Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-20
PRINCE CHIMAY IN COURT
Appears with Counsel in His Pursuit of a
Divorce.
UDGE GIVES A HEARING IN SECRET
Lawyers ON Both sides state Their
Arguments and the Case is
Then Taken Under
Consideration.

! CHARLEROI, Jan. l9.-The action for di
! vorce brought against the Princess de Chi
may. who cloped last summer with Gypsy
| opened here today. The Prince de Chmay
was in attendance, accompanied by hit
cousin. Prince Joseph. At the opening pro
ceedlng the public prosecutor asked that the
case be tried in camera. SO much publicity
he said, had already been given to the worlt
! that 1t could not further be outraged by
the proceedings but in the interest of public
decency he asked that newspapers men and
the public be excluded. The judge acceded
to the public prosecutors request, and there
fore the hearing was in secret.
Counsel for the prince asked the court to
grant the applicant divorce on the ad-
missions of the princess. He also asked that
the princess be allowed an hours visit per
month to the children, she paying them 75,-
900 francs yearly If necessary. counsel
said, the petitioner would produce witnesses
to prove twenty-five acts justifying the suit,
and he further stated the petitioner could
prove four times that number of acts in JUS
tihcation.
Later counsel read letters written by the
princess to her husband, in which she Of
fered to go into a Carmelitc convent for five
years, whence. the princess added she would
return purified to the domestic hearth.
The prince replied from Paris, saying he
was going to Chimay and that he did not
want to see her counsel.
Counsel continued that on the following
day the princess, accompanied by Rigo,
supped at the ambassadors cafe chantant
with man and woman, and the princess
made a scene with the woman, whom she
accused of an attempt to steal her lover,
For the sake of the children. counsel
then said the prince hoped the, court would
not require proof by witnesses, as the noto-
riety of the scandal and the attitude of the
princess since the beginning of the suit
proved the principal charge, viz.-her flight
with Rigo.
In conclusion, counsel recalled that as
early as August TO- 1895, the Gil Bias of
Paris spoke OF the "vagaries of princess
in Paris" in an article clearly designating
the princess de Chimay.
Maitre Allan, for the defense, did not
deny the principal fact but contended that
all the accessory evidence was false or
greatly exaggerated Counsel endeavured to
clear the princess of the reproach that she
was bad mother, asserting that II 1t was
necessary to seek the causes for the eccen-
trio love with which she wrecked honor, they
could be found in the weakness OF her hus-
band, whom she loved and still loves.
Counsel asked the court not to be in
fuenced by the "atruclous accusation that
the princess had abandoned her children
without regret"
Prince Chimay's counsel pointed out that
the princess defense was confined to extern
uating circumstances, and recalled that the
princess. in order to escape from the plead
ings of her husband, sent him a formal
note through her doctor, that all communiea-
tions between them must cease.
"And today" counsel added, "she has
dared to reproach her husband with hav-
ing abandoned her."
Counsel for the prince also said "All
Europe would laugh If the court required
testimony in this case"
The decision will be rendered in a fort
night, but according to general opinion, 1t
Is believed that the court will grant an alb
solute divorce without hearing any testi-
mony.