The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-11-01
MARRIED LIFE A WRECK.
OPENING PLEA IN CASTELLANE
DIVORCE SUIT BY COUNSEL
FOR COUNTESS.
t
money PRIMARY CAUSE OF DISPUTE
I'LL TREATMENT AND lNFlDELlTY
ALSO ALLEGED As CAUSE
.. 7-
- FOR SEPARATION.

Paris, Nov 1.-The Castellane d.
vorce case was heard during the after
noon before NJ. Henry Ditto, president
Of the tribunal of first instance of the
Seine. Neither the count nor the
countess was present. Maitre Cruppi
for the countess, pleaded for divorce
upon tho documentary evidence sub
mitted.
In an extended review counsel de-
clared that the countess, at the be-
ginning OF the suit, was not acting un-
der influence, but solely for the pur-
pose Of ending forever the peril of the
moral desolation of the household. He
stated that domestic difficulties arose
over the question Of money. Ill treat
ment soon followed, the count even
striking the plaintiff before the serv-
ants.
Whom he reached the question of the
infldelity charged against the count
Maitre Cruppi did not mention names,
or even initials, designating the CO.
respondents as Madame A." Madame
b" and so on.
Counsel for the countess spoke for
an hour and q half and had not fin
ished when the court took a recess.
Complete and PitifuI Story.
Counsel's presentation of the case of
the plaintiff constitutes complete and
patiful story, wreck of her married
life, due primarily to the counts in
ordinate extravaganza. Even in spite
of their domestic infelicity the count
ess was too good and scrupulous to
begin an action for divorce until she
possessed full proof. She was only
twenty when she. was married in 1895
and, Maitre Cruppi asserted, the hap
piness of the honeymoon was dis
turbed on their arrival in Paris by
the counts demands for money. The
countess income was then 100000
and the count allowed her $50 pin
money. The courtroom was crowded.
Among those present were many mem.
bers of the American colony. 49,
In the course of the pleading M
Cruppl protested against the "malic-
ious reports in regard to the countess
intentions" and announced that she
would leave France for America i'm
mediately after a decree is granted
her.
In recounting the counts infidelity
the first instance cited by counsel was
that with a married woman, described
as Madame A." in 1898. The cor
respondence was conducted through
M. Moret, the counts secretary. The
countess accidentally discovered in
the Castellane chateau a packet of
love letters and when she protested
the count struck her. The countess
: eventually placed the letters in the
custody of lawyer.
Ks Had Numerous Love Affairs. ~
After recess NJ Cruppi read from
notebook kept by the cook of
a certain apartment, giving brutally
plain details of what counsel charac-
terized as IAN objectionable offense
against the countess" He also re-
counted the 1iaison with Madame
c. whose maid mounted guard and
signalled from a window when the
coast was clear. But, counsel contin-
ued, the counts love affairs were not
confined to ladies of society. They
included numerous other women, the
reading of whose letters created merri-
ment in court. &l'=
M. Cruppi said that the counts de-
tense would probably be that, being
young and rich, he could not protect
himself against the assaults of love.
sick women. In the face of the over
whelming evidence submitted M.
Cruppi declared his opponent could
not expect the tribunal to ask for the
summoning of witnesses. Counsel
added:
Does he imagine by dragging out
the case to obtain forgiveness? No!
no! Count Boni's plan to reconquer
his wife's affections is too transpar-
emit"
Counsel placed at $s,OOO,OOO the to-
tai of the counts expenditures proceed
ing the appointment of trustee. At
one time there was seizure of their
property in suit for the recovery of
a debt amounting to $229,6OO. g.s.g.
PRESIDED At ANARCHIST TRIAL.