The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-19
COUNT sues FOR
LOST AFFECTION
Millionaire Beemer Defendant
in Action for Damages.
De FESTITICS' MARITAL WOES
Austrian Nobleman, Who Is Row an
American, Turns the Tables on Wife
Who Had Charged Him With Assault
and Abandonment

NEW YORK. March 19.-Count De Fes-
titles turned the tables on his wife yes
terday by serving papers on Miles ".
Beemer, a reputed millionaire. for $50. 600
damages for alienation Of the countess
affections. The marital troubles Of the
pair have made interesting reading at fire.
uent intervals for year or more. The
Aldine Hotel. Philadelphia. was the scene
OF one exciting episode in which an al
legged abduction was the chief feature.
Count Festitics is an Austrian noble
man. who became an American citizen
by adoption. A few years ago his wife
had him arrested On a charge Of assault
and battery and failure TO support her
and for abandonment. The ease was con
tinued yesterday after an adjournment.
Promise Made Under Duress.
It was charged that he had failed since
last December TO Pay bis wife So a week,
as he had agreed TO do. He was repre-
scented by Frederick Durgin. and Mrs. De
FestitiCs by Warren C. Slyke. The count
attorney devoted his energies to attempt
ing TO show that the agreement for the
payment Of So a week was made under
duress. as at the tine the husband was a
prisoner. held %. the charge Of assault.
He testified thai he signed the paper
without the advice Of counsel and OF the
promise that his wife would not press the
charge against him.
subsequently, he said, Mrs. De Festitics
had pressed the complaint and as a result
he was sentenced 20 pay $500 fine or 90
TO prison for one year The sentence was
suspended and he was released.
Mrs. De Festitics Indignant.
Daisy De Festitics, and several friendS
who were in court were astonished when
counsel. for the count announced that he
would prove that as she and Mr. Becmer
lived in the same house there was no .rea-
son why the count should support her
Mrs De Festitics glared at her husband
What dastardly thing will you do
next2" she exclaimed
Cross-examination by Mr.. Durgin devel-
oped that Mrs. De Festitics had met Mr.
Beeemcr at a boarding house where he
was a ledger, and that she had nursed
him when he was ill., He had afterward
lived near the De Festitics family. but not
in the same house.
Hotel Bill Unpaid, She Says.
did you not live with Mr.. De Festitics
in the Aldine Hotel. in Philadelphia. ar
ter this agreement mad been signed?"
was asked.
Il went there simply as a nurse for our
child" replied Mrs. De Festitics He
had kidnapped the child and had taken
it to Philadelphia
who paid your bill there?" asked the
attorney.
Nobody" replied Mrs. De Festitics
1T is unpaid 70 this day"
II was learned that the father had tax
en- the boy Dwight away from his mother
and that the mother had subsequently
gone to Philadelphia. where the child
was i'll. and IN the absence OF the father
brought him back 10 this city
Mr. Beemer was in court He was
served with the summons Just as he was
leaving He said that he had been
friend Of the family and that he knew OF
no reason why such a suit should be
brought against him.