The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-04-07
STRANGE STORY.
Former Resident Of Decatur City
Claims to be Heir to the
SerVIan Throne.

"A strange STORY OF the lie OF IneO-
dore Macmillan Strew, who was mar
ried in this county on October 10, 1897,
to Miss Amanda Wion, of Decatur City,
has recently come to light. Mr.. Strew
now resides at New Sharon, Iowa, and
claims that he is the rightful heir to the
Servian throne, having recently come
into possession of documents proving
his birthright. He says that about two
months ago he discovered that he was
heir to the Servian throne, his birth
certificate dated in 1875 bearing his
grandmother's name as Godmother,
which is duly signed and stamped by
the Lutheran pastor Zambel, Of Zoblitz,
Saxony. His grandmother's father was
the son of King Lazar, who was ruler of
Servia. 1t was in 1850 when the Turks
made an invasion at the castle Bel
grade, Servia, and wiped out all the
royal family except one child who es-
capped death by his nurse carrying him
to Saxony. This child was his grand
mothers father. King Lazar who was
ruler disappeared with all his wealth
and treasure and has never been heard
of. This wealth and treasure was hid
den by King Lazar for the purpose if
any of his family should escape it could
be restored. The child that escaped
with the nurse of the royal family was
raised by family named Boyn, his
royal name being Vanhauzer. When he
attained his majority he married and
lived in Saxony. The nurse had deliv-
cred to him his family record proving
his blood relation as the son Of King
Lazar. He had been warned by his
enemies not to sit on the throne and
never made any claim for it. He had
one son and five daughters. One of
these daughters was Mr.. Strew's
fathers mother. All her relations are
now dead and this leaves Strew the
only living heir of that branch Of the
Servian throne. When the grandfather
died in Saxony the family bible and
record of the royal family was turned
over to his son, the uncle Of Strew. In
1877 this uncle went back to Belgrade
Servia, taking the family record with
him to made known his claim to the
Servian throne. After he was there fol
a short time he died in mysteriou.
manner and the family record disappear
ed, for the purpose of denying the right
full heirs the wealth and treasure tina
was left for them by King Lazar. The
King since that time did not recognize
the claim of the rightful heirs to the
wealth that belonged to them. The
conditions of the royal house Of Bel
grade since the invasion have beef
such that it was dangerous for any ont
to take the chances of hunting for tn,
treasure on Servian ground. A Ser
Wan representative residing in Londol
says he was present at the death o
Strew's uncle and the papers he hat
with him contained undisputed evidence
4 that he was descendant from the OLE
royal house in Servia which was owe
thrown by the Turks in 1850, and con
siders his uncle and grandmother thu
rightful heirs to the property according
to the Servian law. Mr.. Strew says h
has heard his father mention at time
the vast millions that were hidden a
the castle by his great grandfather
King Lazar, but he was too young a
that time to understand and realiz
what it meant, but says that murde
never loses its rights and he is in hope
of yet regainingtihis rights and TIN
wealth Of the Servian throne. He il
now at work trying to establish a com
plete record and if successful will maxi
a demand for what he considers hi
rightful Inheritance.