The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-03

Brussels, Feb. 1.-The action for dl-
vorce brought by the Prince of Chimay
against his wife, formerly Clara Ward
of Detroit, Mich, who eloped from
Paris last fall with Janos Rlgo, Hun
garian gypsy fiddler, which was ad-
journed on January 10 for fortnight,
came up in the court at Charlerol TO-
day for the announcement Oh Judg-
ment. The court, after half an hour
elaboration, announced that decree
of absolute divorce was granted TO the
prince of Chimay, upon the grounds
alleged in his complaint against MS
wife--abandonment and adultery.
Delacroix, who appeared as counsel
for the prince said in his application
to the court, that his client was en-
titled to a divorce on the admissions
that the princess herself had made,
He declared that the prince was Wiling
that the princess should see her chill
dren once a month for an hour but
asked the court to condemn her TO pay
the sum of $4,000 francs yearly Tor
their support. In setting forth the
grounds of the princes request for a
divorce, M. DelacroiX said that he was
prepared to produce evidence showing
that on % occasions the princess had
committed herself and, if desired, he
could prove facts relating to four times
as many occasions. He then proceeded
to read letters written by the princess
to her husband, in which she offered to
retreat to a Carmelite convent for five
years and then return purified to the
conjugal hearth. To this the husband
replied from Paris that he intended
to retire to Chimay, and wished to see
her no more. Next day the princess, in
company with her gypsy lover, supped
at the Cafe des Ambassadors with a
lady and gentleman and there created
a scene, accusing the lady OF trying to
win her lover from her. For the sake
of his children, said M. Delacroix, the
prince hoped the jury would not de-
mand proof of the charges by witnesses.
The notoriety of the scandal and the
attitude of the princess since the COM
mencement of the trial We're sufficient
proof of the principal fact alleged,
namely, the elopement of the princess
with Rigo.
NJ. Allan, addressing the court for
the defense, said he did not deny the
principal charge, but maintained that
all the accessory charges made in the
course of the inquiry were either false
or grossly exaggerated.
In particular he sought to clear the
princess of the reproach of being a
bad mother. If, said counsel, it was
necessary to look for the cause of the
Princess Chimay's bizzara- amour in
which her honor had suffered ship
wreck, it was to be found in the weak
ness of her husband whom she had
loved, and loved still, and who, in his
excessive kindness, had not the wis
dom TO exercise control over her. AL
lain asked the jury in pronouncing
their verdict not to allow the princess
to suffer from the monstrous charge
of having abandoned her children
without regret. :,
NJ. Baeernert, on behalf of the public
prosecutor observed that the princess
was content to plead extenuating cir
cumstances. He then reminded them
that the respondent, in order TO escape
the solicitations of her husband, had
induced a physician to recommend a
separate life, and then the princess
had the aGdacity. to accuse her hus-
band of having deserted her. All Eu-
rope he concluded, would laugh if
the court were to demand proof by
witnesses of notorious facts.
The court appointed the Prince De
Chimay guardian of the children. The
princess will be allowed to see them
once a month, but only in the presence
of third party. She agreed to pay
the costs of the action and $4,000
francs annually as alimony to the
prince.