Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1895 — COLT AFFAIRS WELL AIRED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COLT AFFAIRS WELL AIRED.

Wife Forestalls Her Husband in Bringing Legal Action. A Providence, It. 1., social descended with double force when Mrs. Sampel P. Colt filed her petition for di-

vorce with the Supreme Court and 1 almost immediately after a writ for the arrest of .Tames J. Van Alen was issued on the affidavit of Mr. Colt, charging him with the alienation of Mrs. Colt’s a ff e c t i ons and placing the damages at $200,000. These two acts

in the Colt domestic tragedy followed so closely one after the other that Rhode Island society stood dazed at the lightning changes in the early in the afternoon when Mrs. Colt’s petition was filed, but in less than three hours after that the writ for the arrest of Mr. Van Alen had been issued and was on its way to Newport in the hands of a dephty sheriff, who was instructed to ac.■eopr not leas thkn.s4oo.ooo in bail. Mrs. Colt’s petition was signed “Elizabeth B. Colt,” and it represents that sjie was married to Co!. Colt Feb. 12, 1881. Since that time-she has, the petition says. “Demeaned herself as a faithful wife and performed all the obligations of the marriage covenant, but that the said Samuel P. Colt ka,th violated the same.” The petition prays that a decree of divorce may be granted and that she may bo granted a separate maintenance and the custody of her two minor children, Russell G. Qolt, 13 years old, and Roswell O: Colt, 6 years of age. As soon as Col. Colt learned that his wife had filed her petition making him defendant in her divorce suit he hurried to the court house,’accompanied'by his attorney, and a writ was issued charging James J. Van Alen with the alienation of Mrs. Colt’s affections. The writ was immediately placed in the hands of the Sheriff, with instructions' to serve it at once and to require Mr. Van Alen to furnish bail. It was stated by Col. Colt’s attorney that if the case ever comes to trial the Country will be shaken by a sensation that has had no equal within the annals of society history, and that the names of some of the wealthiest and most prominent society people of New England, as well as State officials and one man who’ has occupied a high position in national affairs, may be given a publicity that will place them in a most unenviable light and* that will surprise their most intimate friends.

J. J. VAN ALEN.