New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-27
HEARS ASTOR SUIT
by Justice Mills in
WTcs fiction.

JuStee isaac \. Mills has granted an APP
phcauon, It was learned yesterday, for a
feieree to take testimony in the sepat alton
SUIT brought by Mrs. John Jacob Astor
against her husband Colonel John Jacob
Astor. the present head of the Astor fam
lily
The application was made to Justice
Mills, of the 9th Judicial District in cham
bers on October Is. one day after Mrs.
Astor's return from Europe. and while the
colonel was on his yacht southbound for
cruise in Cuban waters. Charles II.
Young, lawyer of No. IS William street,
last years president of the Republican
Club was appointed referee and has held
several hearings in the case already, &C
cording to information given out in White
Plains
Mr. Young. who returned late last night
from Albany, when asked about the case,
remarked briefly.
Il have said nothing and will say moth
ing"
Rhinebeck, in Duchess County. the es-
tate of the Astors and the birthplace of
Colonel John Jacob Aston. is in the 9th
judicial District, where Justice Mills sits.
Colonel John Jacob Aston the present
head of the Astor family was born on July
IS. 1864, the son OF William Aston an1
Caroline Schermerhorn. He traces his de-
scent direct from the Van Courtlandts, one
of whom was the last Dutch Governor Of
New Amsterdam to serve his full term be-
fore tho occupation by the English forces.
Colonel Astor became the head of the
Astor family in 1892. and at the same time
probably the richest landhoIder in America.
He built the old Astoria Hotel, adjoining
the Waldorf. and later the St Regis and
the Knickerbocker He has devised and
patented a bicycle brake. pneumatic road
improver and a turbine engine In 1894 he
branched out as an author. when he pub
lished his "A Journey in Other Worlds
novel dealing with tlle adventures OF three
men who visited other planets, which was
widely discussed and commented upon.
His title Of Colonel came to him first az
a member of the staff of Governor Levi p.
Morton. but later. in 1898. at the outbreak
of the Spanish war, he was commissioned
lieutenant colonel of United States Volun-
teers and served in Cuba. For use in that
war Colonel Astor presented to the federal
government q mountain battery.
Mrs Astor is the daughter of Edward
Shipper Willing, of Philadelphia. She was
married to Mr.. Astor on February IT, 1891,
in the Willing home in South Broad street
Philadelphia by the Rev. DR.. William Nell
son McVickar rector of the Church of the
Holy Trinity in that city, the Bishop OF
Pennsylvania assisting
Colonel and Mrs. Astor have two chill
dren. William Vincent Aston and Ava
Alice Muriel Astor, born in 1891 and 1907
respectively.
Mrs. Astor succeeded the late Mrs Will
lam Astor as the recognized leader of New
York society and in her social activities III
England has entertained King Edward. In
this country the Astors have entertained
lavishly at Newport and at their country
estate. Ferncliffe, in Rhinebeck as we'll as
in their Fifth avenue home, at 65th street
Mrs Astor returned from Europe on
October Is and went for a few days rest
to the home of Benjamin s. Guinness, at
No Washington Square North, leaving
there last Sunday for the country Colonel
Astor left New York on his yacht the
Nourmahal on October T. just three days
before his wife's arrival from abroad. He
is cruising in Cuban waters near Havana
at the present time.