The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
MRS. H. COLT SEEKS
SEPARATION ANDSON
Granddaughter Of Former New
York Mayor Demands 5000
a Week Alimony.

lOTk Mayor DcIldHus SSVV
a Week Alimony.'
Mrs. Elizabeth Bovine Colt, grand
daughter Of Walter Bovine. who served
two terms as Mayor of New York. began
suit in the Supreme Court yesterday for
separation from her husband, Harris
Dunscombe Colt, a lawyer. with Offices
at 30 Broad street For several years
she has fought for possession OF her son.
Harris Il. Colt. Jr.. now II years old.
In her complaint, filed yesterday In the
County Clerks office, Mrs. Colt demands
5000 a week alimony. $1,000 to defray
the cost of her suit and the custody Of
her son.
Mrs. Colt alleges that she was mar
ried to the defendant in Flushing. l.. l.,
December 10, 1894, and that since Janu-
airy. 1911. they have lived separately
without her consent. She says since
they parted he has failed to support her
or provide her with home and still
fails TO do either. although on July II
she offered to return to him on condition
that he support her. She contends that
her husbands income from his profess
sion is between $4,000 and $4,000 per
annum and that his realty holdings
amount to s15o,ooo.
Husbands Accusation.
Mr.. Colt began suit for a separation
from his wife In June, 1911, before JUS
tice Guy Of the Supreme Court. He al
legged that his wife was addicted to the
use Of alcohol and that although he had
done everything in his power to help
her overcome the habit his efforts were
without success. Mrs. Colt responded
that she used the alcohol In medicines
to relieve pain and nervousness brought
on by her husbands treatment of her.
The suit was discontinued in May,
When Mr.. Colt took the boy with him
to England on a business trip in Decem-
Der. 1919. Mrs. Colt Is alleged to have
employed detectives 10 shadow him while
in Europe. Another chapter was written
In the affair after the father and son re-
turned from England. Mrs. Colt accom-
panied by two men. abducted the boy
from In front Of the Armory Theatre,
BinghamtOn. N. y. on the night Of
March .. 1913 They jumped into a
high power motor car and sped over
the mountain roads of Pennsylvania.
with Deputy United States Marshal s.
Y. Black In pursuit. The boy was re-
covered a few days later by his father.
and when Mr.. Colt appeared in the SUI
preme Court at Buffalo on March 3.
1913. he regained custody of the lad
At a secret hearing of the case In Buff
talo on March %. 1913. Mr. Colt alleged
neglect and abuse OF the hoy. Mrs Colt
denied all charges and said she was af-
lcted with uncomfortable loneliness be-
cause of the separation from her son.
She said that she was worth 100000
and had made a will in favor Of the boy.
Both Wanted Boy Xmas Day.
When the Christmas season came in
1913 both parents began to argue who
should have the boy on Christmas Day
The Supreme Court at Buffalo decided
that he should remain with the mother
from noon until 6 p. NJ. The rest OF the
time he would be with his father.
Suit and cross suit followed. The case
was fought in New York. Buffalo.
Bridgeport. Conn, and Greenwich. Conn.
but the majority of the decisions were in
favor OF the father. Then N 1917 Mrs.
Colt started another suit in Bridgeport,
Conn. and during the proceedings told the
court how a certain mysterious Miss X.
the daughter of a prominent New Yorker.
went TO Europe on the same steamer
| with her husband In 1908, spent night
L d
went to Stuttgart. Germany. with him.
The name of Miss X was kept secret by
both counsel, but Mrs. Colt said that the
young lady travelled without maid or
chaperon.
Addiction to strong drink was charged
against Mrs Colt, who did not deny that
she had been sent to a sanitarum Be-
fore going to the sanitarium she said
she signed pledge. at her husbands
request promising not to drink liquor
ste broke the pledge when she found
| that her husband was having her
watched. but said she believed It applied
TO whiskey and did not include brandy.
gin or absinthe When asked by the
Judge If she always drank according to
teaspoonful measure she replied: "Oh,
| drank highballs all my life
| Mrs Colt was made defendant in n
! case of another nature In 1913. when
Warren q. Demarest. carriage and auto
mobile manufacturer OF New York. sued
for $50, as the result OF letter in
which she was alleged to have called
| him cad.
Letter to Mrs. Atwater.
The statement was contained in a let
ter addressed to Mrs. Theron Atwater.
Jr,. residing at the Plaza Hotel, New
| 10TH Inc ie'teT WAS hS loiioWs:
| My Dear Grace fully expected to
see you In court to-day. II was too bad
you were not there to hold dear War
ren's hand when he was defeated. Oh.
Grace. low can you let yourself be in the
power of such rotten little cad? You
have such a nice boy, and now that that
hoy Is ut such critical age why can't
| you be decent honest and truthful and
make him proud OF you; not ashamed. as
he soon will be?
! Your Warren behaved like a gentle
man to-day although you have given
me to understand that re would act like
cad. Nevertheless ! am sure 81, 1850
and costs would not have pleased him
much 10 lose. never believed until the
last time saw you that all along you