Blanca Errázuriz

.

Early life

Blanca Errázuriz was born in Viña del Mar, the daughter of Guillermo Errázuriz Urmeneta and of Blanca Vergara Alvarez. Her father died when she was quite young and in 1911, when she was only 17 years old, she met John De Saulles, who had travelled to Chile as representative of the "South American Concessions Syndicate" to negotiate a new railway line. After some initial difficulties with her family (mostly due to the difference in age and religion between them) they were soon engaged and on December 14, 1911 he married her at the English Church [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B05EEDA1E31E233A25757C1A9649D946096D6CF "The New York Times", December 14, 1911] ] in Paris, France. [ [http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/ccc1912b%20(E)/issues/07-05-1912_5.pdf "Cass City Chronicle", Cass City, Michigan, July 5, 1912] ] The newly married couple settled in New York City.

Background

The divorce

In 1915 Blanca Errázuriz befriended Rudolph Valentino in New York City, where he was working as an exhibition dancer and had gained attention for his rendition of the Argentine tango, which was the craze at the time. Valentino enjoyed befriending many people of high society, and Blanca Errázuriz was already unhappily married to De Saulles by whom she had a son, John L. de Saulles. Whether the two, Valentino and Errázuriz, actually had a romantic relationship is unknown, but Valentino was so smitten with her that when Blanca was seeking a divorce from her husband, Valentino agreed to provide proof in court that Joan Sawyer, his dancing partner, was having an adulterous relationship with De Saulles; and took the stand to support Blanca's claim of John's well known infidelities. [cite news
author=
title=DESAULLES' FRIENDS DIVORCE ACCUSERS; Dancing Partner of Joan Sawyer and Manservant of SlainMan Gave Testimony.COOK ALSO A WITNESSDistrict Attorney Says Evidence ofMaid Will Be Strong Part ofMurder Prosecution.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DEED7133AE433A25751C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10]

Mr. De Saulles was not pleased with this, and once the divorce was granted on December 1916, [cite news
author=
title=LUTHERAN BOOK IS RUSHED.; Published In Seven Days to Answer Charges Against Reformer.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F02EEDD153BE633A25753C2A9649D946796D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10] he used his political connections to have Valentino arrested along with a Mrs. Thyme, who was a known "madam", on vice charges (the exact charges are unknown). The evidence was flimsy at best (Valentino having been near the wrong place at the wrong time) and after a few days in jail, Valentino's bail was lowered from $10,000 to $1,500. [Leider, Emily W., "Dark Lover: The life and death of Rudolph Valentino", p. 68-76] The scandal was well publicized along with the trial, and Valentino felt degraded and misused. No one would hire him, his old friends would no longer talk to him and Blanca seemed to not even thank him for his testimony.

The murder

, home of her ex-husband. She had legal claims over the custody of their son, since she and her husband had been given shared custody over him, but de Saulles refused to acknowledge the court's decision. She arrived at "The Box" shortly after 8 PM, and found De Saulles sitting on the porch of the house. They started to argue, and she pointed a gun at his head demanding of him to immediately hand over the child to her. When he tried to disarm her, she shot him five times. [cite news
author=
title=LITTLE SON SEES MRS. DE SAULLES; Mother's Depression Dispelled by Boy's Visit to Her in Jail. DE SAULLES WILL UNSIGNED Testament Outlines Plans for "Little Jack's" Future--Inquest Into Killing Begun. Waits With Arms Outstretched. Better Than Medicine. LITTLE SON SEES MRS.DE SAULLES Will Provided for Boy.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A01E6D7133AE433A25753C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10] He was rushed to the Nassau County Hospital, but died there at 10:20 PM of his injuries. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B01EEDA133AE433A25757C0A96E9C946696D6CF "The New York Times", August 4, 1917] ] In the meantime, she awaited at the house for the arrival of the police, to whom she surrendered. She was charged with murder in the first degree and imprisoned in the Nassau County Jail at Mineola, New York, leading to a sensational trial. [ [http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/ccc1917%20(E)/issues/08-24-1917_7.pdf "Cass City Chronicle", Cass City, Michigan, August 24, 1917] ]

