New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-05
AST0RS DIVORCED
FIN4L DECREE M4DE
BY JUSTICE MILLS.
Terms Of Settlement Sad To
Be $500 900 a Year
Judgment Not Sealed.

BY the terms OF a final decree of d.
vcrce which Justice Mills. in the Su-
rreme Court. AT White Plains. granted
Yesterday 10 Mrs. Ava Willing Astor
from her husband. Colonel John Jacob
Astor. Mrs. Astor gets the custody of
their daughter. Ava Alice Muriel, while
Colonel Astor retains their son. Will
lam Vincent. The decree is in the
usual form. and contains no men,
ton OF alimony. as it is said that
Mrs. Asfcr and her husband reached an
agreement on this subject before the suit
was begun.
II is reported that Mrs. Aston is to
nave an income of 100000 year in ad-
diiion TO the fortune that was settled
upon her at the time Of her marriage in
lieu of dover rights.
Justice Mills's order was filed in the
County Clerks office at Poughkeepsie in
the afternoon The order says regarding
the custody OF the children:
Il is further ordered. adjudsed and
decreed that the custody OF William Vim
cent Astor the son of the parties. be
and the same hereby is awarded to the
defendant. but the plaintiff shall be per-
enc particularly in case Of his illness or
disability. and 10 consult and advise q s
70 his education. and that he, the said
William Vincent Aston. shall be per
united TO visit and remain with the
plaintiff for some definite period of a
least one month in each year and that
The custody Of the said Ava Alice Muriel
Astor. the daughter Of the parties he
and the same hereby is awarded to the
plaintiff. but the defendant shall be per-
,-aff
ann TO consult and advise as to her edu-
cation. and she. the same said Ava Alice
Nurfel Astor. shall be permitted to visit /
the defendant from time TO time.
BY the terms of the decree Mrs. Astor !
may marry again during the lifetime |
Of the defendant. but the defendant shall |
not marry again until the death of the |
Plaintiff. unless this court shall in this
respect modify this judgment"
Crowd in Courtroom.
The courtroom was crowded with spec
tators. as many thought that Mrs Astor
might be there. not knowing that she
IS in Europe.
II was the fourth case on the calendar
q the Special Term. which Judge Mills
convened at 10 o'clock. At 1915 o'clock
Hugh Bayne. of the firm of Strong &
Cadwaladcr. moved for the confirmation
OF the interlocutory decree which Judge
Mills granted TO Mrs Astor at New CITY
il; Rockland County. on November :.
nr Bayne told the court that he had
an affidavit from q clerk in his office and
the clerk Of Duchess County that an
interlocutory decree had been granted
on November 8 and filed in the Dutchess
County Clerks Office
He went on 10 say that the necessary
three months which must elapse before
2 final judgment could be granted ex-
rired on February 10. and that the thirty
days extra allowed by statute thereafter
within which the final decree must be
applied for would not be up until March
l., He then moved for = final decree.
and said that a notice Of the motion. to-
gether with copy of the form of the or
der had been served on the defendants
attorneys.
Commodore Lewis Cass Lcdyard rep
resenting Colonel Aston said that the
proposed form of final decree conformed
with the provisions Of the final judg-
ment. The papers We're then handed TO 5
Judge Mills and the lawyer for Mrs
AstoT expected that he would sign them
tlHmediately. but instead he said he ,
would look them over and sign them be-
fore he left the bench.
An hour later Justice Mills affixed his {
signature and gave the final decree TO
Mr.. Bayne. who went at once 10 Pough-
keepsie 10 file the judgment (
Secrecy About Alirnony
There was a surprise for the lawyers
when they examined the judgment as :
Justice Mills had determined there :
should he no more secrecy about the
case. He Endorsed on the paper these l
words: 4
THE Clerk Of Dutchess County is here |
by ordered not to sea! the above final I
judgment"
The lawyers connected with the case
would not say a word about the settle 7
nlent which Colonel Aston had made I
with his wife. Commodore Ledyard c
said Il don't talk about private affairs.
If You had any private secrets you
wouldn't reveal them, would you?"
colonel Asior and Miss Ava Willing
were. married in Philadelphia on Febru-
airy L. 1891 William Vincent Astor
was born on November Is of that year
and Ava Alice Muriel Astor on July :,
1902. Mrs Astors intention to sue for a I
divorce became definitely known in Oc- u
her, 1909. Ii is not known what was :,
the basis for the action, as the papers :
were ordered scaled when the interlocu- :
tory decree was granted. :,