The sun., 1908-03-08

KINGS HALF BROTHERS WANT
THEIR INHERITANCE.

aKs RtCh
One-sixth OF Property Left by Alfonso
NM.-PMremtRgo Not Dlsputed-Banker
Ybanez speculated with Thelr Money.
The Court Of Spain 10 troubled these days
over a scandal which has some points OF re-
sembance to that with which the King Of
Italy has to deal. Both cases grow out OF
the romantic adventures Of the father of
the reigning monarch.
In the Spanish case the woman is dead.
She was Elena Sanz a noted opera singer
It is her two sons Alfonso and Ferdinand,
who are suing in the Spanish courts for one
sixth OF the private fortune left by Alfonso
XII. The suit il brought under Spanish
statute called the ley de torO. which per-
mits proof OF paternity by documentary
evidence and creates a right OF inheritance
TO the extent named.
The two young Sanzes are suing because
of a peculiarly unfortunate train Of circum-
stances. Good provision was made for
them by the Spanish court after Alfonso's
death. Their relationship to him seems
never to have been questioned.
The Queen mother. Isabella. and Alfonso's
widow cooperated in the arrangement both
as a matter'of justice and to avoid scandal.
A sum equivalent to 500. 600 was placed in
the hands of the Court Chamberlain, the
Marquis Moren Gil de Borja, as a provision
for the two boys and their mother.
The principal was to be held until the
boys were Of age. The interest, to the
amount Of 80. 900 francs year, was regularly
paid for their support and education.
Elena SAM and the Marquis executed an
elaborate instrument which was sort ot
combination Of general release OF the late
Kings estate ON her part and deed of
trust on his. She was never to attempt
Rliation proceedings under the ley de toro;
she was TO bring up the boys IN France
and cause no trouble or scandal. The
MARQUIS guaranteed the minimum sum of
500 600 francs to establish trust In the
interest OF mother and children.
Alfonso DIED in 1885. This paper was
signed in 1895. It was Witnessed by NJ
Abella, the intendant OF the royal court Of
Spain. on the one hand, and by two French
All went well until 1906. Then when the
young men were on the point OF claiming
their Inheritance the payment OF the interest
suddenly stopPed. Ihey maoe INQUIRIES ~
The Marquis de Boria had placed 1t In
the hands of a Partisan banker named
Ybahez who was banker to the Queen
Dowager Isabella and to the Spanish court
lost everything. The young men brought
suit at once in the French courts with Maitre
Labori as counsel. Out Of the sale Of the
property Of Ybaflez they realized less than
10, 900 francs.
The next move was an appeal to the
Spanish King They argued that the
money was Lost through no fault Of theirs.
The King repudiated all responsibility at
first. When pacific measures made no i'm
preston the Sanzes threatened lawsuit.
Premier Maura is said to have favored
a liberal settlement from the outset, but his
advice was disregarded. Finally, when
suit was actually begun an otfer OF 200
francs a month was made to the brothers,
but they indignantly refused il, pressing
their claim for recognition as highnesses and
for the sixth share Of their fathers estate.
Two Cancellation audiences have already
been held in conformity with the Spanish
law, and unless Senior Maura can persuade
the Government to settle the whole case
will soon be aired in open court.
The defendants as named in the papers
are King Alfonso XIII, Queen Dowager
| Maria Cristina, the Infanta Maria Theresa
de Bourbon and Prince Charles de Bourbon.
The brothers will offer in proof OF their
| case. first seventy-tive autograph docu-
ments signed by Alfonso MI, Isabella H.,
his mother; Father BonifacciO Marin, con-
fessOr Of the late King, and Prudencio Men
| endeZ, his confidential servant. Secondly,
| there are sixty autograph letters OF Al
! fonso, being a great part OF his correspond
many Of them he Acknowledges the pa
! ternity OF her sons.
The two Sanz boys are living in Paris now.
| Alfonso, the elder. is described as having a
| remarkable resemblance to Alfonso XIII.
| He il supporting himself as a racing chauf-
| feur and he was one OF the first in the
recent Paris-Madrid race.
| Ferdinand SAM is studying 70 be an
| opera singer, but in the meantime he In
making money as a professional athlete
| and boxer.
Elena SAM was a prominent singer when
! the Franco-Prussian war broke out in 1870
| She refused to fee from Paris when il was
besieged. She put on the Geneva cross
| and was attached TO the ambulance OF the
! Opera. She showed great courage on the
battlefield and received a diploma recog-
| nizing her courage and devotion.
II was in 1879 that she first met Alfonso
I XII. Their relations continued until he
married Maria Cristina OF Austria Elena
Sanz herself died in Paris in December
1898.