The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-03
NOBILITY IN FIGHT
COUNT BONI DE CAsTELLANE IN A
 STREET BRAwL
Prince HeIie de sagsn, Cousin To The Count, Was The Other Parfici- pant--Both Men Arrested
 By Police.

 reported to be engaged to Madame Gould, had a personal encounter today at the Church at St. Pierre de Chaillot, while a service to the memory of Lady Stanley Errington, a relative of both men, who died lately in England, was in progress.
 Beginning inside the church. where Count Boni says the Prince insulted both him and the sacred edifice, the encounter was resumed ct he doorway where Count Boni. followed by his brother, Count Jean de Castellane, overlook the Prince. Count Boni spat in his cousins face. Then came the clash of canes, followed by a rough and tumble fight on the pavement, which ended in the gutter where the men were separated by big butcher. Count Boni at the moment of inter vention, was holding down the well nigh insensible Prince. while Jean, &C., cording to eye witnesses was admins tering to him a severe kicking.
 When the police arrived. the butcher was holding the two principals in the fight, who were covered with mud. The Prince was bleeding profusely from a wound in the right temple where he had been hit by Count Boni's heavy stick. With the butchers hand on his collar Boni was haranging a crowd which had gathered, as to why he had spat in the Princes face when the police arrived.
 Followed by several thousand per- sons, they were taken to the station where they made Explanations"
 Both Count Boni and the Prince gave their own version of the quarrel, each claiming that the other was the az gressor, but the Prince aloEe lodged a complaint, charging the brothers with assault.
 "A "proces verbal having been writ ten out, according to the French law, the three men signed 1t and then were released. The case now will go before the public prosecutor. who will decide what if any steps shall be taken.
 Tn view of the fact that Prince Helie has elected to pursue the mat ter in the courts, the idea Of duel seems to be precluded. Tonight Prince Helie is laid up in bed with his head swathed in bandages while the Count spent a part of the evening in visit ing the newspaper offices.
 When seen by the Associated Press correspondent. he was in high humor. He painted his cousin in the blackest colors, declaring that Prince Helie had been ostracized by his own family, not one of whom would permit him to enter the house. Count Boni declared that the episode had nothing to do with Madame Anna Gould, but was the re- suit of an old grudge between him and the Prince.
 Count Boni said he took no notice of the Prince during the service which proceeded without incident until the elevation of the Host. when the Prince rose
 [ "As he passed" said Count Boni, ''he damned his hat on his head and look ed insultinglv at me, this within twen- ty feet of the altar. I immediately got up and followed him. and when I reach ed the vesttbule outside. said: I have not given you vour Christmas present and spat full in his face. He raised his cane to strike me. but got in the first blow. opening his temple. We then closed"
 Count Boni dramatically acted the part as he told the story and declared at its conclusion that he had only re- scented what he regarded as an insult vinced that the Prince. on account oi his past career. would not dare to pros. ecute the complaint.
 Prince Helie. when seen by the As sociated Press correspondent in his bed room, could only account for what he termed a brutal and deliberate attack by Count Boni de Castelane on the the. ory that Boni was a madman. He therefore, would not appeal to the code he said. but would allow the case tc take it's course in the criminal court He declared that the attack was en. tirely unproveked. He was sitting fir another part of the church far from Count Boni and when he left as the service was concluded. Boni and hi: brother followed him out. As hs reached the steps of the church he wal seized by the shoulder. and, wheelfna around. he found himself face to fact with Count Boni. who. with the words
 This Is Christmas present my chfl. dren," spat towards him.
 When they closed. he said. after the first exchange of blows. his foot caught in his long overcoat. He tripped anf fell on the curb and 1t was then thai Count Boni and his brother bounced upon him. knocking and beating him with canes. As 1t was evidently a con. certed attack upon him. he lodged 2 complaint.
 To prove the animosity of the Gas. tallanes against him. he declared that even the Marquis de Castallane.. Count Bonis father who followed the party to tho police station. said in the pres. ence of all: T wish I had been there too. so I could have hit you"
 Prince Helie said he regretted the incident principally because the name of Mime. Gould had been dragged into 1t.
 "If the Count de Castellane's attack upon me was caused by my visits tC Mime. Gould" he said. fit seems strangt that he objects to these visits now when he did not object to them before the divorce |"
 The Prince said emphatically that h, was not engaged to Mime. Gould. H, said that he would willingly fight , duel if there was honorable provoca tion, incidentally mentioning his pro ficiency as a swordsman. but under tn, circumstances, he intended to alloy the law to take its course.
 While there had been an estranFe ment between him and Count Boni. h, said, he had no reason to anticipa f. today's attack.
 If Boni desires to get me out O the way" he continued, fin order t, effect reconciliation with Anna, tha is his affair. not mine."
 Prince Helie de Sagan is a grandson of the famous Duke, who for years SC the fashion in Paris and concerning whom a hundred droll stories hay been told. He is brother of tn Duke de Dino and has figured exten sively in public gossip in Paris. few years ago he attained notoriet, by slapping Maitre Barboux, durin, the trial of a damage suit brought b, prominent society leader, because 1 was publicly asserted that the paint ing, Nude Woman in a Mask" exhibit ed at the Salon was her portrait. Ac cording to current gossip in Pari Count Boni and the entire Castellan family are now convinced tbot TOrino