The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-05

1 his honor was at stake and he was going over to England to fight a duel with the persons he named He also said he would put his wife on the spot {. ."
 The count demanded various "en- ormous" sums of money, Hastings said, and spoke of suicide.
 "He said he would go over to Eng land and seize his son who, he said was his absolute property" contin- ued Hastings He said no one in the world would prevent him and that if his wife in any way tried to prevent him:
 God help me and God help us both"
 Hastings said that the countess at once had their son made a ward in Chancery, this putting him until he is 21 under the direct protection of the Chancery court and the Brit ish crown
 Attorney Mitchell Called
 His opening statement ended Hastings called Attorney Mitchell as his first witness. l Mitchell testified that when he saw the count in France, the count said:
 My terms are the child and a fantastic sum of money" "The count said: Tell Barbara that I will behave like a gentleman and expect her to behave like a IaI if fhnro ic business or an attempt to inter- fere with me in any way won't be responsible for what may do,' ," Mitchell said.
 His attitude toward his wife was very mixed. One moment he would abuse her. The next he would indi- cate that nothing was too good for her.
 "When you say abuse her. in what form was his language?" asked Hastings.
 Obscene language" responded Mitchell.
 Mitchell said that when he saw the count in France nine days after that, on June IS: Temper Varied
 His demeanor varied from tenn | per to emotion and self-commis- eration, and there were moods in which he was cold and what I should describe as calculated . In my opinion he was abnormally minded.
 When I first saw him I said:
 "I am afraid I have bad news for you He said:
 Nothing like the bad news l have for you. My terms are the child and a fantastic sum-
 Afterwards he corrected himself and said that What\he intended 10 convey was that 1t was fantastic sum for me (MitchelD and he men, toned the amount"
 Mitchell said that Haugwitz- Reventlow spoke in obscene terms of the countess
 Did he mention one prominent gentleman in London society,"" asked Hastings.
 "Yes," said Mitchell He said someone in English society had written to him stating that unless he first challenged that gentleman he could never return to London again. He then went on to say:
 But dueling is too good for that here he used an expression-Ill go straight back to London and shoot him like a dog and put the countess on the spot"
 Mitchell said that the count threatened to take the child from England forever.
 Then Mitchell charged that Haug- Witz-ReventloW on number of oc- casions had said that he had re- volver and was very quick at shoot ing from his pocket
 HaugWitz-ReventloW burst into tears when he was shown a letter from the countess, Mitchell said.
 Did he say anything about pub liCity regarding his wife" asked Hastings.
 Later in the morning he said he was going to give her three years hell with headlines" said Mitchell
 T was particularly apprehensive regarding something he said" con- tinued Mitchell. He was talking of blackmail. He said I did not under stand the beginning of the tech- nique and that lot of money could be got out of it If it were propertly handled, and that the only mistake he made was signing a New York deed, and that he would not make another"
 Aged 10 Years
 Mitchell said that later the same day the count said:
 "'I have aged 10 years during the last few weeks and I shant live long anyhow if I win. If I lose there is only one way out-I might take it even now"
 Haugwitz-Reventlow here turned round in the dock to gaze at the countess. She returned his glance. Neither showed any indication that they knew each other.
 Mitchell went on to say that he asked the count whether he meant suicide, and testified:
 He said: You don't think I am such a fool as not to have thought 1t out from all angles. I know what I shall do, or words to that effect.
 He also said: Everyone will know that Barbara drove me to it,
 Then he said: The tragedy of 1t would haunt her all her life and mo- body would speak to her again.
 Next morning. Mitchell said. the