New-York tribune., 1909-11-09
AST0RS DIVORCED
REFEREE rs UPHELD.
Int6rlocufory Decree Granted
Bu Justice Mills.
Isr T.l.r-srh - II. rrrsn-. I

iEv Ieler-erh - TNe TrfNu-s
New CITY. n Y Nov S-Mrs T~hr
Jacob Astcr obtained an intsrlocutor,- di-
voroA from her husband. Colonel Astcr. in
the Supreme Court az this. rlace TODAY
All Of the papers in the case were sealed
and the utmost secrecy prevailed The
divorce was granted by Justice Mills on
the findings Of Fefsres Charles VI. Young
OF New York Mrs Astor vas represented
By Henry ". Taft Lewis Cass Iedyard
appearing for Colonel Astor.
On the train that brought Justice Mills
here this morning were Mr.. Taft, Mr.. Led
yard and Mr.. Young, and as soon as Jus
ttcs Mills ccnv, ned court he asked II there
were any special motions. Mr.. Taft arose
ard IN low voice said
u desire to present 20 your honor mo
tion which YOU have already read. II Is the
report or the referee. and ask that IL be
confirmed %
Justice Mills replied.
L have read the report Of the referee
and have noted that it confirms his and
ings. Therefore 7 will sign the Judgment,
il there are no objections
on hearing that Mr.. Ledyard offered no
objections Justice Mills signed the decree.
and also granted Mr. Tsfts request that
the papers in the case be sealed. Then Mr..
Taft and Mr. Ledysrd left the courtroom
together and returned 10 New York
Neither Of them would discuss the case.
and in all probability the evidence will re-
main a secret
PROBABLY no other big legal action has
been dispatched with as much rapidity AMI
as little notoriety. The whole court pro-
ceedings did not take more than five min
utes. and the case was the first called for
the day. Not once was the name AstoT men
toned by either OF the attorneys or Justice
Mills. The confirmation Of the report Will
be filed with the County Clerk at PouSh-
keepsie, and IN six months Mrs. AstoT VIII
have an opportunity TO go before the court
and ask that the decree be made absolute.
While none of the evidence in the case
has been given out. the arrangements re-
ported to have been agreed upon are that
Mrs. AstOr shall have the custody OF her
daughter. Muriel. seven years old, while
the son. Vincent. seventeen years old. Is 10
remain with the father. settlement of
100000 is said to have been made by
Colonel Astor for the benefit OF his wife
and daughter. with the stipulation that
they receive the income from that during
the life Of Mrs. Astor. the whole amount To
go TO the daughter on her death This set
tSmeuI does not luNOiNe any oi tH0 NaSt
Astor real estate holdings. however
With Mrs. AstOr in the West Colonel
Astor on a cruise in his yacht in South
American waters and the attorneys in the
case maintaining an absolute silence. little
OF the details OF the suit have reached the
ears Of the public The nature of the pro-
ceedings Indicate that the suit was decided
on statutory grounds. Friends of Colonel
lint at haf be Onl
evidence of guilt has been furnished by
him. but outside Of that they have said
nothing.
The hling of the suit on October 16.
the day after Mrs. Astor arrived from
Europe. was great surprise TO the
friends of the Astors. Colonel Astor had
already sailed with his son on his yacht.
the NourmahaI. for the West Indies and
could not be reached until he arrived at
Kingston. Jamaica. where he refused 10
discuss the case. saying only that he had
left New York to avoid 'meddlesome
people"
Previous TO her marriage. on February
Il. 1891. Mrs. AstOr was Miss Ava Lowle
Willing. of Philadelphia. Colonel Astor.
the third cf the Astors 10 bear the name of
the founder OF the family. was graduated
from Harvard in 1858. Aside from taking
care of his large fortune. Colonel Astor has
never engaged in active business. During
the Spanish War he organized and equipped
the Astor Battery. which did great service
i'm the Philippines. He himself became
lieutenant colonel of volunteers. and served
in Cuba under General Shafter. In addi-
tion TO a home at Fifth avenue and 65th
street. Colonel Astor has a two thousand
acre estate at Rhinebeck. lie is a member
OF thirty clubs.