The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-14
BRIDE LEFT WAY
OPEN TO DIVORCE
Testimony OF Count Boni dc
Castellane Before the Rota
Tribunalc.
DECISION is AGAINST HIM
High Law Court Of Catholic
Church Declines to Annul
Marriage
ny HENRY wuoD.
fspeoisl Gable to Tho Times. Dispatoh.l

ISpeoisl Caole 20 The Times Dispatoh.1
Rome April 13.--The recent dscis-
ION OF the Rota Trihunalc. the high law
court OF tao Catholic Church, declining
TO annul tho religious marriage cere-
inony of Count Boni de Castcllane and
Anna Gould, served 10 bring OUT sew
erni new aspects OF that famous inter
national marriage, Boni's plea FOR an
nulment was made on the grounds that
his Wife refused to accept Catholicism
In order that she might have IL Way
open 10 divorce should that step ever
become necessary. AS consequence,
therefore, practically all OF the testi-
mony presented by Boni 80 the Judges
OF the Rota was in support of this
contention.
That Anna Gould had this intention
In mind when the marriage ceremony
WAS performed was the gist of the first
testimony offered by Boni. In sum
ming up. the Rota Judges in their oe-
cision said:
"The count testified that about four
days after marriage she said 10 me
that she wns an American Protestant,
that she was free, that her marriage
could not bind her trrevocably. that
che reserved to herself the faculty of
divorcinS should the need arise. An
hour and half after the ceremony
she told Prince Del Drago cher pres
ent husband) that shc reserved to her
self 10 divorce In casc of necessity
and that she charged him to tell me
So She said the same TO my brother,
Jean, charging him also to repeat 10
me what she had said. Shortly al
forwards she repeated to my brother
Jean and TO Prince del Drago. togeta-
e. what she had said to them separ-
atoly'"
This testimony or the count. how
Ger, was fatty denied to tho Rota
JUDGES by tho counts former wire now
the Princess del DraEo. ACCORDING TO
iht decision of the Rota. she said
II did not utter the phrase rttribu:-
ID to me. do not remember saving
anything OF the kind on having me
snme meaning. may add ina, n7y ~,
tier was opposed to divorce AMI
brought me UP with the SAM idea
lurinS the FIRST three years Of my
marriage ] do not rcmomber having
Srotscn OF divorce. But when the diff
herlues came IT happened that { sew
1ra! times threatened my husband .ha,
! would ask for divorce"
IN dealing with this phase of tho
case tho Rota Judges pointed out that
" inc contention OF Boni that his wit,
90 not accept Catholicism In order To
meke divorce possible were true thcv
had 10 deal merely with a subi.,t,ve
mental state oil the part OF the bride
Ri the time of the marriage ani MT
with a condition laid down in the lna~-
riaEe plot. On the state of Miss
Gcnld's mind at the time of her mar
riase the Ro,a judges therefor. laid
stress uron the following testimony
given by her:
AT that time was still verv nuc.a
OF child; the thought of n possibility
OF second marriage did not even o.
cur 10 me. / said u viii -. he
caGse ] was marrying MS people ordI-
nartly do. had no other thought"
This mental state on the part OF Miss
Gould the Judges held, was subst a n
t'ated by the testimony OF her maid.
Catherine Cameron who testified .hat
she had asker h-r mistress II she
thought Count Boni could MAKE her
happy. and to whitn. MSS Gould re-
Piled: 81 -
II he doesn't ] shah get divorce
In America nearly all girls when mar
rying have the Intention OF obtainlay
divorce ~ the marriage does ne,
make them happy"
After summing up this testimony. the
Rcta Judges held that "it cannot tn
doubted therefore. that Anna wished
20 contract marriage as Instituted ny
Christ, and gave her consent In this
sense, although she erroneouaiy ne
NeVed sac could leave her husband for
certain rea sons or. In other words
that She contracted marriage cum OF
rorc juris,' but such marriage, we hnld
is valid"
Count Boni has Just one chance left
yet OF securing this annulmcnt Of the
marriage that would make him free Il