The widely reported case went on for months, relegating the First World War that was raging in Europe to the inside pages of the newspapers. Blanca was defended by Henry Uterhart, a noted criminalist of the time, and the principal witness for the defense was Suzanne Monteau, Blanca's French maid, who had accompanied her that night and completely supported her version of the events. [cite news
author=
title=DE SAULLES KILLING RE-ENACTED BY MAID; Suzanne Monteau Supports Theory That Mistress Acted on Sudden Impulse. TELLS OF PROVOCATION Says De Saulles's Looks Were Terrifying and He Declared MotherShould Never Have Boy.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE1D7133AE433A25752C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10] Blanca Errázuriz became the darling of the press, and the champion of the suffragettes who portrayed her as the victim of the chauvinism prevalent in the society of the time, [cite news
author=
title=BROTHER DEFENDS DESAULLES' HONOR; Denounces Attack on Slain Man's Memory as "Grossly and Incredibly False." WIFE'S MONEY NOT MISUSED Prisoner, He Says, Agreed to the Division of Their Boy's Custody. MAY LET HER SEE HER LAD Uncle Promises to Do What He Thinks Father Would Have Done --Great Crowds at Funeral. Asks for Her Boys. Police Keep Crowd in Order.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9403E1DC133BEE3ABC4153DFBE66838C609EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10] while Valentino's name was again dragged through the mud though he had nothing to do with Blanca by this point.

Blanca Errázuriz was unanimously acquitted of the murder charges on December 1 1917 in what was called a "popular" verdict. [cite news
author=
title=A "POPULAR" VERDICT.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A06EEDA133BEE3ABC4B53DFB467838C609EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10] Valentino changed his name from Rodolfo Guglielmi to various variations of "Rudolph Valentino", partly to avoid association with the scandal and partly because Americans had trouble pronouncing "Guglielmi". After the trial, he moved to Hollywood, [Leider, Emily W., "Dark Lover: The life and death of Rudolph Valentino", p. 68-76] where he started his successful movie career. Years later he tried to contact her again, but she would neither respond his calls nor agree to see him.

Later life

After the trial, she moved first to San Francisco, California, where she sought and obtained full custody of her son, and later to Japan. [cite news
author=
title=MRS. DE SAULLES IN JAPAN.; Accompanied by Her Son, She Has Taken a Villa Near Tokio.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B03EED61538EE32A25757C1A9659C946996D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10] Eventually she returned to Chile with her son and settled there. On December 22 1921 she remarried, [cite news
author=
title=MRS. J.L. DE SAULLES WEDS AGAIN IN CHILE; Acquitted Slayer of Former Football Star Marries FernandoSanta Cruz Wilson.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9807E7D7113EEE3ABC4B51DFB467838A639EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10] this time to Fernando Santa Cruz Wilson in Santiago, though this marriage apparently ended in divorce as well. She lived until 1940, when she died in Viña del Mar. [cite news
author=
title=HEIRESS, ONCE WIFE OF J.L. DE SAULLES; Freed After Slaying Him, She Was Wed to F. de Santacruz
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70815F73F54157A93C0AB1788D85F448485F9
accessdate=2008-08-10]

Trivia

*The case was the basis for the 1918 silent movie "The Woman and the Law", directed by Raoul Walsh; with Jack Connors, Miriam Cooper and Peggy Hopkins Joyce. The name "De Saulles" was changed to "La Salle" but the film's opening credits admit to being based on the story. Producer William Fox wanted Miriam Cooper to play in the film, as she so closely resembled the woman she was to portray. According to Cooper, people on the street would mistake her for Blanca De Saulles. Cooper fell ill when the film was to go into production, bowed out, and was replaced by another actress, who proved to be so terrible that Fox laid down the law with Cooper, telling her to make the film no matter how sick or how well she felt. It also helped that Raoul Walsh was her husband.

*Guillermo Errázuriz, Blanca's brother, killed himself in Paris in 1922, despondent over Peggy Hopkins Joyce.

