The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-19

Ak AUSTRIAN ARcHDUKE CHARGED
WITH CRIMINAL ACT.
said 20 Have Seized His Brothers,
Estate. Destroyed VIII, and Beg
CARED Nephews and Nieces.
Of tn. Indianapolis Journal

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
VIENNA, Oct 5.-Archduke Hainer
frauduIently seizing upon the inheritance
of his brother. the late Duke Ernest EN-
peror Francis Joseph countenancing the
crime that sent Ernest's grandchildren
nieces and nephews OF the thieving arcn-
duke and his imperial heipmate-to tne
street begging, the promised airing Oh 'nis
scandal will stamp the next session OF tne
Austrian Parliament. memorable as one
tending for democracy; for even the most
aristocratic nation Of Europe must needs
lose respect for royalty convicted OF crimes
that would send the ordinary citizen TO the
penitentlary for half lifetime
Eyes, / substituted this document for the
one officially destroyed; I did IT to save
Emperor Francis Joseph's grand nieces
and nephews from starvation Ihus
smoke County Clerk Max Staudinger before
the Laibach Chamber Court after the pres
ident had declared the session public oy
admitting a few privileged citizens.
The words fell like bomb upon the ears
of the imperial judges. Their Honors had
courted publicity for the purpose of prov
ing before all the world that the accused
actually pleaded guilty, and now he coupled
confession
that almost excused the offense, while
compromising the dynasty.
The lord Judge almost jumped out Of his
wig and robes Guards, conduct all not
directly connected with the proceedings
20 the door. and thereafter allow no one
TO enter" be cried, excitedly. The precau-
ton was as compromising for the state as
it was lacking in purpose. for the damning
taS
read from every newspaper billboard in the
empire.
Next morning, OF course. the official press
denied the story ''by authority but the
sentence of the court. published simuta-
neously, in its turn denied the denial. For
staudinger was let off with a petty fine,
while the law Furnishes falsihcation Of pub
lie documents with from two to fifteen
years in the penitentiary at hard labor.
WAS 1T BOGUS OR NOT?
staudinger was accused of faIsifying an
entry in the LaIbach county register set
ting forth the marriage of the late Arch
duke Ernest of Austria to Laura Won
Skublitz, Freifrau Won Wallburg. but the
people think him innocent. despite his SEN
sational confession. Public opinion is con-
vinced that the man confessed owing to
pressure from the imperial court-either
threats or promise of reward. If neither
was to be brought into play. why was the
case conducted behind closed doors? Be-
sides, the main point. namely, that Arch
duke Ernest did marry Laura, was in no
wise affected by the case before the Cham
Der Court, and the trial and verdict are re-
garded merely attempts on the part Of
the imperial conspirators TO hoodwink the
public.
Here is the story in detail:
For twenty years Archduke Ernest, of
the italian branch of the Hapsburg. lived
in Laibach and the neighboring estate of
Hrabin with his wife and children. The
wife, a beautiful. woman. was known as
Freifrau CBaroness) Won Wallburg because,
as a commoner, she could not bear her
husbands name. The children of this mar
rage were styled Barons and Baronesses
Won Wallburg for similar reasons. Accord
ing to the stipula tions of the Vienna Con-
gress the children of princes bear the
mothers name If the mother be not of the
blood royal.
The couple lived happily, and Baroness
Won wallburg a welcome guest at all
the great houses in the province. When
her own or her children's carriage passed
military post the guard would trot out
and present arms. On official occasions
she would sit at the head of the table be-
tween the archduke and the Governor or
bishops; in short, the baroness was as
honored and beloved a chatelaine as ever
graced a petty court. But at the same
time it was understood. as a matter OF
course that she did not possess the entry
at the Vienna Hofburg; that, indeed, the
Emperor and Ernest's imperial brothers
and cousins and aunts looked with disfa-
vor. not to say with disdain. upon the
pretty wife who made him supremeiy
happy.
AS to Archduke Ernest. he was all along
commended in polite society and by the
general public for the way he stood by his
wife. For her sake he had resigned his
position I'm the army and political aspira-
tions; for her sake he was content to live
like private citizen and spend the greater
portion OF his enormous income in work:
OF charity, for science and art.
But. after all. the archduke was a weak
man. When. three years ago, he died-hi:
wife having preceded him a twelvemontf
or so-he appeared to have made no provi
sion whatever for his three surviving chill
dren-Ernest Won Wallburg. Clotilde omar
ried Baroness Won Szinics) and Laura vor
wallburg-or II he did he had neglected L
put il out Of the reach OF his children.
enemies
LAST TESTAMENT STOLEN.
For the children. raised in luxury, ther,
were no funds TO guarantee their future
even for a day or week. according TO tn,
authorities. The archduke had no soone
closed his eyes when a commission, rep
resenting the ''heir-at-law," his Imperia
Highness's brother Rainer. took possession
OF the residence and the entire estate, down
10 the last hunting box. BY the tim
Baron wallburg and the Harnesses Clio
tide and Laura arrived they found thei
home locked against them, sentinels guard
Ing each door, and a blanket injunction
forbidding entrance Ito the children of tn
late Laura Won Skublitz."
Baron Won wallburg held a commission
in the army at the time. but his militar
rank prevailed no more with the official
than his sisters tears. The heir-at-la,
was In possession. and did not know 'Lau