Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-05
A ROYAL LITIGANT.
Suit Brought In n Boston Court by
the King Of the BeIgfanA.
Boston Special to the chicago Tribune


The suit in equity begun in the Supreme
Court by the King of the Belgians against
a Belgian subject, In which the Union Safe
Deposit Vaults is also made defendant, is
of peculiar Interest. The plaintiff, Leopold
H., King OF the Belgians, brings the bill in
his sovereign capacity against Leon Ber-
nard, OF Antwerp, and the prOprieJOrs Of the
Union Safe Deposit Vaults. The statement
of the case made in the bill is as follows
Leon Bernard Is a subject, officer ard ser
want OF the plaintiff, and was for a long
time custodian OF money, securities and
property belonging TO the plaintiff, derived
from revenues Of the church and other
sources. In March, 1881, Bernard, having in
his possession large amount Of securities,
money and personal property belonging to
the plaintiff, which he believes to be
not less than $40 900, converted the same
tn his own use, and fed to the United States,
and Is now under arrest at Havana, where
he IL awaiting papers OF extraditiOD that he
may be taken to Belgium for trial While
Bernard was in the United States he hired
small safe or vault In the Union Safe De-
post Vaults, where be placed a large
amount of securities, money and personal
property. which cannot be come at to be at
tached or be taken on eXtradition in a suit
az law against Bernard. The plaintiff al
leges that the Union Safe Deposit Vaults
will, unless restrained by injunction, be
compelled, by their lease of the small safe
or vault to Bernard, or by their rules, to de-
liver and will deliver the property therein to
Bernard. The plaintiff says that he is q
creditor of Bernard to the amount wrong
fully appropriated by him to his own use,
and that the property in the small safe or
vault cannot be taken by writ OF replevin.
The plaintiff accordingly asks that an
account be taken aud Bernard be Or
dered to pay the amount found due to the
plaintiff, and to deliver to the plaintiff all
the securities and other property belonging
to the plaintiff; that Bernard may set forth
and discover what property has been de-
posted by him in the small safe or vault;
that the proprietors of the Union Safe De
post Vaults may set forth and discover
whether Bernard has rented or hired OF
them any safe, vault, trunk, or apartment,
and what the terms and conditions OF such
lease or agreement between them and Ber-
nard are; whether a duplicate key TO such
small safe is in their possession, and what
agreement exists as to the disposition OF the
contents of the safe leased to Bernard IN
case of his default in payment Of rent. The
plaintiff further asks that the proprietors of
the Union Safe Deposit Vaults be restrained
by an injunction from permitting Bernard
or his agents access to the small safe or
vault, and from delivering any of the con-
tents thereof to Bernard, and for such other
relief as TO the court shall seem meet. The
bill is signed by Leopold II. by his attorney,
E s Mansfield.
Accompanying this bill is an affidavit by
the Belgian Consul In New York, being the
only agent and representative of the King
of the Belgians In New York, which sets
forth that cause of action exists against
Bernard, by whom there has been wrong /
full conversion of property belonging to the |
and this the Consul has learned by |
letters and dispatches received by him from |
the officers, Ministers and servants OF the |
King. Application was made to Judge D = |
vens in chamber, and an Injunction has |
been issued restraining the Union Safe De- |
post Vaults from allowing or permitting |
Bernard access to the safe leased to him,
and from delivering any of the contents |
thereof to him or to his agents. The pro- |
cess j. returnable to the court in August, |
and an order Of notice will afterwards issue |
from the court for service on Bernard at |
some future date