The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-07
COUNT ll1ERENBERG FIGHTS
FOR LUXEMBOURG THRONE
Brother Of the Countess Torby
Urges His CLAIM, on The Grounds
Of Descent From, 1NilAamIH Of
England.
Effort Being Made to Haze Pyi,,-
cess Succeed Upon The Death Of
the Present Hereditary Grand
BRUSSELS, July Q.

. h ii 'l- i
BRUSSELS, July Q.
rT~HE fight for throne, Kingdom
and a fortune is not confined
merely to the Imagination OF now
elists who are always writing about those
fictitious countries back OF the Bal
lans."
At tho present moment there Is claim
ant to the Grand Duchy OF Luxembourg
in tho person Of Count Nuremberg. ana
the story WHICH Is likely to BIO unfoldei
when his rights are fully gone into by the
Parliament Of that state promises to OUT
rival in point OF interest even the most
delightful novel from the romantic pen
Of tho author OF "The Prisoner of zenda"
and Rupert Of Hentzau."
The claimant to Its grand ducal throne
is Count Nuremberg. brother of Countess
Torby wife Of the Grand Duke Michael
reigning grand dukes health, and the
fact that he has six daughters but no
son, has raised the question OF succession.
Basis Of the Claim.
Count Nuremberg claims TO be the last
living male descendant OF William OF
Nassau, Prince OF Orange, who after
ward became William III OF England.
and he has asserted his rights to the
grand ducal throne. His claim is opposed
en- tho ground Of his alleged morganatic
descent, and by virtue of Article No. AZ
! OF the family records OF 17S3 which pro-
vides that in the event OF failure OF the
male line the throne shall pass to tie
female line.
An attempts being made to secure tho
accession Of the present grand dukes
eldest daughter. On hearing Of this
Count Nuremberg telegraphed a strong
protest against this proceeding. which no
characterized rs unlawful. lie at onca
obtained the opinions of leading legal an
thorIties on tho continent. and was en-
couraged to proceed with his claim
Ever since the unsuccessful attempt
during the lifetime of the Grand Duke
William OF the Netherlands to change the
succession law the story Of the Luxcn-
.bourg crown has been one Of surprises.
/. With the accession OF tho late Grand
Duke Adolph 1t was thought that the
question OF succession would not crop UP
pgain. The marriage of the present grand
duke was supposed to settle 1t for all
time.
Lawyers Hold Claim Good.
The issue OF: the recent L!ppe case, and
the decision then arrived at by the mem
bers OF tho Empire Court. has led such
distinguished lawyers as DR.. Libersteln.
OF Berlin; Professor irish, of Bale. and
professor Iiacnels, of Kiel. to the conc!u-
sion that Count Nuremberg isg Justified In
making his claim &,
Directly the Chamber Of Deputies IN
Luxembourg received Count Merenberg' 3
protest they postponed their decision as
| 10 the new regency law. which would De
| required to securc the succession OF the
grand dukes eldest daughter, until the
various judgments presented have been
| fully examined and considered.
Tie Luxembourg Chamber OF DEPUTIES
having been Informed OF Count Nleren.
| berg's claim to the throne. have decided
| to 20 fully into the question. and I'm, his
| toric legal fight is in prospect.
An Insult and nm Apology.
Baron Lyberg. the minister of finance,
wrote to the count the following extraor-
binary letter:
II warn you that as you have declared
! war to us, we shall use every weapon In
our power to thwart you. In doing SC
| matters most detrimental to you anc
your family honor might como to light.
| The counts immediate reply to this in
sulting letter was to send two seconds
challenging Baron Lyberg to q duel, I'M
| less he apologized in tho terms dictated
! by Court Nuremberg himself.
The terms Of this apology were as fol
lows:
II apologize to Count Nuremberg for my