The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-03
VALET IS A WITNESS
vANDERBILTs MAN IS HEARD IN
 SECRET. ' a..
Divorce ProceedinEs Caused No Sur prise Among Friends of the Famiiy--MfIiionaire is Now
 On Voyage to Europe.

New York, April 2.-The first testi- mony in the divorce suit of Mrs. Elsie French Vanderbilt against her hus- band Alfred Gynne Vanderbilt. which was filed in the Supreme Court yes terday was taken today before Ref cree Davis Mcclure.
 Howard Kempster, the personal valet of Mir. Vanderbilt, was the one wit . ness called. The fact that the valet did not depart with his employer on the Mauretania yesterday caused some comment. but his appearance before the referee would indicate that the reason he did not do so was that 1t was the desire of the parties to the action to rush matters through. or by arrangement was not shown.
 When the hearing was adjourned none of the persons interested would talk for publication but it was ad- mitted that the evidence and recom- mendation of the referee probably would be in the hands of the court before MT. Vanderbilt reaches the other side on the ship Mauretania.
 Usually in cases of this sort the taking of testimony does not begin for weeks after the appointment of the referee and then is allowed to drag. The explanation for the haste shown in this case, given by those most closely interested, is that Mrs, Wander bilt is anxious that 1t should be dis posed of at once
 Kempster was in the apartments Of MT. Vanderbilt at the Plaza tonight but refused to see callers. He has ar ranged to leave for Europe as soon as his services in the present case are no longer needed.
 There was little surprise expressed in any quarter today over the. an nouncement that formal action in suit for absolute divorce had been taken by Mrs. Vanderbilt against her husband.
 Rumors of impending action which have been in free circulation since March 26 when Mrs. Vanderbilt hur- riedly left the Vanderbilt farm at Portsmouth, R. l., are said to have caused surprise only outside the so- cial set in which the couple had been leaders. Within that circle 1t had been known for year or more, 1t Is said, that there was lack of good feeling between the young people.
 While the parties to the trouble and all their intimates as well have maintained the utmost reserve since the reports of family tnfelicfties be- came public a week ago. many stories have found their way into print. AS many of these had been generally ac- cepted as true there seemo llltle uouDl that some definite action would be taken at an early date. 4
 Mir. Vanderbilt has declined to com ment upon any of. the stories. When questioned about the departure of his wife. from the Rhode Island farm to her brothers home at Tuxedo Park and asked if he had been consulted before the move was made. he replied that Mrs. Vanderbilt was free to visit
 
 consent.
 He and Mrs. Vanderbilt flatly re- fused to discuss the relation existing between them on the ground that It was a personal affair in which the public had no concern.
 MT. Vanderbilt's departure for Eu- rope had been planned for early In the week but delayed until yesterday at the last moment. This delay. 1t Is now said, was brought about through the service upon him of papers in his wife's suit for divorce.