The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-20
UNPLEASANT cHMAY CASE
Heard Behind Closed Doors Mt the
PrOsecutOrss Reouext

Heard Behind Closed Doors Mt the
Prosecutors Request.
CHARLEROI, Jan. 19-The action for
divorce brought against the Princess
de Chimay, formerly Miss Clara Ward,
of Detroit, Mich, who eloped last sum
mer with Hungarian Gypsy musician
named JanoS Rigo, opened here today.
There was present in court when the
case was called newspaper correspond
entS from Paris, Berlin and Brussels.
The Prince de Chimay was in attend
ance. accompanied by his cousin,
Prince Joseph. At the opening Of the
proceedings, the public prosecutor
asked that the case be- tried in camera.
Sc much publicity, he said, had al
ready been given to<it that the world
probably could not be Afurther inter-
'ested inathe proceedings, butt nsthe in
terest of public deceney, he asked that
the public and newspaper men be ex-
Guided. The judge acceded to the public
prosecutor request, and, therefore, the
hearing was In secret.
Counsel for the prince asked the
court tc grant his client a divorce upon
the admissions of the princess. He also
asked that the princess be allowed an
hours visit per month to her children.
she paying them an allowance of 75.-
-OOO francs yearly. If necessary. coun-
sci added, the petitioner would produce
witnesses to prove twenty-five acts ius-
trying the suit, and, he further stated
the petitioner could prove four times
that number Of acts in justification of
the proceedings
Later, counsel read letters written
by the princess to her husband in
which she offered to go into a. Car
mei1te convent for five years from,
whence, the princes added. she would
fn thrT n
The prince replied 2frofn Paris saving
he was going to Chfmay and that he
old not want to see her counsel.
Council continued that ON the follow
ing DAY the princess, accompanied by
hlgo, supped at the Ambassadors
care, with a man and woman, and the
princess made scene with the woman
Wnen she accused her of an attempt
10 steal her lover. 2. For the sake OF
the children, counsel ethen said. the
prince hoped the court would not re-
qulre proof by witnesses, as the motor
lety OF the scandal and the attitude
OF the princess, since the beginning of
the suit. In conclusion counsel recall
ca as early as August 10, 1895. the Gil
Bias Of Paris spoke of the ''Vagarfes
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 accessory evidence was false
or greatly exaggerated Proceeding.
counsel endeaVored to clear Princess
DE Chimay of the reproach that she
was bad mother, asserting that if
II was necessary to seek the causes
Tor the eccentric love with which sha
wrecked her honor, they could be found
IN the weakness of her husband whom
she loved and still loves. Counsel con-
tlnu1ng asked the court not to be in
Huenced by the "atrocious accusation
that the princess had abandoned her
children without regret"
Prince Chimay's counsel pointed out
that the princess defense was con-
fined to exltenuating circumstances and
recalled that the princess, in order to
escape from the pleading of her hus-
band, sent him a formal note through
her doctor that all communications be-
tween them must cease. and today"
counsel added, "she has dared to re-
proach her husband with having aban-
doned her" Counsel for the prince
also said: "All Europe would laugh If
the court required testimony in this
case" |
The decision WilIV be1 rendered in a
fortnight; but according to general
opinion it is believed that the court
Will grant an absolute divorce without
hearing any testimony