The daily gazette., 1877-07-25
G A ARDINAL ANTONELLPS
DAUGHTER.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.)


ROME, July Elm Rome a case is COM
ing before the Civil Court which is like
ly to attract attention throughout the
world
The plaintiff is a Countess Loretta
Lambertin the defendants are the bro
theirs of the late Cardinal Antonelli, and
the lawsuit is to recover a share of the
late Cardinals property, which Countess
Lambertiui claims rs a daughter of his
Emlnence. Her claim to be recognized
a. such is chiefly based on papers in her
possession, and on the evidence of
midwife, priest, and confidential ser
want of the late Cardinal. She has hith-
erto been considered the daughter of a
Nine. MaIconi, and was brought up un>
der that name; but according to her
present statement she Is the daughter of
a young English lady who was in Rome
in 1850
she says she knows, but she does not
wish to divulge it unless compelled to do
so. At her birth Nine. Marconi took
charge of her and brought her up, re-
ceiving from the Cardinal various sums
of money, amounting to about 200, 900
frames, for her education. She alleges
that he frequently came to see her as a
child, and gave Ger medal to wear with
his name on it. When Nine. Marconi
guardian, who also received money for
her support. A year or two ago she mar
ried Count Lam bertini, and afterward
paid frequent visits to the Vatican, aud
corresponded with her father, who an
swered her letters up to the time of his
death. Among the papers on which she
bases her claim il a letter written by
Nine. Marconi in 1857 to friend, urging
her to press the Cardinal for money,
"for," she says, "you know have his
daughter to support, and If he refuses
me money L shall make scene some
day." When the claim was first made,
some months back, it was thought to be
an attempt to extort money, and that
the brothers would pay something to
hush it up, or if they refused to do so,
that it would fall ~ the ground for want
of proof or legal standing of the claim
ant. 1t seems, however, that her advi-
| sers are serious. The indictment con-
tains fifty-three articles, and gives the
names of seventy witnesses to be called
in the plaintiffs behalf. Application
was made to the President of the tribu-
/ nal to take down at once the evidence of
| those who, from age, might be likely to
die; but as the defendants raised objec-
tions the President has taken till next
week to consider the point. 1t is sug-
gested that the defendants wish to drag
| on bne case WIN Ine nope tnaC Jne cult1
| witnesses will die. From the line of de
\ fence they are going to adopt it would
seem that they admit that the plaintiff is
their brothers child, but maintain that,
her father having been in holy orders at
the time of her birth, she would be a
! fila sdcrilega, or child born in sacrilege,
/ and consequently eau have no legal
standing whatever. 10 this her lawyers
will object that at the time of the Cardi-
| nails death the Italian civil code was in
force, and that under that code she, as a
has right to at least share of his pro-
perty, and that the Pontificial law rslat.
| ing to fi Sdcrilegi has no longer any
force. 1t is believed that great efforts
| have been made to induce the Antonellis
| to compromise, so as to avoid scandal to
the Church, but they seem determined to
fight it out,