New-York tribune., 1921-03-08
Miss Barrymore
And Colt Sign
SeparationPact
Actresses Lawyer Says There
Will be no Divorce; Three
Children With Mother,
Father Has Companionship
1nfelicity, Drew Asserts
If Anybody Is at Fault, 1t
Is Husband, He Adds;
Stage Star Quits Hospital

Stage Star Quits Hospital
A statement announcing that Miss
Ethel Barrymore and her husband,
Russell Griswold Colt, have separated,
was issued yesterday by William Nell
son Cromwell. attorney for the actress,
at 40 Wall Street.
Mr.. Cromwell's statement settled the
intermittent rumors of ten years, dis
closed the conditions of separation as
not including a suit for divorce and
made it plain that Miss Barrymore
would have the custody of her three
young children. although Mr.. Colt
would have the opportunity of their
companionship.
The statement did not mention the
filing of any papers. and there was no
allusion to Mr.. Colts attitude or the
original cause Of differences and the
grounds for separation were not set
forth. Miss Barrymore would not add
anything to Mr.. Cromwells statement.
and Mr. Colt could not be located.
Infelicity, Says Drew
John Drew, Miss Barrymore's uncle.
living at the Woodward Hotel. to
which Miss Barrymore was taken on
Sunday from Flower Hospital, said the
grounds might be expressed as "do-
mestic infelicity."
Whatever the cause is, it is Mr..
Colts fault" he said.
nv Cro,ou,ol1 ox1~or.aJ
after repeated attempts to run down a
report made public on Sunday. His
! statement reads:
Mrs. Barrymore has refrained
from making any statement whatever
regarding her domestic concerns, and,
of course, have counseled this atti-
tude and have myself strictly adhered
to it heretofore. But in view of the
wide publicity which has been given
the subject, it seems wiser to clear the
atmosphere by now confirming the fact
that Mrs. Ethel Barrymore Colt has
definitely separated her life and home
from Mr.. Colt and that separation
agreement has been formally executed
by both parties and is in actual opera
tion.
"By the agreement Mrs. Barrymore
Colt has the sole care, custody, control
and education of the three young chill
dren. Mr.. Colt has the opportunity of
companionship with the children, sub
ject to the arrangements and conven->
fence of their mother and the health,
physical conditions and studies Of the
children, as determined by her.
Recovered From Illness
"The numerous friends of Mrs Bar
rymore-Colt will be gratifed to learn
that she has practically recovered from
the surgical operations upon her fin
gers and tonsils, at Christ Hospital,
York, made necessary by the infection
of the deadly germ streptococcus veri-
dan, which was generated while recent
ly on tour in Declasse'-a germ de-
structive of the bone or other sub
stance surrounding its lodgment.
Fortunately, X-rays located its pres
ence in only the two places mentioned.
"Dr. l.. L. Danforth. Mrs. Barrymore
Colts physician for many years, and
DR.. John D. Richards, who performed
the tonsl operation, to-day released
their patient from hospital treatment,
and she has this morning taken up her
Woodward, where her uncle, John
Drew, and his daughters family make
their home.
GAS every one knows who cares for
my opinion, l seldom make statements
of this nature, and do so in such in
stances with the greatest reluctance.
But l have reviewed the marital life
of the past eleven years in every single
detail, and ! have not yet finished my
examinations, but I assume full pro-
fessional responsibility for my conclu-
sions and advice in the course which
has been taken"
III J.. &N
tell what he had discovered in review
ing the married life of Miss Barry
more and Mr.. Colt, it may be assumed
that this definite announcement justi-
fies in measure some of the many
rumors current from time to time. The
rumors started in November, 1910,
little more than year after the we'd
ding, in Hyde Park. a suburb Of Boston.
Divorce Rumored in 1911
In July, 1911, it was reported that
divorce proceedings actually had
started, and that while in California
Miss Barrymore had sent to New York
an affidavit in which she told of differ
ences with Mr.. Colt. 1t was even said
that Miss Barrymore would not ask
alimony, but would ask for her chill
dren.
month later Miss Barrymore and
Mr.. Colt together declared there was
no truth in any of these rumors
Reports of estrangement became cur
rent again. month ago, while Miss
Barrymore was in a Cincinnati hospital
She would not discuss them, but Mr..
Colt, in his Offices here at so Broadway,
vehemently contradcted all such re-
ports, and objected to any publicity.
"You could come down here on
Broadway" he said, task any stranger
whether there were separation proceed
ings against him, and then print his
denial, as reasonably as in my case. I
am in touch with my wife by telephone
every day. and at least once a week
have been going to Cincinnati to see
her. The only basis for these reports
is that we must live apart frequently,
because she is on the stage"
At Mr.. Colts Office yesterday it was
said that he was out of the city, and
would return in several days, but that
his present address was unknown. One
report was that he had gone to Palm
Beach, another that he had lunch Sun
day at the Yale Club.
Mr.. Colt served as an army lieuten
ant overseas during the late war, and
has been in various business ventures
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