The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-08-30
The AntoueII Scandal.


A scandal has crept into the high
places of the Church of Rome which
threatens to assume q prominence
greater than any similar misfortune in
the history Of churches for a genera
ton or more. The late Cardinal An
tonelli's name is the one most held up
to disgrace and obloquy in this matter.
For many years n citizen of Rome, and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for his ability,
he was afterwards raised to the post of
Minister of Finance in the Papal Gov
eminent, then to a Cardinalate, and
subsequently to the position of Prime
Minister. The latter high place-the
Pope's fright. hand man''--he contin-
ued to hold until the day of his death,
his superior knowlede of the affairs of
church as well as of state, and his
splendid Linguistic accomplishments,
making him a most important figure in
in all the councils and conferences held
at the Vatican.
Though the breath of scandal had
frequently passed vel the name of An
tonelli, 1t was not until several weeks
after his death that the world outside
of Rome, or his own church people
outside of the Vatican, learned Of the
havoc that suspicion had raised with a
name that had SO long stood honored
for all that was great, dignifed and
holy.
1t was when the will of the dead
Cardinal was opened and read that the
tongue of scandal began to be loosened.
The will which disposed of the enor-
nous fortune Of over 5000, 900, be-
queathed not a cent to the church in
which he had been fostered. and this
fact left his Vatican associates free to
express their opinions Of the mans
conduct in life, whether In making
wills for the benefit of his nephews, or
holding improper intercourse with
women of rank outside the holy place
in which he had sworn to celibac!.
In the last will and testament of the
prelate all of his immense property was
given to his relatives-people partly
engaged in business in Rome-but the
document referred to other wishes of
the t~estator, comprised III a sealed pa
per, which, however, was not produced
by the relatives-a fact which soon
brought forth the expostulation of a
young italian woman, the Countess
Lambertini, she claiming to be a daugh-
ter of Cardinal Antonelli, and express
ing her belief that the sealed paper in
question contained instructions for her
maintenance out of the property.
Strange as it may seem, no IL has
arisen in Rome to dispute the paren-
tage of the Countess. Every person in
timately acquainted with the career of
the late Cardinal seems to lean to the
belief that the lady is indeed his
daughter, as claimed. Familiar ascot
ates with the deceased even state that
they had known for years that he had
cared for the claimant, as a daughter,
that she had been educated ut his
expense, and that he had selected her
present husband, and had given the
couple a marriage portion of $4,000.
besides furnishing them Il residence and
an annuity of $4,000. The alleged
mother of the child, Antoinetta
Marconi, was also known TO have been
cared for by the Cardinal for many
years, until she died, which was in
1872. Shopkeepers in Italy likewise
have added their testimony, by present
ing bills, which give proof that the
Cardinals mistress and daughter were
an expense of wei $500, 900 to him
during a period of about 20 years.
These facts being out, it was not long
before stories of other amours on the
part of the rich Cardinal were related
in Rome, and several other claimants
came forward with their alleged proofs
that Antonelli was also q naturalfather
to them, and that monthly installments
for their support had only ceased to
come from him with the expiration of
his life.
other and even groSser crimes OF
passion are charged against the late
Prime Minister of the Pope, all tending
to prove him a man equaling in debase-
ment of appetite his ambition for
wealth and position.
The family of Antonelli will fight all
claims againstthe estate of their relative
despite the protestations of the Pope,
who desires to suppress the scandal, and
the time set for the trial of the case of
the Countess Lambertini in the italian
courts is the coming November, when
all the facts will be brought out under
oath, and the scandal published in full
to the world.
The Foe OF Pam.
The tRt.,l -