Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-07
'BONI WAS FORGER,
CHARGE FROM cRUPPI
Sensational Resumption Of the
castelIane Case.
ACCUSATION or DEFENSE
Connected Name Of Countess With
Two Prominent Hen.
GREED OF THE LITTLE COUNT
Anna in Telegram to Her Husbands
Constituents Characterised
Him as Roue.

After q recess OF week TIC
| Castellane divorce case reopened
with more vigor than ever. The
defense had made charges against
the countess, linking her name with
two prominent men in Paris. Her
counsel not only declared this was
false, but that the document on
which Boni was relying for evil
dence was forgery. He told how
the count had refused settlement
that included a gift of 100000
francs to square his personal debts,
because these debts amounted to
100000, and he was holding out
for that sum. There was laughter
! in court over a telegram In which
| the countess characterized her hus-
band as a roue. His letters to her
| on the other hand were flowery in
the extreme.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS. November Maitre Cruppi,
counsel for the Countess de Casteilane In
| her suit for divorce. resumed today HIS
opening speech which was interrupted
| by the adjournment of the court last
Wednesday. The court room, in which no
provision is made for reporters. was
crowded
Maitre Cruppi read many letters from
| the Count de Castellane. addressed to his
WIFE, in which he protested that he still
loved her and that he regretted his Of
lenses. He also read one from the count
ess to her husband. 1t was dry and
brusque in tone. She said In 1t that she
had found him beneath contempt and was
firm in her determination to secure d.
vorce. The letters were dated between
March and May, 1905. The counts letters
were full Of flowers Of speech,
Maitre Cruppi scored the count. saying
that he was attaching more Importance
to the question of money In the case than
to that of divorce.
| Cruppi denied vigorously the accusa-
ton of the other side. connecting the
countess name with the names Of two
prominent men. He said that in making
the charge the count was relying upon
forged document.
Refused 81, 100000 Francs.
Cruppi recited the terms offered by the
countess last night namely. 10000 francs
a year and 1.00o.GOO francs in cash for the
payment of his individual debts. she to
pay the household debts. This offer the
count refused. as he preferred not to re-
ceive the mil ion francs and to wait to
See whether she could not be made to pay
all his debts, which proved to amount to
1905. goo francs. The countess later re-
peated her Offer with am increase of the
counts annual income when her estate
should have been cleared.
Some laughter was caused when Cruppi
| read telegram the countess sent to the
| counts constituents of Bases Aipes, who
had congratulated her on his reelection to
the chamber. but in which telegram she
expressed regret that she had married a
rouge Instead Of an honest man.
| One of the counts flowers of speech, in
a letter written to the countess after her
brusque note referred to above. was this:
my heart Is opening like a flower in the
SUM-"
Maitre Cruppi finished his speech at 2:3O
The counts letters were filed with
avowals Of sincere repentance. supplica-
lions for pardon. passionate words and
professions Of undytng love. The counts
letters described his life as being wrecked
and said he was unable to live without
her.
You have been my life." he declared in
one OF his letters. your absence will be my
death Take me back once more. / will
live only for you. Let me embrace you
and once more feel you in my arms" and
so on.
On February Is the countess sent a cold
rejoinder. informing the count that she had
suffered too much and had lost all affection
for him and all confidence In his honor and
veracity. concluding with the statement that
she found him "disgusting."
The counts tone changed. The next day
he sent the countess letter in :, nich he
upbraided her for being "a mad woman
actuated by hate and vengefulness." and
saying that their children would some day
reproach her for her "spitefulness'
But the count soon resumed writing love
letters to the countess, begging to be al
| lowed to see her and predicting that he
would soon die.
The letters continued until the middle of
September, when the count wrote that he
| would not long survive. pleading to see the
countess. and asking her to at least grant
him supreme favor. saying:
IF am in danger, come. Do not let me
die alone like an abandoned dog
1t was then, said Maitre Cruppi that the
countess, worn out with her husbands in
sincerity. wrote him three postal cards. one
| Of which read:
MY response Is the refusal of respecta-
BILE woman to see such Hberttne.'
The wording of the other postal cards
was equally emphatic. one readings,
do not think am 30 stupid as Madame
x imaSines."
The last postal card was signed:
with my profound scorn."
Continuing Maltre Cruppi declared that
! the counts paternal rights would be amply
protected The children would remain In
France, and their father would have OPP
! portunities to see them and share In the
| direction Of their education.
Opening Of Defense.
| Maitre Bonnet opened the case on behalf
| Of the count by alleging that the money
| said to have been spent by the count on
himself had been spent In building and fur
| nishing the house on the Bots de BouloRne.
| In fact. his father had sod property in or
der to assist his sons estate. It was non
sense to say that the countess had ever
| been short of money. She could always get
5000 francs by asking Cachard. (Cachard
| Is the member Of the law firm Of Cachard
| & Peartree. Paris. who represent Coudert