VIOLENCE FEARED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 14

VIOLENCE FEARED

AMERICAN HEIRESS ACTION AGAINST COUNT MARRIAGE A FAILURE REVELATIONS IN COURT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, July 5 Tho American-born Countess Haugwitz-Eoventlow, formerly Miss Barbara Hutton, Woolworth heiress, wearing a black costume and a magnificent grey fur, brought several fashionably-dressed women and a male escort to the Bow Street Police Court to-day when she appeared in an action against her husband. Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C., in opening plaintilf's case, said sho was anxious to avoid raising matrimonial disputes. The object of tho proceedings was simply to obtain surety that tho defendant would not execute violence toward his wife.

The parties had decided that family life was impossible for them, and they discussed separation on Juno 2 with a solicitor, Mr. Mitchell. Later, however, the Count changed his views and was not anxious for a separation. Mr. Mitchell would state that the Count threatened on Juno 18 not only to shoot others but liimsolf, and sometimes burst into tears and sometimes made large financial claims as a condition for leaving his wife. Counsel added that tho Count had a violent, ungovernable tempor and was most emotional. Husband Demands £1,000,000

Mr. Mitchell, in giving evidence about the interview on June 18, said tho Count stated that his terms were the child and a fantastic sum. Tho Count referred to his wife in obscene terms and said he was going to give her three years of hell with headlines, but if he blew out his own brains everyone would know that his wife had driven him to it.

Cross-examined, Mr. Mitchell stated that the Countess authorised him to offer the Count £50,000 if he would agreo to a divorce. The Count said it was an insult and laughable. The Count then mentioned £1,000,000 as tho sum ho demanded.

Witness added that there was talkabout blackmail, as to which the Count said: "A lot of money could be made out of it if properly handled." On tho following morning tho Count said ho no longer desired a reconciliation and was going to London to take the child and exercise tho right of master in his own house. Countess' Ofler of Income

Mr. Mitchell added that tho Count was disturbed because of a certain man. He denied that the warrant for the husband's arrest was taken out with the object of keeping tho Count out of England. Witness admitted that the Countess had telephoned the Count at Paris on June 30, saying she would withdraw tho warrant upon the Count's request. Mr. Mitchell said tho Countess was at first prepared to settle £250,000 for life on the Count but later thought an outright gift of £50,000 would bp bettor. However, witness was authorised to go up to £IOO,OOO. The magistrate said the issue was short and simple. It was whether the Countess went in bodily' fear. He adjourned the case until July 13.