The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-04-03

Now York, April 1.-Within an hour
afte.' he had sailed for Europe today
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt was made
the defendant in suit filed with the
sup enc SQUIRT BY his wife, Ellen
French Vanderbilt.
The nature of the action was not i'm
me,4iateIy disclosed and counsel for
the plaintiff refused tonight to say
whether MIS-. Vanderbilt seeks a di
vorce or legal sepa. alton from her hus-
band.
Justice O'Gorman before whom the
proceedings were instituted, appointed
David Mcclure, a local attorney, as
referee to hear testimony and to re-
port findings and recommendations to
the court.
TIE Offices Of the county clerk are
cACssd at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Only a few moments before that hour
the county clerk received the papers.
BY The time he was through with them
it WaS too late for the papers to be
OH cially recorded todaE.
The papers were placed in a safe
anu will be formally entered tomorrow.
MRS. Vanderbilts attorneys are Carter,
LeGyard and Milburn.
MIS-, Vanderbilt was Ellen French,
daughter Of the late Francis Ormond
French, president Of the Manhattan
Trtat Company and director Of many
wui:rCads. Her mother has been abroad
for many years, but is returning for
the wedding Of her grand daughter,
Miss Pauline Leroy French, and Sam
uei Wagst2M to take place 1T Newport
Ou Eiay 5.
Ellen, Or IS she was more generally
known as Elsie French, was married.
to Alfred Vanderbilt on January II,
1861.
A year latter their only child, Will
fiam Henry, was born.
Mr.. Vanderbilt as the second son of
the late Cornelius Vanderbilt, inheri-
ted something like 100000, 900 He has
been regarded as the head Of the fam
aly since the estrangement which fol-
lowed the marriage of Cornelius, the
eldest son, to Miss Grace Wilson. Dur
Ing the past year or so Mr.. Vanderbilt
has spent much of his tinlG abroad.
But recently he returned from London
where he planned to drive the coach
Venture as a public coach this spring
between london and Brighton. Later
he Is to be one of the judges at the in
ternational horse show at London,
where his horse won many trophies
last year.
Mr. Vanderbilt sailed today on board
the Cunard Mauretania, upon which
his cousin, the duchess of Marlborough
was also a passenger. The duchess
br. lcen the guest lately OF her moth
er, Mrs. 0. H. P. Belmont. Just before
tie Mauretania left her pier Mr.. Van
derbilt declined to discuss the report
that a separation from his wife was
Imminent
The domestic affairs of Mr.. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt have engaged public atten-
tion since March "a, when Mrs. Van
derbilt, accompanied by her son and
maids, left oakland farm, near New
port, r. T., and went to the home OF
her brother, Amos Tuck French, at
Texedo Park this state. Much of the
furnishings of the Newport home have
been shipped to Tuxedo
The French cottage at Tuxedo, which
is known as "Tucks' Eden" has been
put into share, il IS said, for Contin-
ued occupancy.
Mr.. Vanderbilt while here has had
apartments at the Plaza hotel.
At Tuxedo tonight it was said that
AIRS. Vanderbilt had left New York
and that she might so on to New
port
1t was learned late tonight from an
official in the county court house who
saw the papers III the case that Mrs.
Vanderbilts action is one for absolute
divorce.
Chandler P Anderson, Mr.. Wander
bilt's personal counsel, who was seen
tonight in regard to the suit, said:
You see | am in no position to talk
on the affairs of my client"
When Mr. Anderson was informed
that it had been learned that the action
was for absolute divorce, he said:
fI cannot talk"