Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-04
A CONTEST OVER A CHILD.
The Validity of . south Dakota Divorce In
vOlved.

-
VOWED.
In the first chamber of the civil tribunal Of
the SEINE in Paris yesterday Mrs. Elliot Sc
borowski sued for the possession Of her child, a
giri, at present in the convent of the Sacred
Heart in Paris. where the child has been placed
by the Chevalier &c Stuers, the former husband
Of Madame Seborowski.
The suit involves the question Of whether the
divorce obtained by Madame Seborowski from
the eheyalier in South Dakota is valid, or
whether the decree subsequently obtained in
Holland by the cheva!ier, who is the Dutch
minister to France, Is TO be regarded as annul-
ing the South Dakota divorce. The South
Dakots divorce gave to Madame de Stuers, now
Madame Seborovski, the custody OF the chit
dren. After the divorce was granted the Cheva-
her de Sieurs spirited away the eldest child and
ins tituted proceedings in Holland, where he
vas granted Judicial separation. the custody
OF the children and the annulmeut OF the South
Dakota divorce. Madame de Stuers meantime
became the wife of MIR. Elliot seboroSski.
Having applied to the convent whore the
child Is detained for the delivery Of the child to
her. and having met with refusal, Madame
SebOrOwskl Is now endeavOrlng to obtain pos
session Of tee child. NJ. Bo3s Lisle presided Al.
the proceedings today, and Haitre CIunet rep
resented Madame Scborowskl. The heyalier
de Stuers was not present, aud was not repre-
sentet, a circumstance indicating thai he did
not recognize the jurisdiction OF the court.
Madame Seborowski was absent. on account of
illness.
Maitre Clunet detailed the events connected
with the granting o. the South Dakota divorce
and explained that Madame Seborowski claimed
that. under the decree OF the American court,
che WAS entitled to possession Of her daughter.
Both Of the parents were foreigners, and the
wife had applied for divorce in her native land,
because she was advised tina; VI. De Stuers, as
minister from Holland, was not amenable TO
the jurisdiction of the French courts.
The presiding judge, NJ. Boise Lisle, inter
rupted NJ. Clunet. while the latter was arguing
as TO the facts of the by saying that Clunet
must discuss the point of the law involved, and
not address himself 10 the facts.
Nj. Clunet retCrted that argument as to the
facts WAS necessary III order to throw light on
the case.
Pending adjournment, VI. Clunet decided to
inform the American legation TO the appa-
rentiy inimical attitude OF the court and request
the legation to procure the influence of the
French minister of foreign affairs in behalf of
securing fair hearing for his client. When the
hearing was resumed in the afternoon NJ.
Clunet devoted himself TO discussing the posi-
ton Of an ambassador in its relation to the Civil
law.
NJ. Clunet, in the conclusion of his argument
IN behalf Of Madame Seborowski. requested the
court TO deliver a Judgment confirming the
decree OF divorce granted in South Dakota. and
ordering the superior OF the eonven, Of the
Sacred Heart To deliver the child now kept there
10 it, mother. n. Clunet also INDUCED IN satir-
zeal conn liments to the bench or its interpreta-
tons OF Jurisprudence.
Advocate General Jambois spoke for ten
minutes IN regard to the case. lie said that
judges must not disturb the complete i'm
munity which attached 10 the ministers and
arnpl-rldnrs foreign la a
preached VI. Ciunet with having shown dis
respect 10 the court
Judgment in the case will be given on Friday
next.