The Washington herald., 1906-11-15
Case End, Suddenly.

Case Ends Suddenly,
The end Of the famous case came sud
denly. The court brushed aside the de-
mand OF the counts lawyers for an ex-
animation % the witnesses. and. as antic-
ipated. the psblic prosecutor did not even
ask TO be heard.
As soon as the court assembled Judge
Ditte handed down the judgment which
is a sweeping victory for the countess.
In granting her petition for divorce, the
court gave the countess the custody OF
her children, the count being allowed only
the usual rights to see them and share
in the control OF their education. which
was not contested.
The count is given the right TO see the
children AT stated periods at the home
Of their grandmother, and keep them a
month annually during the holidays.
Money Demand swept Aside.
The counts demand for an "alimentary
allowance OF $4,000 annually was pro-
nounced by the court to be without foun-
dstion in law and was rejected.
The only point decided in the counts IA
vor was the imposition Of an inhibition on
the countess to take the children out Of
France without their fathers consent
The court appointed the president Of the
Chamber Of Notaries 10 liquidate the af-
fairs OF the husband and wife.
The judgment was given with costs
against the count. The decree. the read
ing Of which hardly consumed I'VE min
utes, was delivered by the judge in a
voice so low as TO be practically inaudible
20 the eager crowd filing the courtroom
OF the Tribunal Of First Instance OF the
Seine, where Judge Ditte presided and an
nounced the decree.
Many women climbed the chairs in vain
efforts to hear the decision, and when
they were aware that a divorce was
granted they seemed actually 70 resent
the loss of public trial at which people
in high society would be compelled to tes-
tify.
CasteIIane Marital Chronology.
Count Ernest Boniface de Castellane
married Anna Gould on March 4. 1885. in
New York. Her income from her fathers
estate at that time was about S7o0,0OO an
nualiy From the date Of the marriage
years, Count Boni has spent S. 10000 of
the Gould fortune.
In four years following the marriage
Count Boni spent his wife's income OF
s.. SOC. 900. and in addition contracted debts
OF over $4oOO.OOO.
OF this amount he owed 81, 10000 to
Paris dealers in objects of art-s4oO,OOO to
one dealer alone
When short OF ready money Count
Boni pawned or sold for ridiculously low
prices many Of these unpaid-for objects
Of art.
In 1900 George Gould. as trustee Of the
estate Of Jay Gould. called a halt in the
Counts extravagances. He appealed to
the French courts and was appointed
trustee for his sisters estate.
BY order of the court the income Of
the Countess was cut down to S2e0,O00.
From that time the woes of the CoUn-
tess increased rapidly. Her refusal to
meet the Counts demands for money
were met with insults and blows Often
she was struck before her servants.
The finding Of love letters TO the Count
led 10 an investigation. which revealed
the Counts numerous love affairs, and
hastened the parting Of the couple and the
divorce proceedings.
On February last the Countess de Cas-
tellane entered a plea for divorce Final
arguments were made on November :,
when the case was continued until to-
day
On November S the case Of the Counts
creditors was presented to court and is
still pending.