The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-26

The Duke OF Brunswick and His Black
guard Grandsons.
Chicago Record.

Max Lebaudy, who died the other day, is
grandson of that ignoble Duke of Bruins
wick. who was turned out of his 6uchy
and deposed by his subjects, and
who was afterwards subjected to
social ostracism in Germany In
England, where he had received his
education under the personal guardianship
or King George ~. and even at Paris.
where his vices aroused the disgust of the
easy-going Napoleon III. Finally he took
UP his abode in Switzerland, dying at
Geneva.
Prior to his deposition the duke con-
tracted marriage with the Hon. Miss Col
vile, daughter OF Admiral Lord Colville, OF
Culross. The lady was established at the
ducal chateau of Wendessen, in the SUI
burbs of the little capital OF the duchy,
and not day was allowed 10 pass without
the duke riding out 10 visit her. In course
OF time she gave birth TO a little girl. But
instead or this cementing the affection, Ii
seemed to have had the result of estrang-
Ing the duke from the mother. and after
several quarrels she returned to England,
leaving her little girl under the care of the
duke.
When the duke was deposed and driven
out of the country by his subjects he took
the little girl with him, and she lived with
him on the banks of the Seine until she in
CURED his anger by falling In love and
marrying ia defiance of his wishes a
Frenchman, Comte de Civry. He never
relented. and when he died IL was discov-
cred that he had left his enormous for
tune, including his unrivaled collection OF
precious stones and his ninety wigs, to the
city OF Geneva.
The Comtesse de Civry at once set UP a
claim against the estate, and so, too. did
the dukes brother and successor on the
throne of Brunswick, the latter declaring
that his elder brother was crazy and had
disposed of property that belonged TO the
crown OF Brunswick, while the Comtesse
de Civry claimed a portion Of the fortune
as the only legal child OF the duke. contin-
entail law prescribing that every legitimate
child shall have a share in the parental
fortune unless II has disqualified itself by
some criminal act.
In the course OF time Duke William died,
leaving his property to his relative. the
Duke of Cumberland. and TO his Intimate
friend. the king of Saxony. The Comtesse
de CivTy died. too, and since then her
claims have been pressed by her two sons.
one OF whom died about two years ago. 1t
was fortunate that he disappeared when
he DID, since otherwise in all probability
he would have been taken into custody
on a charge of Justification OF public docu-
ments. AS Il is. his younger brother nov
arrested for blackmail. narrowly escaped
the danger and there is no doubt that in
the present legal difficulty in which he has
become involved his connection with the
classification and downright forgery of the
Csvry will documents will weigh heavily
against him in the eyes of both court and
Jury.
The Justification in question was perpe-
trated In the documents produced by the
two Counts de Clvry to prove that Mss
Colville had been legally married 10 Duke
Charles OF Brunswick and that their moth
or was the legitimate issue Of this union.
The absence of these documents consti
tuted for a long time the sole obstacle in
the way OF the recognition of the De Civry
claims. II was admitted that the duke had
treated the Comtesse de Civry as his
daughter. and had presented her as such
IN certain classes OF society. But there
was nothing TO show that she was OF legiti-
mate birth.
Suddenly. in May. 1891. the two Counts
de Civry announced that they had discov-
cred in the archives of the British Muse
um in London the documents needed to
substantiate their pretensons. and they
produced duly authenticated copies there
Of sworn TO before notary and witnessed
ny the foreign consuls in London. on the
strength Of these documents they obtained
from the supreme court OF appeal Of the
German empire a decree solemnly declar-
Ing that the blood relationship between the
late Comteese Dc C!vrv and Duke Charles
OF Brunswick had been ~ a legitimate and
perfectly authentic character.
Alarmed by this decree and by the pros
pect Of being forced 20 refund q portion Of
the vast fortune which IL had Inherited
from the duke the city of Geneva sent law
yers to London 10 investigate and exam
inc the documents said 10 have been found
I'm he British Museum. \ careful search
laid bare the fact that the documents so
elahoratelv produced ard attested were not
and never had been in the British Museum.
This fact was sworn TO by the directors OF
that famous institution.
Further investigation brought 10 light
that either the Counts Dc Civry or their
representatives, had placed a bogus parch-
merit among the pages Of a genealogical
work belonging to the museum. and deal
ing with the royal house Of Brunswick.
and that the notary. as well as the dele
gates 90 the German and French copsulates
in London. had been called 70 officially
witness its presence there and also its con-
tents
Neither they nor the notary seem 20
have observed shat the parchment did not
bear the official stamp with which every
document IN the British Museum Is mark
-. ana apparently they took IL for grant
a that ,he parchment was part and parcel
81 the genealogical work, As soon as they
had given notarial testimony 81 It's pres
euce in the volume the De Ctvrys removed
f. hence ~ trace remains OF Il N the IL
brsrv az the British Museum.
This piece OF sharp practice or the part
% the two counts was a. once placed on
oficlal record ~ the Swiss envoy 20 the
court ~ s.. James. and shortly afterward
the German courts annulled their decree
IN favor % the legitimacy % tho De Civrys
y was expected that both the brothers
would be Cr.u1iuslly prosecuted ~ the
Swiss Eoverngnent-lrseef the frst stems
IN the matter were taken Nv the authori-
;'ns cF the Helvetan republic, hut were
abandoned after the sudden death OF the
elder % the brothers. Count Frederic
The younger. after figuring as a Journal
SET attached himself 20 the fortunes OF lie
uottt sucrlor' or little SUGAR bowl. "a the
iate Max Iahau5y WAS called. and seems
- have taken advantage Of the c0unden-
f.sl uoSi.fou which ne occupied 80 partict-
nate in the soounareIly attempts that wers
made to ext0rt money from the young
millionaire T. = a sal ending for the
Camte De CTvry. whose nobility. as far as
his fathers name and tIile ara concerned.
IS perfectly authentic. Put after al il Is
rat - astonishing. since his grandfather.
Duke Charles e Brunswick. was repeat
e1iy arrested by the Paris police n their
raids through tae NEST Infamous quarters
Of rs city ard 'here is no doubt that re
would have suffered al kinds % leEaI
penalties hal It not been FOR rs ROYAL
rank and FOR ne fac thaf prto- - the coup
detail he bad loaned % Napoleon III.
some 81 the money walch vas necessary
q render g = success.
Thu use - Hairs Hair Remover pro
rrenTas IA ~w~vWsh - % 80 r.es-ws..