The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-06
.SQNG BIRD RUFFLED.
Husband Begins Action for d.
voroe, Alleging Naughty
Things.

vorce, Alleging Naughty ,
Things. ,
Less a Parsonage Than the Duo
d'Orleans Mixed Up In the
Affair.
Denies with Much I~naignatio,l--
luntcr charges Made by Her Against
the Hasty Husband.
IR1s, Nov. 5.-The announcement made
divorce proceedings to DO Instituted
nat Nine. Melba, the celebrated prtma
IA. in which the Duo d'Orleans 10 named
o-respondent, created an immense sem
-. The rudicni pihpers in fact have
Il AZ much spnoe and Importance 70 y
rough an invasion Of the country had
i made by the Germans.
me. Melbn is at present in the city,
Re she is filling IN, engagement Of the
nd opera House. All the morning her
aence in the Rue Joutfray was besleged
people belonging to the highest Parlslan
ety. but Mime. Melba absolutely re-
a to see any one, not even her most IN
tie acduaintances. Reporters literally
legged the house, but they were all re-
bd admittance.
correspondent made Ave fruitless VISITS,
it was only by great luck that he sue
led in obtaining some information. IL
lii the hall Of her house that he met
intimate friend Of Nine. Melba, ono
J, owing to his prominent social posi-
i and his equally intimate friendship
1 the Due d'Orleans, ia able to speak
b authority. and he said: mime. Mel.
WAS really formally served last night
h the for divorce, as was
ted nsthese cables.
After reading the writ, which she did
h great agitation, she was overcome
b emotion, and q doctor had to be sum
ned in great haste. 1t was ne VINO mas
hidden her to see any one."
When the news was first received here the
bstion Immediately asked was, why dld
Armstrong bring action against the
G d'Orleans and not against other peo-
{? 1t is a well-known fact here that from
time Mime. Melba made her debut in
usselst until she left for Paris she was
ling with the Belgian painter Wauters.
When she left Brussels to sing here at
\ ouera she took an apartment IN the
enue Victor Hugo, and Wauters had
other Mt No. 50.
/ was when she was in London that she
de the acquaintance of the DUO d'Or
ma. who accompanied her to Austria and
ssia. and then even came with her here
spite Of orders which had been made for
expulsion. !,
i will be remembered that his arr ival
re- was made in the disguise Of 4 valet, q
BE- which created Il great sensation last
ar, and ~although.this arrival OF his was
icially c%ontradicted, it was nevertheless
When Nine. Melba was stopping at the
etronole here the Duo d'Orleans wss SO
buuent a visitor tx at it was generally I'M
rstood in the hotel that there was nc
cessity for announcing his presence:
Nine. Melba's husband was the last mar
hear MI this s he was, travelling muof
his time between England and hustralla
has large interests IN Austfalla, Whets
married Nine. Malba, who is the daugh-
4 Of q rich Australian, who was very mucE
erse to her going on the stage.
Mr, Armstrong is q man OF splendid pny'
nua. one OF the finest fencers, pistol shot
III boxers in England. He also possessel
violent temper, though he is c~ool-headee
Tough to know that he must move care
lly in this matter. =
Those who know Mr.. Armstrong believf
- ..--L:la ALo 10,,C Is()rJaOra rrlhl1NIy
bless he obtains satisfaction IN the usua
Nine. Melba, on the other hand, intend|
bring an action for separation on tn
round Of desertion. Nine. Melba Will ap
bar in New York during the coming sea
bn. T." :.
lover six years ago her solicitors, Messrs
[alleson a. Malleson, had filed on her be
alf a petition in the high court OF Justice II
&npland for a divorce from her husband 81
le ground of cruelty. she charges specltl
Rllv that within three months of their mar
kape, which took place in 1852, and at
me when she was in q delicate condltlon
q struck her with his fist on the cheek a
Tort Macknv, Queensland.
This he did for the purpose OF obtalnln'
honey from her. Two months after tn
irth of her child, in December, 1883, h
ssaulted her with q driving whip.
In 1856, while on board the, steamer Sen
al, on a voyage from Melbourne, no as
anltol her twice with his fist, infictin
eyeral injuries. On the first occasion 81
llepes he gave her a blow causing deafness
rhich lasted for several weeks. Furthe
hat shortly after their marriage, II unit
he spring Of the present year, when he lei
or Australia, he continued to treat he
With unkindness, extorting money and fail
ng to contribute to her support.
In 1887, at Brussels, she alleged, he pur
}ued her with q razor. ,,
In the autumn OF 1889, at Lausanne, u
1iolantly kicked her and threW.n candle
Etick at her, which struck her u severe do
bn the back. ~
Finally, in February of this year, he re
,ewed his i'll -treatment. In March of tn
1rraent wear he extorted $500 from hel
j, in which he went to Australia, and i
April he sent her II very violent letter.
At last she, being too much alarmed t
continue living with her husband, aske
Tor a separation. :,
This morning she was seen ana SAID sh
WAS not going to follow the lhulscIetlo
committed by her husband in trying to dc
cide tho case in tho newspapers. She sal
Ahe was merely anxious to get rid or ne
|h1sband. who had been very cruel to he
land had taken her money Il never mar
Itnined her, She said it WAS very hard 0
the Duc d'Orlenns that he should have u
name dragged into the affair, as the assei
|tion made could not be proved.
She also sud she had not yet decide
what steps she would take in the matte
She rldiculed the idea that the Duo u'OI
leans had been with lior in March last
Paris when the press made so much fuss
tho matter.
During that period her house was car
fully watched by the police, and M. Lo!'
would tell any one who chose to ask NJ
that the duke WINS never there, ana sue q
ded that it was ut the very time when II
husband and boy were living with her
No. 81 Champs Elysees.