The Washington herald., 1913-12-07
anna GOULD GETS
DELAY In SUIT
Submits New Evidence to
Vatican IN Boni's An
nulment Action.
IS INTENSE
Important Questions Involved in Dis
pute Keep France Wrought
Up, Pending Decision.
pecial Cable to Ths washington Herald.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald.
Rome, Dec. 6.-Discussion OF the Gould
Castellane affair in the Segatrura tri-
bunal, over which Cardinal Vincenzo
Vsnutelli presides, has been postponed to
January IL at the request of the Duchess
de Talleyrand's lawyers on the ground
that they require further time to submit
a brief and prepare evidence In rebuttal.
Although the coming discussion is
merely technical. public interest is un-
abated on account Of the important ques-
tions involved. After the Rota's decision.
in June last. granting the Count Boni an
annulment Of his religious marriage to
Anna Gould, the latter appealed on the
ground she had not been properly sub
poenaed and had not been given an op-
portunity to properly defend herself.
Third Trial Certnin.
Whichever way the points involved are
settled the case is certain to be tried a
third time, as much fresh evidence has
been submitted to the tribunal which
completely disproves the counts allega-
ton regarding his late wife's statements
about the Catholic Church and the ques-
ton Of divorce. According to Jean de
Castellane. the counts brother, and
Prince John Deldrago, both of whom
were witnesses at the religious ceremony,
March II, 1906, a quarter of an hour be-
fore the ceremony the bride invalidated
the religious marriage by telling them
she would remain an American and a
Protestant. because Protestants had "a
pull over the Catholics inasmuch as
they could obtain a divorce whenever the
necessity arose.
On the other hand, the duchess has en-
tered a general denial OF the above state
ments, submitting number of letters
from the counts mother proving the
counts evidence had been obtained from
obliging friends who never entertained
friendly feelings for her. She also as
serts her conduct during the period she
lived with Count Boni proved beyond
doubt she never contemplated divorcing
her husband. as she could have brought
suit after the first six months of mar
riage if so minded. She only sought d.
vorce, she said, when her husbands be-
havior left her no choice.
Would Create Sensation.
Though the bulk Of the duchess evidence
is jealously guarded and perhaps destined
never TO see the light of day on account
of the prominent persons involved in the
and the sensation 1t would
create in Europe and America, yet 1t is
known the duchess attributes to a desire
for revenge an affidavit OF Jean de Cas-
tellane against her.
The duchess states that more than
once her brother-in-law appealed to her
to pay his many debts, but she
always declined to do so.
1t is further alleged that, in despair, he
sought the financial aid of Miss Helen
Gould. OF New York, and received a sim
liar refusal.
In combating the conclusion of the
Rota's last decision that by opposing the
annulment of the religious marriage Miss
Gould is practically asking the Catholic
Church to grant her two husbands. the
brief shortly to be submitted says she is
entirely Indifferent whether the count re-
or not as she is only continuing
the fight against him in the interests Of
her children.
On the other hand, the counts lawyer,
G. Pacelli, seems absolutely confident the
old decision will be upheld. and maintains
the count twice conclusiyely proved his
right to be freed from the religious mar
riage and has nothing whatever to fear
in any new evidence.