Additional information

ee also

*Errázuriz family
*Rudolph Valentino

References

External links

*cite news
author=
title=JOHN G. DE SAULLES TO WED IN PARIS; New Yorker's Marriage to Senorita Blanca Errazuriz to Take Place To-day or To-morrow.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B05EEDA1E31E233A25757C1A9649D946096D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
* [http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/ccc1912b%20(E)/issues/07-05-1912_5.pdf Jack de Saulles' capture of Chili's richest beauty (July 5, 1912)]
*cite news
author=
title=DE SAULLES IS SUED BY HIS CHILEAN WIFE; Former Yale Football Star and Friend of President Wilson Wed in 1911. TWO WOMEN ARE NAMED Fifth Avenue Real Estate Man Was Promoter in Chile When He Met the Heiress.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F04E2DC1E3FE233A2575BC2A9619C946796D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=JOHN L. DE SAULLES SLAIN IN HIS HOME BY FORMER WIFE; Neighbors Find Yale's Old Football Captain Dying fromFive Bullet Wounds.CHILEAN HEIRESS ARRESTEDQuarrel Over Custody of SonFollowed Her Divorce fromReal Estate Man. WANTED TO GET HER SON "I Am Glad I Did It," She Said,Because Father Had KeptBoy from Her. JOHN L. DE SAULLES SLAIN IN HIS HOME
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B01EEDA133AE433A25757C0A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=BROTHER DEFENDS DESAULLES' HONOR; Denounces Attack on Slain Man's Memory as "Grossly and Incredibly False." WIFE'S MONEY NOT MISUSED Prisoner, He Says, Agreed to the Division of Their Boy's Custody. MAY LET HER SEE HER LAD Uncle Promises to Do What He Thinks Father Would Have Done --Great Crowds at Funeral. Asks for Her Boys. Police Keep Crowd in Order.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9403E1DC133BEE3ABC4153DFBE66838C609EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=LITTLE SON SEES MRS. DE SAULLES; Mother's Depression Dispelled by Boy's Visit to Her in Jail. DE SAULLES WILL UNSIGNED Testament Outlines Plans for "Little Jack's" Future--Inquest Into Killing Begun. Waits With Arms Outstretched. Better Than Medicine. LITTLE SON SEES MRS.DE SAULLES Will Provided for Boy.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A01E6D7133AE433A25753C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=DE SAULLES KILLING RE-ENACTED BY MAID; Suzanne Monteau Supports Theory That Mistress Acted on Sudden Impulse. TELLS OF PROVOCATION Says De Saulles's Looks Were Terrifying and He Declared MotherShould Never Have Boy.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE1D7133AE433A25752C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=DESAULLES' FRIENDS DIVORCE ACCUSERS; Dancing Partner of Joan Sawyer and Manservant of SlainMan Gave Testimony.COOK ALSO A WITNESSDistrict Attorney Says Evidence ofMaid Will Be Strong Part ofMurder Prosecution.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DEED7133AE433A25751C1A96E9C946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=INDICTS MRS. DE SAULLES.; Grand Jury Accuses Her of Murder In the First Degree.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9805E1D7113BE03ABC4E52DFB667838C609EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=I DANCED, BUT NOT IN MY HEART, SAYS MRS. DE SAULLES; Wrote Gay Letters and Flattered Her Husband to KeepHim, She Testifies.STROVE TO HIDE DISTRESSState Reads Letters to ProveShe Was Not Low SpiritedWhen De Saulles Was Away. CROSS-EXAMINATION ENDS Story of $20,000 Ring for Mme.Errazuriz Brought Out--Nurses Take the Stand. Made Use of Woman's Wiles. Turns to British Slang. Finds Excuse for Juror. DANCE NOT IN HEART, MRS. DESAULLES SAYS Always Taking the Blame. The Joy of Living. Believed in Flattery. First Letter of the New Year. Thought Letter Rude. But She Liked the Clothes. The Actress's Picture.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05EFD6113AE433A2575BC2A9679D946696D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=A "POPULAR" VERDICT.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A06EEDA133BEE3ABC4B53DFB467838C609EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10
* [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nd/towner/newspapr/ne17dec.txt Hansboro News newspaper for December 7, 1917]
* [http://www.genealog.cl/Chile/V/Vergara/LosXenlaQuintaVergara-porValeriaMainoyMireyaRedondo.pdf Short biographical antecedents of Blanca Errázuriz] es
* [http://siglo20.tercera.cl/1910-19/1917/rep.htm Memories of the events] es
* [http://www.genealog.cl/Chile/E/Errazuriz/ Short biography and genealogical page] es
*cite news
author=
title=MRS. DE SAULLES IN JAPAN.; Accompanied by Her Son, She Has Taken a Villa Near Tokio.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B03EED61538EE32A25757C1A9659C946996D6CF
accessdate=2008-08-10
*cite news
author=
title=MRS. J.L. DE SAULLES WEDS AGAIN IN CHILE; Acquitted Slayer of Former Football Star Marries FernandoSanta Cruz Wilson.
date=
work=New York Times
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9807E7D7113EEE3ABC4B51DFB467838A639EDE
accessdate=2008-08-10
*imdb title|id=0009832|title=The Woman and the Law