New-York tribune., 1900-12-21
CASTELLANE SUIT BEGINS.
HOW THE COUNT RAN UP A BILL OF
6.5O0,O00 FRANCS.
THE DEFENDANTS INSIST THEY WE'RE
sWINDLED. AND ASK FOR 100000
FRANCS DAMAGES.


the London bric-a-brac dealer. against the Count
and Countess de Castellane to recover paynen,
for art objects sold the Count and Countess de
Casteane. began this morning in the First Civil
Chamber The transaction taken as test case in
volved the sum OF 1886 francs. The hearing was
devoted to the arguments of counsel and none of
the parties were in court The total sum involved
in the transactions is 6.50O,0oO francs
The Count and Countess hare replied with
counter suit. They demand a full statement of all
transactions claiming that various objects admit
tedly authentic. were sold at scandaIously exag-
gerated figures and that many articles were repre-
sented as authentic antiquities when they were
really limitations. modern useless while in
series Of exchanges IN 1883 Wertheimer took back
number OF articles at price greatly inferior to
their true worth. They. therefore demand q re-
duction Of the debt, Professionally estimated be
at least 100000 francs and the restitution Of
objects taken in exchange by Wertheimer under
the penalty of 900 francs for each days delay in
the restitution from the day of judgment. They
claim damages 20 the amount of 100000 francs. and
also ask. in the judges decide it is necessary
TO throw further light on the case, that experts
shall be appointed TO apprase the articles involved
The appointment OF these experts is the first aim
Of counsel for the Castellanes.
Among the articles whose value the CastelIaues
question bronze Neptune attributed to Jean
de Bologne: paintings attributed to of the
Cuyps and TO Frans Hals and number of pieces
Of Louis XIV furniture. Wertheimer's counsel.
Maitre Foucauld, in speech lasting several hours.
made most vigorously worded reply to the Cas-
tellane contentious. He said there nothing
serious in the observations and criticisms behind
which the Castellanes were screening their tempo
rary insolvency and denounced the Counts
duct scathingy, referring to his pretexts to delay
payments" and did Tot hesitate to accuse him of
telling untruths- Counsel claimed that the Count
cheerfully accepted all the transactions, express
ing satisfaction until the last moment, when he
turned and accused Wertheimer of usury
Maitre Foucauld presented details of the various
transactions. The first in 1896, when the Count
purchased three art objects including a Gains
borough picture for $4,000 francs which. counsel
said, airily. only modest for of Count
de Castelanes fortune at which the Court smiled
When the bin due. counsel continued the
Count asked for delay and offered to pay interest
The second transaction in 1s97-eight articles
price 100000 francs. Here counsel replied TO the
contention that the articles sold at exagger-
ated prices. He explained that Count Boni de Cas-
teIlane sold number of the last named articles and
Wertheimer asked the buyer at what price he would
resell them to him. The prices asked were above
those at which Wertheimer sold the articles Moth
ing could be more painful asserted Maitre Fou-
cauld, than the steps taken by the Castelanes to
avoid the suits. Who could have expected such
attitude from a Castellane? No could reproach
WertheimeF for placing confidence in the man who
had contracted marriage with the richest heiress in
the world, whose fortune the press described
fabulous
Maitre Foucauld claimed the Count utilized the
construction Of the magnificent residence on the
Avenue Malakof as a pretext to delay the pay
uent Of his debts He said he had income of from
100000 to 100000 francs. and had sur
plus, than he needed to live on; but the
he had sunk in his palatial home compelled him to
beg for the generosity of his creditors. He had re-
course TO his brother-n-law from whom he OBJ
tanned nothing, which did not prevent the Count
from telling Werthemer that Mr.. Gould would pay.
The Counts conduct at this period, according TO
counsel. resembled that Of a child He was sur
prised at his wrongdong, and requested his cred
itors TO keep from Mr.. Gould the real extent or
his Indebtedness. Later the Count affirmed his
own brother would pay Wertheimer. but through
his brothers lawyers. through his (the Counts
hands. Count de Castellane wired Wertheimer
after his arrival in New-York, that he was well
satisfied with the voyage, which, counsel SAID
Wertheimer interpreted meaning that the Goulds
would finance him When the Count returned
Wertheirner asked meet the Goulds counses
from which he hoped much. BIT the lawyers in
formed him that the Gouds did not give the count
pecuniary support. but only moral support
Counsel for the Casteanes, Maitre Bonnat act
ing for Coudert Brothers Of New-Tork, contend
ed that Wertheimer had been striving to prevent
the case from coming before the courts. but the
result had been unfortunate for him. as the nature
of Wertheimer's business must be exposed he
said George J. Gould considered that Wertheimer
gave credit to young married couple, who had no
thorough comprehension Of the value OF money, on
counsel contended. while giving l count oe SaSIei @
whereby he took back the finest objects OF his col
lection. and he had right TO say Count de cas-
tellant was pursuing a dshonoraole course Coun-
sci claimed that Wertheimer had abused the con-
hdence Of the young people. and II the latter mad
committed foes il could be said that Tor the last
eighteen months they had been cruelty atoning Tor
them Moreover henceforth they would devote
themselves to wiping out the Indebtedness. Maitre
Ronnat concluded:
I'VE have been witnessing for some time past
sort of duel between the paTties-Werthelner. ap-
parently relying on the exhaustion Of Count de
Casteianes strength Of resistance. and it is be-
cause the Count and Countess de Casteilane at
last perceived that Wertheimer nae SOLD his be-
neyolence at the highest price. which was cost
ing them too dear. that the counter suit was en-
tered
Before the concluding of the argument the
was adjourned for week.