Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-22
CONTEST OVER t""'="T TrTlE DnDEC HEALTH COOD
Lord Mowbray would Be H N
Norfolk as Descendant of
PIantaEenet.

LONDON, July 1.-(special Cablegram
to The Bee "A great struggle for the title
Of the earldom Of Norfolk has begun in
the House OF Lords.
bluc-eyed man, with fair Saxon hair
AMI a pale face, sat alone on one OF the
deserted benches of the House Of LORDS
when the case came up. He was watching
keenly and with a shade Of anxiety the
ack-gowned Sir Robert Finlay, who stood
addressing the nine peers who comprise
the committee for privileges OF the House
OF Lords
This solitary man was Charles Botolph
Joseph, Lord Mowbray. Baron Segrave,
Baron and Lord stourton. He is the no.
bleman who claims stu another title, that
of earl OF Norfolk. He. therefore, demands
to be declared the royal marshal Of Eng
land and premier earl of Great Britain.
This Office however, Is distinct from the
office OF hereditary grand marshal OF Eng
land, which was granted by special patent
to the duke OF Norfolk.
Except for him the seats OF the peers of
the realm were deserted Even the duke
Of Norfolk, who is lighting the younger
mobiles claim, was not present.
The gilded mace lay restfuly in front Of
the royal throne. In a chair behind plain
low. He wore large red rose. and a gray
suit. such as he might have worn In his
club. on either side Of him were ranged
the men upon whose judgment the verdict
hangs.
They were a lot of distinguished, vener-
able men. Lord Halsbury, eX-lord chan
cellor, was there. Supporting him were
Lord Ashbourne. the keen and sharp-witted
Irish lawyer: Lord James OF Hereford,
Lord Davey and Lord Robertson. The re-
naming members of the committee were
Lords Knutsford. Liverpool and Dunn
boyne They were not in robes, but in
| ordinary dress
BY the side Of Sir Robert Finlay, who
| faced a raised and convenient desk, sat
| Sir J. Lawson Walton. the attorney gen.
eral, to look after the interests Of the
| crown. Lord Robert Cecil and Mr.. Warm
ington represented the duke OF Norfolk.
In his speech, which lasted for more than
three hours. Sir Robert Finlay told of
lsrls' and dukes of Norfolk who had been
( attsinted and banished. Even the stern
law lords looked sympathetic when they
! heard of one bearer OF the proud title who
at the age of 10 years, was beheaded for
! reasonable malpractices
The history Of the earldom runs far back
then surrendered" by one Robert Bigod
and a new creation under the same title
was Immediately made by the king ir
favor of his half-brother Thomas Planta-
genet de Bretherton "A surrender Of a
peerage was not at this time unconstitu.
| tional." declared Sir Robert though II II
now held that peerages cannot be resigned
or relinquished or forfeited save by at
tainder The old earldom was never for
feited by attander.
There are now three who claim descent
from Thomas PlantaRenet-Lord Petre
Baroness Berkeley and Lord Mowbray
\ lsard fowhrpy claims as n tIfrsrtA de.
scendant OF the older line.
Most Of the documents in the case are II
Norman-Latin. Several phrases ''reelet
on with amazing rapidity by Sir Rober
were bluntly characterized by Lord Halls
bury as bad grammar" and In ore o.
two instances they were frankly e net
as "mesning nothing and indeterp ole.
certain Joan and Lady n. kare
stepped out Of the fourteenth century &
play their part in this strange battle o
the twentieth. Edward Dororis Mar
garetae." said Sir Robert gravely as h
read from pages OF petitions and inqulsi
tions. He would show that this lady wa
still spoken OF as countess OF Norfolk. an
hurried on TO another document which So
forth the name and titles post mortem
% the Lady Joan.
, The matter was here adjourned