New-York tribune., 1889-10-20

she by his persuasive eoquence that she became
proselyte TO the Roman Catholic Church This
excited the intense Indignation of the Duke, who
stood IN terror of the JeSuits, and who regarded
his daughters conversion as part of some intrigue
of the Order against him. He, however, relented
somewhat at the time of her marriage in 1850,
with the Count de Civry, and sent his confidential
counsellor, Won Bitter, to act as his personal
representative at the wedding ceremony, and 10
enter the name of the bride on the parish and
Government registers being Princess of the
Royal and Ducal House of Brunswick. lie like
wise caused the marriage to be officially announced
by his Grand Chamberlain, Baron d'Andlau, TO
the various Imperial and Royal Courts of Europe
as being that of his dearly beloved daughter"
In 1855 the Count de Civry got into financial
difficulties, and on the Countess appealing to her
father, who was living at Paris at the time, for
assistance he refused TO help her in any way
whatsoever She therefore instituted proceed
ings against him, demanding not only the support
due by a parent toward his child, but also the
share Of his fortune which every legitimate or
recognized child is entitled by French law to
exact from its father on its marriage OF attain
ment of majority. Notwithstanding the docsI.
mentary evidence TO the contrary in the possession
Of the Countess, the Duke responded TO the suit
by a solemn denial that he was her father and
as by French law Ia recherche de ia paternite'
is strictly prohibited, the lady lost her AT
the time of the Franco-German War the Duke
transferred his headquarters from Paris to Ge-
neva, where he resided until his death in August
1873. With a view of rendering himself dsa-
greeable 10 his surviving relatives he bequeathed
the whole of his enormous fortune TO the City
of Geneva. His brother and successor on ths
throne Of Brunswick, Duke William, the same
who acted as godfather at the baptism of tho
Countess dc Civry, Immediately set to work TO
contest the validity of the wi and after consider
able litigation compromise was effected whereby
the fortune divided in equal shares between
tie city Of Geneva and Duke William
In making this arrangement the claims Of the
Countess de Civry We're entirely ignored-in a
manner, indeed which the Supreme Court of
Brunswick described last week as isplayng IN ut
ter disregard of all "iustce proper feeling and
delicacy" The Countess, however, lost no time
in beginning a suit against Duke William, de-
manding a share of her dead fathers fortune, and
basing her claim on the clause Of the German
code which declares that illegitmate children
are entitled to almOny during their flthers life
time, and al his death rank Immediately after
the legitimate children, if there are any, and If
there are none, then before all the other blood
relations in the inheritance of his fortune and
property. Duke William, although repeatedly
urged TO do so, steadfastly refused TO put forth
any other defence than that the Countess, as
foreigner since her marriage, had no standing
in the German courts, and that, moreover the
latter had no competence to hold him, sovereign
Prince, amenable to their jurisdiction. lie de-
eincd either 10 deny 10 admit the relationship
between his dead brother and the Countess de
Civry. OF course his objections were set aside
by the Supreme Court here, which affirmed the
competence Of the ordinary tribunals to deal
with the case, and admitted the standing of the
Countess. Just about this time, howeyer-that
is, some four years ago-Dulle William died, leav-
ing his entire property, in equal shares, to the
King of Saxony and TO the Duke of Cumber-
land son of the late King of Tlanover),
who the inheritorS OF his property have been
forced 10 assume his position as defendants IN the
CivIT case. Meanwhile the Countess hersell likewise
passed over TO the great majority, and bequeathed
her lawsuit and her claims 10 her two sons-one
of whom, stated above is an ex-convict. The
case hnS now been brought TO final issue. The
lower courts have each OF them successfully de-
clared that the CounteSSS relationship TO Duke
Charles has been mIaetey established and
definitely proved, and the Supreme Court to
which the case was carried final appeal. will
rcasSemble in couple of weeks for the purpose
of delivering the jud 2ment, from which there
can be no further appeal The judges have plainly
OF the plaintiffs, for before the court rose last
Friday, the judges strongly urged the royal
defendants TO effect compromise while there was
still time, publicly declaring from the bench
that the treatment Of the Countess de- CivrV in
connection with Duke CharesS fortune had beeu
most unjust, disgraceful and objectionable Un-
less, therefore, a compromise is immediately ef-
fected, which is very improbable the King Of
SaXony and the Duke of Cumberland will be
condemned TO pay over TO the two young Counts
de Civry sum close upon 81 ,000, 900, that be-
ing just half tue sum obtained by Duke
William as the result OF his compromise with the
the city OF Geneva. The Counts de Cvry their
hands strengthened by the judgment of the Ger
man courts, will then begin proceedings against
the municipality OF Geneva for the recovery of the
German and Swiss hws on the subject OF che rights
OF illegitimate children 10 their fathers Inherit
ance are Identical it may h. regarded rs certain
that the young noblemen will be as successful on
the banks of the Leman as they have been In Ter.
many Possibly the Gerevese WI II be glad 10 sur
render bedueSt which has proved curse 20 them
instead Of a blessing blight Scent 10 nave
rested on everything connected WIN me name OF
the odious and iguoble old Duke Charles Inc
fnarces OF the city Of Geneva are IN I worse ,.ne $40
than ever: the kind Of gingerbread monumsne
oroctaS 10 his memory above the spot where be nes
sm;a5 ,s failing 10 pieces and the grand opera
& S;tb portion Of his Legacy. hss proved
~ NH, ~ every company that has atcmp'eo 70
uIs it'" frdacd SO convinced are tho coca people
- Gcnevs that everything oppsrIal,IHs 70 hlnl IS
eccyrsed that they often talk OF hutnhg ths ln-
ment and corpse which II con,ph,his ih'" I'e sssv
bne waters OF their beautlfui iake'
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