New-York tribune., 1919-09-06
Ricardo de AcOsta
Accused of Cruelty
In Separation Suit
Drunkenness, Neglect, and
Desertion Other Charges
Brought by Wife; Says
He Pawned Her Jewelry

Two socially prominent and wealthy
families are represented in a scpara-
tion suit brought yesterday in the
Supreme Court by Mrs. Marie de Acosta
against Ricardo NJ. de Acosta. The
plaintiff is a daughter Of Frederick dc
Zaldo, member of banking and COM
mission firm in Cuba, whose family
gave large sums to the cause of Cuban
independence.
Carlos de Zaldo, an uncle of Mrs
de Acosta, was the first Secretary of
State Of Cuba. Mr. de Acosta is a
brother of Mrs. Philip Lydig, Mrs. Oren
Root and Mrs. A. Robson Sargent He
is graduate OF Harvard, class of 04, a
member of the Racquet and Tennis
Club and the Garden City Golf Club.
He is an Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci.
Mrs de Acosta charges that her hus-
band took their child to dine with "the
other woman"
Cruelty abandonment and non-sup-
port, all the grounds the law provides
for a separation action, are charged
by Mrs. de Acosta. She charges her
husband laid violent hands on her, that
he showed a drunken indifference for
the welfare of their daughter at a
time when she was suffering from
mastoiditis, with leaving her after
showing much attention to another
woman and with failing TO provide
for his family since July, 1918.
Wedding Social Event
The marriage of Mr.. and Mrs. de
Acosta in 1910, at st. Leo's Roman
Catholic Church, was a social event.
The bridegroom's best man was Vance
S. Manson and the ushers were l.
Townsend Burden, jr., Alexander
keogh, Thomas B. Clarke, jr., Robert
S. Manning, Emmct Harris and Henry
J. de Acosta. The couple lived at lO1
East Scventy-fourth Street.
vembcr Is, 1917. her husband, without
provocation, "angrily and roughly
grasped the plaintiff and struck and
wounded her on the neck" In July
and August, 1915, she continues in her
complaint, the daughter of the couple,
then four years old, was suffering from
mastoidits, for which she underwent
two operations. 1t is alleged that on
no less than three occasions Mr.. de
Acosta, in this period, returned to his
home "in drunken and quarrels ONE
condition." On each occasion he
abused his wife, she charges. and
caused noise and confusion, which in
terfered with his child's recovery and
untitled the mother for her proper
care.
For three days and three nights in
1918, Mrs. de Acosta alleges, her hus-
band remained away from home. and
because of his conduct it was impos-
sble for her to retain servants.
To Her Shame and Disgrace
AS often as one hundred times, says
Mrs. de Acosta. her husband went to
restaurants and hotels, instead Of COM
ing home to his meals, and when in
dine out with him. At such times. she
adds, he "notceably was not in a fit
condition to do SO, to her shame and
disgrace"
Continuing her charges, Mrs. de
Acosta says her husband pawned her
jewelry to pay his club bills and other
debts the most priced of these arti-
ces being ring, valued at $1,000
which she received from her uncle.
The wife also alleges that in 1918
her husband consorted with another
woman and once took his daughter
with him to a public restaurant whore
he was in the company of the other
woman Mr.. de Acosta, says his wife
abandoned her on November |, 1918
and that daily since then he has been
in the company Of the unnamed other
woman. The plaintiff has requested
him to return to her and their daugh-
ter, who is now eight and half years
old, but he has refused to do so.
Through another person, says Mrs
de Acosta, her husband announced that
he felt very little interest in his child
that his wife was fully competent tc
care for her, and that so far as rights
to his daughter were concerned he
would give her over to his wife.