Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-01
Anna Gould Abused By
Count Boni Castenane.
Crowds Throng Court Room to
Hear Divorce Case Tried.
Counsel For Plaintiff Goes Over
Counts Love Affairs.

Paris Oct. 31.-The Castellane
divorce case was heard this afternoon.
before NJ. Henry Ditto, president Of the
tribunal of first instance of the Seine.
Neither the count nor the countess was
present. NJ. Cruppi, for the countess,
pleaded for n divorce on the dOcu-
mentary evidence submitted.
In an extended review counsel de-
clared that the countess at the begin
ming Of the suit was not acting under
influence but merely for the purpose Of
ending forever the peril of the moral
desolation of her household. He eX-
planned the marriage contract, by
which the regime of separation Of pro-
perry was established from the very
beginning and stated that domestic
difficulties arose over the question Of
money. Ill treatment soon followed,
the count even striking the plaintiff
before the servants.
When he reached the question of the
infidelty charged against the count,
Maitre Cruppi did not mention names
or even initials, designating the CO.
respondents as Madame A." Madame
B. an so on.
Maitre Cruppi asked that the
countess be given the custody of her
three children.
Inc courtroom was crowded among
those present being many members of
the American colony. Counsel for the
countess spoke for an hour and a half
and had not finished when the court
took recess. Counsers presentation
of the case of the plaintiff constituted
complete and pitiful story of the
mo ,,.ia,
rily to the counts inordinate extraya.
sance. Even in spite of their domestic
lnfellcity the countess was too good
and scrupulous u begin an action for
divorce until she had possessed full
proof. She was only 20 when she was
married in 1895 and, Maitre Cruppf
asserted, the happiness of the honey
moon was disturbed on their arrival
in Paris by the counts demand for
money. The countess income was
then 100000 and the count allowed her
$50 pin money
In 1899 the countess interests were
so heavily compromised by the counts
extravaganza that it necessitated a
family meeting IN New York and the
appointment of legal trustee, but the
difficulties regarding money were I'M
ceasing and in order to obtain funds
the count pawned or sold at ridiculous
prices the most costly objects When
the countess protested the count abus-
ed her in the presence of servants and
when she declined to sign documents
he frequently pinched her and sonIe-
times struck her. the first time being
four months after their marriage.
Maitre Cruppi protested against the
malicious reports in regard to the
countess Intentions and announced
that she would leave France for
America Immediately after a divorce
is granted her.
In recounting the counts infidelity
the first instance cited by counsel was
that of q married woman described az
Madame A." in 1898. The cOrrespon-
dence was conducted through NJ. Moret
the counts secretary. The countess
accidently 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 a lawyer.
Maitre Cruppi- also detailed the
liasOns with Madame b. and
Madame c. whom the count met in
apartments which he rented in diff
ferent parts of France.
notebook kept by the cook Of one OF
these apartments giving brutally plain
details of what counsel characterized as
IAN objectionable offence against the
countess He also recounted the liasOn
with Madame c. whose maid mounted
guard and signalled from a window when
the coast was clear.
But, counsel continued, the counts love
affairs were not confined to ladies Of So
ciety. They included numerous other
ladies, the reading Of whose letters Gre
ated merriment in court.
Matrc Cruppi said that the counts de-
fence would probably be that, being
young and rich. he could not protect him.
self against the assaults Of love-sick
women. In the face of the overwhelming
Continued on Page Two.)