The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-08

ing Francois Bourgeois receiver OF the prop
erty. Bourgeois was. it appears. chief of
the Belgian police. and his appointment
may nave had some bearing upon the with
orawal OF Ming Lsopold's suit when Bour-
geois appeared in New York shortly after
ward.
KING LEoPoLD's VICTORY.
The legal technicalities arising from the
various suits form sort OF Chinese puzzle,
with the treasure in the center and the
King, police, bishops and sheriff working
their way toward it.
A warrant was issued, giving the custody
OF the money over to the sheriff, who, as
the original attachment had been vacated,
found himself i'll the possession of a large
sum OF money with apparently no owner
for it.
Fo. some reason the king then brought
another suit and another warrant of attach
ment was issued. This time the sheriff was
ready to turn the money over to almost any
one who would furnish the necessary in-
demnity bonds. The next step in the puz-
zle was the withdrawal of the kipg's second
suit, and Bourgeois stepped to the front as
claimant for the property under the de-
cislon of the Belgian courts appointing him
receiver.
At this point Bishop Duroseau appeared
on the scene. through counsel, bringing suit
in the supreme court here, in which he
claimed the money and demanded a trial by
jury. The bishop, it seems, had reason
able chance of success with his suit, but
King Leopold's representatives had other
resources and proceeded to put the screws
on the bishop, the result of which was that
the bishops suit was withdrawn. This left
the king practically master of the situation.
Canon Bernard was locked up in Jail. the
Belgian bishops were crowded out of the
way, and Bourgeois, his own chief OF police,
was the sole claimant in the field.
Bourgeois certainly had been made re-
ceiver of the property under the Belgian
law, and therefore, when he pressed his
claim with the sheriff the latter was willing
to give up the money if the necessary in
demnity bonds were forthcoming to guaran-
tee him against loss.
Messrs. Coudert Bros. furnished this
bond, and $500, 900, minus sheriff's add legal
fees and costs to an amount Mr.. Wilcox
describes as absolutely paralyzing," was
handed over to the triumphant chief of
police. When this money was paid over to
Bourgeois, Canon Bernards lawyers here
tried to block the game, but all they sue
ceeded in doing was to track Bourgeois to
the Hamburg steamer on the morning of
sailing and get chance to wish him bon
UoyGge."
GOODHUE DRIVEN MAD.
Here comes in what is known as the Good
hue incident Mr. Goodhue, a lawyer of
Quebec, got on the track of some of the
funds there and went to Belgium to make a
deal with King Leopold relative to recov-
ering the property. Goodhue succeeded in
being landed in Jail and was generally har-
raised until he lost his reason. He was
finally, on the intercession of the British
government, released from jail, and is now
an inmate of an insane asylum.
In 1888, after King Leopold had gathered
in most of the treasure that had been in
dispute, Canon Bernard was brought to
trial and acquitted, it appearing that the
money had been turned over to him by its
leading custodians, and that he had merely
followed the instructions of his superiors.
Upon being acquitted Canon Bernard
went to London and thence to Quebec. Here
comes in another remarkable feature of tle
case. There was deposited in Quebec $780,
600 francs. 1t appears that an agreement
had been entered into between Bishops Du-
mont and Duroseau on the one hand, and
Canon Bernard on the other, by which the
latter was to pay over to the bishops this
precise sum. This, it seems was done, for
the transaction was the cause of another
suit being brought against him in his alb
sence, wherein he was charged with "traf-
ticking in trust funds" In the trial of the
suit Canon Bernard was indicted and con-
victed. Sentence is still pending.
1t may be said here that the amount re-
turned to Belgium exactly Tailed with the
amount brought by Canon Bernard to this
country, his expenses being paid by himself
out of his private fortune. The Belgian au-
thorities tried to have Canon Bernard ex-
tradited, and warrants were sent to England
where he then was, for this purpose; but the
British government refused to deliver him
up, on the ground that it was purely a case
of persecution. 1t seems to have been the
purpose of the Belgian government to hold
the last indictment over the Canon's head
to prevent his ever going back to Belgium
to institute proceedings for damages.
AN OFFER OF COMPROMISE.
Canon Bernard's next step was to write a
bitter letter to King Leopold, setting forth
his wrongs The result of this was that he
was not further molested by the Belgian DO
lice agents, and the sum of 100000
francs was offered to him by way
of compensation. AS nearly 1,000,0 DOC
francs of his own property had
been confiscated by the government Ber-
nard refused to accept the money which.
though he has suffered from poverty in the
past six years, he has allowed to remain in
Belgium untouched.
There is a certain lawyer in Boston who
VIII PIOD1Oly 10 ll1du0 W SllOW CduS6' De
fore the present proceedings are ended.
This lawyer, acting as counsel for Bur-
geois, actually, it is said, brought suit for
the recovery of the money deposited by
Bernard in Boston. signing the complaint
in Demands name as plaintiff. OF course.
as Bernard placed the money there, and
was apparently suing for what really be-
longed to him, it was a comparatively easy
matter to secure the property. This was
done while Canon Bernard was In prison.
Mr.. Wilcox seems to think that had
proper steps been taken by Bernard in the
first place, the money would have been
here yet.
Just think of it," said ne, ''if the law
yers had only known what they were about,
King Leopold would never have counted
any of that money through his fingers"
JUST LIKE A ROMANCE
Mr.. Wilcox says that Canon Bernard is
a profound scholar, and that his letters are
masterpieces of expression. His firm was
inclined not to touch the case at first, as 1t
seemed too much like romance; but after
seeing and conversing with Bernard they
profess the most absolute faith in the justice
Of his claim.
In the event of q judgment in Bernard's
favor ex-Sheriff Bowe will be called upon
to pay 100000. with six years interest
added. Then it will be seen where the
guarantee bond came from which was
furnished TO the sheriff by Coudert Bros.