Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-14
Castellane Attacks the Editor Of
Figaro at His Home.
SMACKS his FACE PIERCELY
Latter Taken by Surprise and
Made No Resistance.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE


funeral of the late President Faure, Feb
luary %, 1899. A duel is expected.
Count de Castellane interpreted a para
graph in the Figaro as abiding to him.
He was accompanied today by his father,
the Marquis de Castellane, and a newspaper
friend, M Morel. They proceeded to the
residence of Mr.. de Rodays, in the Rue
de la Chaussee d'Antin, situated in the
center Of Paris. The count asked to see NJ.
de Rodays and was ushered into the
writer's study. NJ. de Rodays later received
the party in his dressing ROOM Count de
Castellane said:
you published in the Figaro this morn
ing an abominable paragraph against me"
NJ de Rodays replied that he did not un-
derstand what the count meant, to which
the latter retorted hotly:
"Will you retract or not?"
To this M. de Rodays replied by explain
ing that the paragraph was courteously
couched and that no mention was made OF
the name of Count de Castellane. Then
without further ado Count de Castellane
boxed NJ. de Rodays' ears severely and re-
peatedly. M. de RodayS, who was seated.
recoled, and NJ de Castellane followed him
up and slapped his face again.
The Marquis de CaStellane and M. Morel
then interposed and protected M. de Rodays
from further violence. The Castellane
party then withdrew.
Sensation of the Day.
The affair is the sensation Of Paris. Since
| the speech Of NJ. Deroulede at San Ssbas-
tian, last month, in which he minated
that the royalists Of Paris had notified the
police Of his attempted coup d'etat after his
refusal to allow the Duke of Orleans to
appear In the ranks of the agitators, very
great interest has been aroused respecting
the identity Of the royalist emissary who
approached NJ. Deroulede and M. MARCEL
Habert on that occasion, the names sug-
gested including Jules Guerin, the hero Of
Fort Chabrol, while the royalists denied
that the emiSSary acted In behalf OF them.
The duel arranged to take place, possibly
today or tomorrow, near Lausanne. Swift
erland, between NM. Deroulede and Buffet,
the agent of the Duke Of Orleans. is a
direct outcome of the discussion on the
subject of the coup d'etat which failed.
The paragraph in the Figaro which was
the immediate cause of the assault on NJ.
Derodays was as follows:
Persons have been asking who Is the
person NJ. Deroulede wished to designate.
1t appears that he is member Of parlia-
ment, and it is affirmed that he is the
young deputy whose name Is best known,
and who on the eve of starting for Amer
lea with his young wife last week very 10y
ally delayed his departure in order to re-
ply. If necessary, to the polemics which
may develop"
count de CdSIelldne mas WRITTEN tnc IOl-
lowing letter to the newspapers here:
Count Bonfs Reply.
Reading the Figaro, was filled with in
dignation at the perfidious insinuation ac-
cusng me of treachery. 1 Immediately beg
ged my father and a friend, NJ Morel. to
accompany me to the residence Of M. De-
rodays The latter received US. and after
few brief observations to which he gave
unsatisfactory responses inflicted on him
merited correction I reserve similar one
for any person permitting himself the same
accusations"
M. Derodays gave hfeollowing account
of the affair:
81 received. this morning. the card Of the
Marquis of Castellane. whom I instructed
to be shown in Immediately. I found my
self In the presence of three persons-the
marquis. the count and third person.
whose name do not know. The marquis
said:
"'You insulted my son.
Count Boni de Castellane then asked me
the Figaro. replied that the paragraph
was in no way offensive to him, and that
on the contrary, 1t was worded In the most
courteous terms, and that his name was
self upon me and punched me, without even
giving me time to defend myself. believe
1t was prearranged attack.
Origin of the Trouble.
When Count and Countess Boni de Cas-
tellane landed in New York January %.
1900, the count was met by a number of
reporters, who questioned him regarding
articles which had appeared in the Figaro
of Paris, while the count was on his way
here alleging that he had been posted On
the bourse and had so depleted his owl
and his wifes finances by gambling that
he was compelled to go to the members OF
the Gould family for aid. The count de-
MED them and In unmeasured terms de-
nounced M. Rodays, editor Of Figaro, say
ing, with threatening gestures, He Is a
cur. thief and a liar. I cannot find speech
to say all I could wish. I cannot fight a
duel with him, for he is far beneath my
rank Besides he is a coward. He cannot
fight. He dare not fight. But 1 shall re-
serve the right to seek him out and slap
his face upon my return to Paris. He
would not accept challenge. He Is a man
whom any one may call liar, scoundrel,
a thief anything you choose, and he would
say nothing. The only way to deal with
him is to take good stout cane, as
shall do. and slap his face. 1 have pre-
pared this telegram that I will send to
him."
Count Boni then showed the reporter the
following telegram:
I'M. de Rodays Editor of the Figaro. Paris:
There has been communicated to me on
board the ship the calumny printed in the
Partisan papers. emanating from the Fig
arc. You VIII at once print formal de-
NAL. I reserve the right on my return to
tell you what think Of your disloyalty.
(Signed) ,,-tH "CASTELLANE."
Later the count sent a second telegram
to NJ de Rodays, which read as follows: -
Second Telegram Sent. 's,a
I have just learned Of the infamous SIAN
der directed against me by you at the In
stigation of the Dreyfusards. Ny father
has already denied 1t and has expressed hts
contempt, to which join my own. I shall
have recourse to the law courts and shall
sue you for 100000 francs damages, OF
which the poor Of Paris viii get the bene-
fit"
M. de Rodays replied as follows to Count
Boni de Castellane:
"Comte de Castellane, New York:
Your denials and your menaces will
change none Of the facts which are now
of public notoriety in Paris. If the Figaro
took notice Of what Is termed your discon-
future 1t was justified therein by the CAM
paign of defamation and insult which Won
have inspired without proeocation in the
paper which you control. hope you will
succeed in getting out Of the affair, and
on your return I reserve 70 myself the
right to tell you what think Of .disloyafty'
and your attitude with regard to journal