Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-01
CLSTELLLNE DIVORCE CASE
Attorney fer Countess Tells Story Of H'r
Treatment BY Count
NANLs Of cO.REsFONOENTs NOI GNEN
Maitre Cruppi says that TrOuble in
Family started on HONEYMOON
Through Counts De
mand for Money.

PARIS. Oct 3i.-The Castellane divorce
case was heard this afternoon before NJ.
Henry Ditto, president Of the tribunal OF
first instances Of the Seine. Neither the
count nor the countess was present Maitre
Cruppi for the countess, pleaded for d.
vorce on the documentary evidence sub
United.
In an extended review counsel declared
that the countess at the beginning OF the
suit was not acting under influence, out
solely for the purpose OF ending forever lhe
peril Of the moral desolation of her house
hold He explained the marriage contract
by which the regime OF separation OF prop
erty was established from the very begin
ming. and stated that domestic difficulties
are over the question Of money. Ill-treat-
ment soon followed. the count even striking
the plaintiff before the servants.
When he reached the question Of the in
fidelity charged against the count, Maitre
Cruppi did not mention names, or even in
itials, designating the correspondents as
Madame A. Madame B." and so on.
Maitre Cruppi asked that the countess
be given the custody Of her three children
when Trouble started.
Counsel for the countess spoke for an
hour and a half and mad not finished when
the court took recess. Counsers presenta-
ton Of the case Of the plaintiff constitutes
a complete and pitiful story, wreck OF
her married life. due primarily to the
counts inordiuate extravaganza. Even in
spite of their domestic infelicity. the
countess was too good and scrupulous to
begin an action for divorce until she pos
sessed full proof She was only 20 when
she was married in 1885, and, Maitre Cruppi
asserted, the happiness Of the honeymoon
was disturbed on their arrival in Paris by
the counts demands for money. The
countess income was 100000 and the count
allowed her $50 pin money. The court room
was crowded, among those present being
many members OF the American colony.
! BY 1899 the countess interests NJ. Cruppi
said were heavily compromised by the
! counts extravaganza that it necessitated
family meeting in New York and the
appointment Of legal trustee. But the
difficulties regarding money were unceas-
ing and in order to obtain funds the count
pawned or sold at ridiculous prices the
most costly objects. When the countess
protested the count abused her in the
presence of servants, and when she de-
clined to attach her signature to docu-
ments he frequently pinched her and some
times struck her. the first time being fouI
months after their marriage
Malicious Reports Alleged.
In the course Of the pleading NJ. Crupp
protested against the malicious reports IL
regard to the countess Intentions and an
! nounced that she would leave France fol
America Immediately after a divorce 1.
granted her.
In recounting the counts infidelity. th'
first instance cited by counsel was thai
with a married woman, described as
Mime. A." in 1895 The correspondent,
was conducted through NJ. Moret. tn,
counts secretary. The countess acc
dentally discovered in the Castellane cha
teau a packet of love letters, and when sht
protested the count struck her. Th,
countess eventually placed the letters il
the custody of lawyer. ,...
NJ. Cruppi read passionate extracts from
one of the letters. giving rendezvous a
Dion. It read;
Il am kissing you on the neck. Do yo'
feel it?'' and so on.
Counsel also detailed iissons with Mime
B." and NINE. c. whom the count me
in apartments which he rented in differen
parts of Paris.
NJ Cruppi had not finished his presenta
ton of the case when the hearing was ad
journed until next week.
After recess NJ Cruppi read from a note
book kept by the cook of one of thss
: apartments, giving brutality plain facts {
what counsel characterized as IAN unparC
enable oftense against the countess" II
also recounted the liason with Madam
c." who employed a mounted guard an
signalled from a window when the coai
was clear.
But counsel continued the counts, 10y
affairs were not confined to women OF 81
oiety. Then included numerous other womei
the reading OF whose letters created merr
ment in court.
Probable Defense.
NJ. Cruppi said that tho counts defeni
: would probably be that, being young an
rich, he could not protect himself agalui
the assaults of lovesick women. In II
face OF the overwhelming evidence submit
ted, NJ. Cruppi declared, his opponent coul
not expect the tribunal to ask for the sun
moning of witnesses. Counsel added:
Does he imagine by dragging out III
case to obtain forgiveness? No, no. Cour
Bonis plan to reoonquer his wifes ane'
lions Is too transparent"
The final rupture came the day after N
famous entertainment of King Carlos {
Portugal December -, 1905 The count
that time insisted that the countess 3
with him to a shooting party given by
noble of whom the countess had cause {
complain, and when the count became er
. ragged at the countess refusal, she abrupt