The Monmouth inquirer., 1889-10-31
A FIGHT FOR A TREASURE
Royalty and the Vatican Both
Take a Hand.
KING LEOPOLD's UNHOLY AvARICE

A Romantic Story of Many Countries
Canon Bernard's Flight from Belgiui
with Ten Millions of Francs-Hounde
by the Kings Police and Imprisoned.
New York, Oct. 30-There came up i
the United States district court today cas-
which brings out in clear light a contest bt
tween the pope of Rome and Leopold Il
king of the Belgians as to their respectiv
authority in the appointment of bishops,
dramatic contest between two bishops, th
fight of the famous Canon Bernard to thi
country with some 81, ,500,0 600 in trust funds
his kidnapping and return to Belgium, his in
generation, and, all in all, thrilling &C
count of his strong devotion to his ecclesias
tical superiors. The case is known as tina
of Leon Bernard against Peter Bowe, ex
sheriff of this county, and the suit is brough
to recover 100000 which the sheriff turned
over to Francois Bourgeois in 1888. Tn
counsel for Canon Bernard are Wilcox
Johns, and for Mr. Bowe is Charles F. Mac
Lane. The case came up on demurrer t.
History of the Case.
Late in the year 1879, Edmond Joseph Du
mont, bishop of Cousna, Belgium, was sue
ceeded as bishop by Isidore Joseph Durous
seau, an appointment by the pope. 1t ap
pears that there was a fund amounting tx
several million francs belonging to the dio
cese, and of this fund the bishop had charge
Bishop Dumont refused to vacate the place
and deliver the fund to his successor. NJ
record is kept of such funds for the law Of
Belgium forbid the maintenance of sucf
funds by the Roman Catholic church, so that
only bysword of mouth does one bishop give
to his successor statement of the amount.
The Treasure Carried Off.
On Friday, Dec. 2s, 1879, while Bishop Du
mont was out of his palace, in the evening
five men and locksmith forced their way
in, and after a sharp struggle with the re-
tainers Of the place, took possession of the
house and the treasure, put a new lock on
the door, and thus barred out Bishop Du-
mont. The treasure was in two large safes.
Canon Bernard was private secretary tc
Bishop Durousseau, and had been charged
by his superior with the custody of the
funds. He took the funds, which were secu-
rites payable to the bearer, and embarked
for Canada He landed in Quebec, where he
deposited 100000 francs with a safe de-
posit company, thence went to Boston and
deposited some 1000, 900 francs more and
then to this city, where he deposited some
100000 in francs or the 5000, 900 now in
dispute The canon went next to Mexico,
and from there to Havana. eN
Pursued by King Leopold.
During all his wanderings Canon Bernard
was pursued and watched by emissaries of
King Leopold. It appears that the exist
ence of the large fund of the diocese had
been a revelation to the king of the Bel
gians He claimed that in view of the Bel
gian laws the 5000, 600 or 100000 francs
should escheat to the crown. At Havana
Canon Bernard was seized by Leopold's
emissaries, was thrown into Jail and then,
as he asserts, without process of law, he was
put on board vessel and finally landed in
prison at Brussels. No one was allowed tc
see him. as
Leopold then began suit against Canon Ber-
nard to recover the 100000 deposited in this
city. An attachment was issued here, but it
fell through. Bishop Dumont simultaneously
brought another action in Belgium, and
King Leopold slapped ON another suit, in
tending that this time it should hold. In the
Dumont suit Judgment was obtained against
Canon Bernard while he was kept locked ur
in prison, and Francois Bourgeois, commits
sary of police at Brussels, was appointed re-
ceiver &A1sl&
The Kings Second Suit.
On July ~, 1882, in the kings second suit,
brought in this city, warrant was issued
under which Sheriff Bowe seized the property
in this county. Bourgeois then came over
here and brought an action asreceiver in the
supreme court Meanwhile, Bishop Durous
seau presented claim here to the property
He filed a claim with the sheriff and de
manded trial by jury. With Bernard
locked up in Brussels the bishop stood good
chance of getting the money, whereupor
King Leopold, fearful that he would lose the
Doodle after all, induced the bishop, by some
unknown influence, to withdraw his suit.
A Landed in His Golfers.
Bourgeois went to Boston and there began
suit to recover the 100000 francs under
the name of Bernard As Bernard appeared
to be the plaintiff the funds were delivered
up and Bourgeois landed, them ultimately il
the Golfers of the king Of the Belgians. Canor
Bernard has brought suit in Boston as wei
as here. !. After Bourgeois returned here witt
the funds from Boston King Leopold discon
tinued his second suit, the warrant of at
tachment was thus annulled, and then Bour
geois claimed the securities as receiver and
Sheriff Bowe delivered up the 100000.
| - A Lawyer Locked Up.
AS an episode in the fight Lawyer Good
hue, of Quebec, who knew Of the 1,800,0Ot
francs there deposited, went to Belgium tt
act in the matter, and the king plumplyF had
him locked up. It is said that between th'
prison and the asylum he lost his mind. HI
was finally freed on the demand Of the Brit
ish government He was found innocent o.
fraud. Canon Bernard was finally placed
on trial in 1883 on the. charge of embezzle
ment He was acquitted. His defense wa
that he took the securities by the direction
of his ecclesiastical superiors, who had man
ual possession and were the legal custodians
As soon as acquitted he went to London. H
was still followed by King Leopold and wa
indicted in 1884 on the charge Of "traffick
! ing in trust funds @
Canon Bernard, being still in London, wa
convicted, thing, as Mr.. Wilcox claimed
which is beyond the pale of practice in othe
civilized nations. The willy king then de