterday. when John c. Shaw. attorney
for Mr. Watt, asked Justice Blanchard, in
Part /. Of the Supreme Court, to frame the
issues in Mr.. Watts counter charges against
hf p wd May se for 'S Mr. WATT sad d that a.
of the issues should 60 to . jury. not only
those In the defendants charges. Justice
Blanchard said that that was the practice
and 80 ordered.
Technically, the Judge frames the issues,
but some thirty-fve queetions-referred
to as issues Of fact-were fled in the Su-
preme Court yesterday for submission to
the jury: The Jury trial cannot be reached
nss s to fall a,e ne ncse these
questions, in which 1t Is desired that the
jury find the facts.
Did the plaintiff at any time or times In
the years 1900. 1901 or 1902: at any place In
Jersey, or elsewhere. commit adultery with
George X. Van De Water2
Did the defendant during The month OF
in the city Of New York. commit adultery
With a woman known as Irene Rice?
the years 1901. 1902 and 1908. on board the
yacht commit adultery with Irene Rice?
have a number OF dissolute women aboard
his yacht, the American. and drink cham;
sorts of wines, which conduct on the part
Of the defendant humiliated and annoyed
plaintiff and caused her great pain and
anguish Of mind?
other questions ask the jury to find out
whether Mrs. Watt found letters In her
husband 3 possession written by woman
named Ire ne; whether afterward, taxing
him with unfaithfulness, she secured from
relations with the woman; and whether,
after that. in the fall OF 1901, he introduced