ROMANCE BROKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

ROMANCE BROKEN

THE BARRYMORE DIVORCE

WIFE CHARGES CRUELTY.

Hard on the heels of the marital smash-up of the much-vaunted "Royal Family of Hollywood," caused by Mary Pickford's divorce from wandering Doug. Fairbanks, comes news of the action for divorce filed by lovely blonde Dolores Costello from her husband John Barrymore, one of the famous "Royal Family of Broadway."

Miss Costello in her suit charged her husband with mental cruelty and habitual intemperance. A response was filed early in June, in which Barrymore denied the charges of cruelty and intemperance. He was reported at that time to have offered his wife 75,000 dollars to drop her case. Her action came without notice, although it was not exactly unexpected, since she and Barrymore had been separated several months. Early in April she moved —assertedly at his request— from the home they had occupied since their marriage.

On May 20 last a Hollywood publication carried a legal notice signed by John Barrymore and reading: "Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will not bo responsible for any debts or liabilities contracted by any person other than himself."

Miss Costello, daughter of Maurice Costello, former matinee idol and 6creen star," and sister of Helene Costello, also of the films, asked custody of her two children, Dolores, aged 5, and John, jun., aged 3. She also asked 2000 dollars a month alimony and 1000 dollars a month for support of the children. The actress complained of a long list of asserted cruelties, claiming, among other things, that Barrymore sometimes resorted to

physical violence and struck her so hard as to cause "great pain and bodily 1 injury." At the time the suit was filed Barrymore was aboard his yacht Infanta, en route from New York to Havana. Before their separation the whole family frequently used the yacht for long pleasure trips. Nurse Also Hit. One incident related in her complaint concerned a trip aboard the Infanta. At Vancouver, she charged, Barrymore struck her down in the presence of others. Mrs. Barrymore's nurse also received blows when she attempted to intercede in Miss Costello's behalf, the complaint said. The document related further that: "Last June during a trip from Los Angeles to.Vancouver by railroad, the defendant, in the presence of a nurse, used physical force and violence against the plaintiff and in so doing caused her to be thrown from her feet and into a berth in their drawing room."

The actress complained also that Barrymore left their home in August of last year. Since then she has not seen him and frequently for long periods did not know where he was or how he could be reached.

"During the last several months," the document recited, "the defendant has been able financially to do so, but failed to pay bills incurred by the plaintiff for living expenses for herself and two children and for operation of their residence."

Wife's Claims—The Defence. In addition to alimony and money for the support of the children, she asked for title to certain community property. Among this property she listed the yacht, which she said "now is in the possession of the defendant in Atlantic waters." She said the Infanta was built and furnished at a cost of 260,000 dollars. She asked also for title to a residence in Beverly Hills, two expensive automobiles and securities and bonds valued at 125,000 dollars. She 6aid Barrymore earned more than 350,000 dollars on the stage and screen last year.

They were married in November, 1928. She set the date of separation as April 15, 1935, two days after she moved from their Beverly Hills home. The marriage was Miss Costello's first. He was married twice previously.

In his response to the suit, Barrymore asserted that his wife was a strong, wilful dozen. In reply to her charge that he wa's intoxicated on board his yacht, he declares that she held him virtual prisoner on the craft for about ten weeks, with women guards. He was not able to work, and, in order to escape from the deadening influence of her presence on his art. he went to New York and later to England.