Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-07

Paris, Nov 1.-The case of the
Countess De Castellane for divorce
from her husband, Count De Castel-
lane was begun yesterday afternoon.
Maitre Cruppi presented the plea OF
the countess for an absolute divorce
and the custody of the children. This
plea was made upon documentary
evidence and without summoning wit
nesses.
Such a divorce arraignment has
seldom been heard Cruppi painted
Boni in the blacklist colors, declaring
him to be rapacious, brutal and IL
centious. while the countess was held
up as long suffering and innocent
victim. Nothing was spared and
nothing was CLOSED over. In chrome
logical order Cruppi recounted the
history of the alliance, which he said
had been unhappy from the very hen
eymoon, owing to the Incredible ex-
travagance of Boni who in five years
had used up the colossal fortune
that the daughter of Jay Gould had
brought him.
Beat Bride of Four Months.
Bonfs inordinate and Unsuitable de-
mands for money, according to Cruz
pi, began as soon as the couple ar
rived in Paris, and led Immediately to
Ill treatment and abuse and soon to
blows. The countess was struck by
her husband, according to her lawyer,
for the first time four months after
the marriage. This was the result
Of a quarrel in connection with a din.
ner given by an American, to which
the count was not invited Intrigues
and amours carried on under the
countess very eyes were not long de-
layed.
Society Women Involved.
Cruppi detailed Ii 5ions with four
society women. He read unexpurgat-
ed extracts from discriminating let
ters and gave dispositions of servants
and others indicating infidelity The
crowds in the court room listened to
the reading of burning words of pas
sion in the letters, and were especial
ly absorbed in the salacious details
set forth by the lawyer of the case
OF Nine. c., with whom a code of
window signals had been arranged
and whose maid did sentinel duty at
the door OF the mansion to give alarm
in case the, betrayed husband should
return Unexpectedly.
Upon society women and denli-
mondainps alike Boni showered flow
ers and gifts, according to the attor-
ney for the countess, even pawning
precious articles bought by his wife,
to get money, or borrowing from
usurers when he could obtain credit
Worn Out With lnfamies.
The countess first left the mansion
and went to a hotel in August, 1905,
Cruppi said, when, deeply outraged
and worn out with infamies," she
learned that Nine. d. and Count Boni
were at Trouville together Later
she returned home and bore the sit
uation until the day after the enter
tainment of King Charles of Portugal
December IL, 1905, when upon the
counts trying to force her to go to a
shooting party Of which she was sus-
picious, the countess left the mansion
and entered proceedings for separa-
ton.
The general impression is that
overwhelming evidence has been of
fered and that the decree of divorce
viii be granted without the ordeal OF
taking the testimony of witnesses.
Cruppi plainly intimated that Boni,
however, would try to prolong the
hearing for the purpose of forcing
reconciliation through scandal IN
America, where details of the pro-
ceedings can be freely published.
Boni knows he is perfectly immune
on that score, as there is law in
France which makes the publication
of divorce proceedings a criminal Of
Tense. Cruppi had not finished his
address when the hearing adjourned
for the day.