The Washington herald., 1913-06-08
TRIBUNAL FLAYS
AMERICAN WOMAN
Rota Body Accuses Former
Anna Gould of Mis-
statements.
BONI GETS ANNULMENT
Witness Declares Princess Wasn't Sure
She Would Marry Nobleman Un-
I'll Time of Ceremony.
BONI GETS ANNULMENT
Special Gable to The Washington Herald

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
Rome, June THAT prelates who sit as
judges in Catholic tribunals know none
of the gallantries which characterize
their lay brothers attitude when dealing
with women is clearly evidenced by the
last decision OF the Rota tribunal about
the annulment OF the religious marriage
which up to a few days ago still united
before God Anna Gould and Count Boni
de Castellane. Although the former has
for a long time been the legal wife OF
the Prince de Sagan, Count Boni is anx-
iously waiting &c regain his freedom. in
order to marry another woman.
In the course of the new decision.
which is nothing but a confirmation of
that which the same tribunal handed
down in March last annuling the mar
riage. Anna Gould is dealt with so
harshly that part of the Rome press has
taken up her defense. accusing the
ments toward her.
The press points out that. while no
lay Judge would ever regard as a per-
jurer a woman who on the witness stand
endeavored to conceal her true age. the
prelates, who ought to know something
about human nature, call a spade a
spade. and in the course of the decision
say, among other things, that Anna
Gould made FIVE misstatements.
According to the Rota. dispositions OF
Prince John del Drago and of Count
Bonis brother prove conclusively that on
March IA. 1906 a quarter of an hour be-
fore she was to appear before the late
Archbishop Corrigan for the religious
ceremony Anna Gould told her fiance's
brother that she was still undecided
whether or not to marry the count
Gave Warming to Boni.
Prince Del Drago, who also was a wit
ness to the marriage, and to the prince,
1t 10 testified, Miss Gould said:
Yes; I will go before the archbishop,
inasmuch as you say 1 cannot do other
wise: but 1 want to tell you that 1
marry without knowing much why Boni
has pressed me to marry MIN, ana
have not had the time to think II over.
At any rate, 1 state to- you, ana II wouIo
be well that Boni be Informed of it,
am a Protestant and an American. while
he is a Catholic and a Frenchman; that
matrimony has not the same meaning
for both of US; that l am determined to
desert or divorce him whenever 1t will
pleace me.
over you Catholics we Protestants
y
whenever We want to, and 1t is for this
reason 1 do not want TO convert myseir
to Catholicism"
To the Paris judge VINO tried the Oh
vorce case sne stated that wnen sne
was married she was hardly r1fteen years
old; that during the nrst three years
OF her married life sne never Tor a
moment thought OF divorcing her hus-
band or remarrying. ana that all the
members OF her family were opposed to
divorce.
The Rota judges find that the above
statement is incorrect, beginning with
Miss Gould's age at the time OF her
marriage. II appears that Count Bom
has produced enough documents to prove
that in 1906 she already was or age
that is, at least eighteen-and that other
members OF the Gould family nave peen
divorced.
At the same time the tribunal points
out that Miss Gould's contradictory atti-
tude on the question of her religious
continues. In fact. while she
often said she was not a Catholic and
her present husband to en-
brace the Protestant religion in order to
marry according to the rules of the
Episcopal Church, she appeals at the
same time to the Church of Rome to
prevent the count from ever rsgainine
bis full freedom.