The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-06-04
SOME DIRTY LINEN
WILL Be WASHED
Spanish Court to Hear Preten-
der's Claim
Love of King TO BE Aired in Pub
lie and SPANS Throne so BE
Under Spot Light.
HISTORY OF FAMOUS CONTEST,

Madrid. June THE suit brought
against King Alfonso by his two half
brothers, the sons of Elena SAM, a
Bohemian opera singer, will be tried
by the supreme court of Spain.
Announcement was made today that
the supreme court had declared itself
competent to try the case, which the
civil courts had refused to handle,
land which crown lawyers tried in
vain to have settled without pub
licity.
The effect of the high courts de-
cision will be to lay bare to Spain and
the world the life led by Alfonso XII,
father of the present king and of the
bohemian singers sons. The story to
be revealed in court is not one that
will add luster to the memory of
Alfonso XII and may be counted
upon to shock Queen Victoria. who
has little knowledge of the skeletons
in Spain's royal closets.
Fight for Secrecy Fails.
The most strenuous efforts have
been made to placate the Legitimate
sons of King Alfonsos father since
they first rsvealed their parentage I'M
the French courts two years ago. The
inducements held out to the young
men, who are just a few years older
than their half brother. the present.
king of Spain, have failed to deter
them.
During the courtship of Alfonso
and the Princess Ena the crown law
yers redoubled their efforts to effect
an arrangement that would prevent
public revelations of the last years
of the life of Alfonso XII, and his
liaison with the beautiful singer who
was Queen Christmas rival in his AT
fections for many years. AT one time
It was thought an arrangement
would be effected, but the negotia-
lions fell through.
Bitter Court Fight Certain.
The suit for the claimants, when it
is brought before the supreme court,
will be handled by Senior Nongues.
one of the leading republican mem
bers of the cortes and of the Spanish
bar. Senior Nongues has been in
structed to have the claim legally es-
tablished at any cost and is person
ally more than willing to make all
the trouble he can for the royal fam
lily. 1t is certain that the case will
BE bitterly fought on both sides. since
King Alfonso, now that the secret is
out, Is determined to finally crush
the pretentions of the claimants.
1t is almost certain that King AL
fonso's mother. Queen Christina, will
be the principal witness. She conten-
tons of the two claimants are based
chiefly on the fact that for more than
twenty years Queen Christina CON
to their support on condition
that they kept secret their parentage.
-Four Children Born of Liaison.
Elena SAM, when Alfonso XII first
met her, was grand opera singer,
famous throughout Europe for her
beauty. The lialson lasted for many
years, and in that time Nine. SAM
bore Alfonso XII four children After
the death of Alfonso the woman and
her children were expelled from Spain
and became residents of Paris. Nine.
SAM did not long survive King Al
fonso, and soon after her death two
of her children succumbed to diph-
iberia.
The sudden death of Alfonso XII
prevented him, It is alleged, from
making the substantial provision he
had intended for Nine. SAM and her
children. After the singers death.
the two surviving children, Fernand
and Henri, were taken care of by al
woman who made her living by mend