The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-16
WRIT is SERVED.
Anna Gould Has Asked for a
Legal Separation.
Dissolution Of the
Matrimonial Bond.
THE COUNT is WILLING
He Will Not Contest Granting
Of the Decree.
And Will Not Demand Heavy
Alimony.

Paris, Feb. 16.-An urgent writ
was today served on Count BOni de
Castellane making him defendant in
the separation proceedings of his wife,
formerly Anna Gould. This decisive
step was taken after renewed efforts to
effect reconciliation had proved
fruitless.
The count accepted service OF the
writ, even calling upon the countess
lawyers to facilitate fixing upon a.
place where the writ could be deliver
ed. The bill of complaint was filed at
the same time. It follows very closely
the countess prima facia showing
when she first asked the courts per-
mission to take action against her
husband. It mentions no names, but
particularizes certain incidents in
which the count is alleged to have par
ticipated and it asks for a decree for
what the French law terms separation
of body and property, without dis
solution of the bonds of matrimony.
The court holds the bill of complaint
1 in the strictest secrecy but the fore
going are the essential features of its
contents. It can be stated with abso-
lutte poSitiVeness now that the countess
has formally inaugurated her action
that it is her intention to secure de-
cree at the earliest date possible The
count will not contest the granting OF
a decree.
Financial Negotiations.
The financial negotiations in the
! CastelIane case do not relate to Count
Bonfs allowance after separation from
| his wife as he has sImplihed this
/ branch by stating that he does not ez-
| pect a large amount. The counts an
nouncement was made to one Of the
/ lawyers of the countess. It was most
/ emphatic and in substantially the Iol-
| lowing terms:
s'I declare to you, and I swear 70 the
/ exactness of my declaration, that / not
only do not demand, but that I VIII
I not accept. any sum beyond that small
/ amount which constituted my income e
/ before my marriage.
The count thus disposes of the state
ment to the erect that he contemptll-
/ OusIy refused $4,000 a year on the
ground that it was not sufficient for his
I pocket money. .r-
The attitude OF the count leaves the
lawyers of the countess to consider
only his outstanding indebtedness,
which reaches an enormous sum- The
( Castellane marriage contract gives the
1 countess her separate income not sub
tect to claims for the debts of her hus-
band. This contract insures the pro-
I lection of the countess fortune against
/ being absorbed in the present contro-
versy and prevents the counts cred
itors from taking legal action against
/ the countess. At the same time she
does not appear disposed to exact the
strict letter of the contract and the
financial negotiations are for the pur-
pose of making some arrangement for
1 a compromise with the counts cred
itors
The amount involved has been
! swollen to enormous proportions by
excessive charges for money advance d.
The extent to which the countess will
voluntarily Houidate these claims IS
the chief question under negotiation
and the determination of this will
probably determine all the other pro-
! ceedings.