The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-18
WILL FIGHT FOR
LE0P0LO's RICHES
Lurid Disclosures Threatened in
Daughters Fight Against Baroness
Vaughan for $lOO, 100000 Estate.

BRUSSELS, Dec. /1s--King Leopold
Ii dead but the scandals OF mis- life
still live, and today there is every
prospect OF the bitterest legal fight
against his will and his latter-day
wife, the Baroness Vaughan, a fight
mat Will make the kings domestic
lie the most unsavory page In Eu-
ropoan royalty.
There Will DE no contest for sue
cession 10 the throne. as IN III admit.
ted on all sides that I,eopolds sons.
born 10 Baroness Vaughan, are III
eligible. there having been none but
religious ceremony in their reputed
marriage. whereas the Belgian law re-
quircs Doth a religious and civil
ceremony The impending fight s.
therefore. reduced To a desire for tho
kings vast wealth. and In It's prosecu-
ton, IL Is expected, there Will b.
brought 10 light many affairs In the
kings life that the government would
much prefer 10 have remain hidden
lnasmuch As the pope told the papal
representative AT Brussels that Leo
pold's marriage 10 the baroness was
satisfactory as tar as the church was
concerned. Il Is presumed that the
contestants will base their action on
the absence OF a civil ceremony. which
Is available 10 them because the mar
riage WAS not performed on Belgian
soil. having taken place in San Reno.
Italy.
The eagerDess with which King Leo
rod's daughters have attacked the
baroness has convinced the public that
they would have seized upon some
other ground as the basis of their suit
had the irregular marriage not FUR
nished them with a right of action
Some Of the estimates OF IIeopold's
wealth run considerable over 500 900
600. The daughters have been cut of
with a bequest OF $4,000. 900. this be
ing the sum that Leopold received
from his father
The balance OF the kings estate Il
is presumed is transferred tn the
baroness. The contest OF the will will
probably be successful as regards the
kings property within Belgium. but
MANY lawyers asserted today that the
baroness right To the kings property
outside OF Belgium cannot be attacked.
This constituted by far the greater
part of I.eopold's riches. embracing his
immense holdings in the Congo. large
I
able realty along the Riviera.
one Of the first acts OF Prince Al
bert. on his assumption 10 the throne
on Thursday. will be complete
change In the administration OF the
Belgian Congo. according to report
current today The new king, IL Is
said. plans to o,st those who are now
in authority in the Congo and supplant
them with officials who will put an
end 20 the misrule that for SO long
time caused Leopold 10 be denounced
BY all civilized governments.
Baroness Vaughan left for Paris to-
day. presumably To consult with law
yers regarding the contest OF I.eopold's
will. that the kings three daughters
will institute Immediately after tho
kings funeral Wednesday.
The utmost secrecy surrounded the
baroness departure in order to avoid
a hostile demonstration by the public.
II is announced that the baroness
will return in a few days" and there
is much speculation as TO whether this
means that she will be present at the
funeral II is known that great pres
, sure was brought TO bear on the bar
oness To have her remain in scclusion
during the funeral. Processes Louise.
Stcphanie and Clementine announced
thar il The Baroness were permitted to
attend the funeral. they would absent
themselves.