Custody loss stuns socialite

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PAGE SIX
By RICHARD JOHNSON with Jeane MacIntosh and Sean Gannon
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IN a courtroom surprise, Jan Golding Cushing Olympitis Amory has lost custody
of her son to ex-husband Minot Amory - ostensibly because she is a single mom.

Sources say that, while State Supreme Court judge Walter Tolob seemed "somewhat
hesitant," he nevertheless handed custody of 10-year-old Minot Jr. to his dad -
who lives in Palm Beach and Newport, R.I., with his new wife of a year,
Victoria - because the boy would be living in a traditional family set-up.

Jan Amory has raised Minot Jr. since she and her ex split six years ago. Last
year, Minot Sr. signed away rights to his son. He later changed his mind and
sued for custody.

"Basically, the judge admitted he was taking a chance," Jan told PAGE SIX. "He
said that, even though Minot's father is a bigot, hot-tempered and a
hard-drinker, he is married and it would be better for Minot to be in a family
environment. He said he was choosing between the lesser of two evils.

"It's unbelievable that because I'm a single mother and Minot's married that he
is deemed a better parent," Jan added.

Minot Sr. had no comment on the decision.

But sources say Minot Jr., who attends a Manhattan private school, had made it
clear to the court he wanted to live with his dad.

"My son misses and loves his father," Jan conceded. "It's understandable he
would want to live with him. But I'm amazed that a judge would put so much
credence in the wishes of a 10-year-old boy."

During the court hearing, Jan trotted out a formidable group of supporters -
including Minot Sr.'s own father, Charles Amory, who had taken Jan's side in
the couple's previous custody dispute.

"Despite Jan's penchant for exotic behavior, Charles believes she is a
marvelous mother," a source told us. "She supported the child for several years
when his father couldn't."

In court, Charles Amory, along with former Rhode Island governor Bruce Sundlun
and others, painted the 50-year-old Minot Sr. as a "vagabond," a heavy drinker
and a bigot. At one point, our sources say, Minot used an anti-Semitic slur in
referring to Jan's lawyer Raoul Felder.

"The judge said he believed the witnesses to be credible," a source said. But
he still granted Minot Sr. custody for a year, with Jan allowed visitation.

The ruling widened the already bitter schism between Charles Amory and his son.

"It was a blow to Charles," said family friend Topsy Taylor. "As long as his
grandson is with Minot, he won't get to see him."

Jan - a four-time divorcee whose conquests include British MP Winston Churchill
III - plans to appeal the decision.

She said of the four-times wed Minot: "He's married now, but who knows whether
he'll be married this time next year?"