The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
WOMEN CROWD COURT
At MESERITZ TRIAL
Count Mielczynski Appears Be-
fore Judge Leaning on
Doctors Arm.
DEFENCE Is INFIDELITY
Prisoner Says That Is Why He
Killed Wife and Her
Nephew.
DEFENCE Is INFIDELITY

spec,di cable Despdfch to THs SrN.
BERLIN, Feb. 2O.--The court at Meseritx
Vas crowded to-day. mainly with women.
q. che opening OF the trial OF Count Mel
czynski, a Polish nobeman and member
o. the Reichstag. for the killing Of his
wife and the latters nephew at the family
castle on December 20. The Count il to
h. tried on a charge OF manslaughter.
III, defence IL that his wife was carry
ing on an intrigue with her nephew and
ina, he had discovered proof Of this
The women In the audience at to-day's
hearing included the wives OF public func-
ronaries OF Meseritz and Posen. Not q
single member OF the Polish aristocracy
vas present
Spectators Examine Exhibits.
The spectators while waiting for the
opening Of the trial gazed In fascinated
manner At the double barrelled shotgun
with which the Countess was shot. her
blue silk dressing gown, her nephew's
shooting suit and the bullets extracted
from the bodies. all OF which were lying
on a table in the court.
There was q craning OF necks when
Count Mlelczynski was led to the dock by
q physician on whose arm he leaned. He
seemed to be very Ill and the doctor put
4 bottle OF restoratives on the table in
readiness for emergencies.
The Count. who Is OF medium height
with a Kaiserlike mustache, at times
looked abou, him in a vacant way. At
other moments his eyes flashed as II he
vas being goaded by his thoughts. Then
he buried his face in his hands and ran
his fingers through his nair.
The Count answered the questions of
the prosecutor in weak. monotonous
voice He pleaded guilty. but said he
acted on extreme provocation and with
out generalization.
on reply to questions as to his past
NE the Count admitted that he had been
twice convicted OF offences and had been
fined for insulting a relative Of his wife's,
Count Brinski. who was afterward SEN
fenced for fraud. He was also fined for
political offence in melting class hatred
in public speech.
Before asking the Count some personal
questions the prosecutor demanded that
the court be cleared. lie said that sex
questions must be discussed which In the
interest Of public morality ought not to
he heard openly.
Counsel for the Count replied that his
client preferred publicity because he
she'd to prove that his honor was never
,t.iued. Nevertheless in the interests OF
r- children he WAS willing to preserve
Their mothers name from scandal Con-
.equenty he was opposed to the proceed
Egs being held In camera.
Women Ordered Out Of Court.
The Judge decided to have the court
cleared and the wives OF the public func-
tionares. who were conspicuous In the
throng OF women went out grumbling. In
spite OF the fact that the court was
cleared. fairly full accounts of the pro-
ceedngs behind closed doors have beer
received here. although their accuracy
cannot be vouched for.
l, is said that the prisoner swoonet
when he was asked to Identify his wife,
dressing gown. He confirmed the reports
as TO various Incidents connected with
the tragedy. He said his wife was i'm
pulsive and headstrong and before h,
had been married six years he had rea
sors 10 suspect her fidelity. Correspond
snce fell into his hands in 1908 which
confirmed his suspicious. He taxed he
with being unfaithful and she confesse,
ard begged his forgiveness They wer,
reconcied at that time, but a simiia
liason IN 1905 led TO a complete separa
ton between him and his wife, and tn,
Countess was ostracixed by the Polisl
sristocracy.
This separation. the Count said. lastes
come years. and then there was anoths
reconciliation. He Joined his wife a
Dakowymocrs last September and sool
found that she was carrying on . liasoI
with her nephew. Miansynski, who live,
with his mother on another estate. Milan
fynsh was a dissoIute drunkard. He wa
formerly In the French foreign legion, bu
had deserted.
The Count said that Mianzynski was g.
drunk on the evening Of the tragedy tina
he fthe Count helped him upstairs
Later on the Count heard voices from hi
~fes room and thinking that burglar
had entered the house took his gun an,
fred and then in the dim light learned tn
IDENTITY Of his victims. Afterward he toll
the servants what had happened and said
II thought they were thieves. but nov
God has punished them by my hand"
About twenty persons, mainly EN-
pioyees Of the estate, have been summone
ne Witnesses. 1t Is said that all OF th
servants were aware Of the relations O
the Countess and her nephew. Severa
expert alienists will also testify.