The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-17
A Son of King Leopold and
Baroness Vaughan
1t Is Said Will Lay Claim to
Throne OF Belgium.
is FIVE YEARS OLD.
Bailiff Attempts to Seize Prop
erty Of the Widow.
to Be Made to Drive
Her From the Country.

Brussels, Dec IA contest over the
succession to the throne of Belgium is
possible. The vatican is reported to
have confirmed the marriage a year
ago of King Leopold and Baroness
vaughan. Two sons are said to have
been born from this union and both
survive The elder is Lucian, 5 years
old. 1t is reported he will claim the
throne. Prince Albert, the heir pre-
sumptive, Is a nephew of Leopold II.
The public was admitted to the
mortuary chamber at O'Clock this
AFTERNOON. The body lay in state for
wv Two hours before its removal to the
palace in Brussels. Thousands passed
before the bier on the opposite side of
winch stood two officers and two nuns
Inc newspaper correspondents also
were admitted to the room whose bare
walls and simple furnishings were in
marked contrast with the surroundings
Whlch the occupant had enjoyed in life.
II is said a bailiff appeared today at
the residence of Baroness Vaughan with
the object of seizing the premises on
Behalf of Louise. The baroness pre-
vented the formal service on her and
1t is expected that the matter will be
brought into the courts.
American Minister Wilson immediate
ly on hearing of the kings death ex-
pressed condolences to the royal family
and also mare formal expression on be-
half of the United States to the for
eIgn office. The newspapers in special
editions devote several pages to the life
of the king whose private life is criti-
cized generally while his intellectual
greatness is eXtolled. The Etoile Beige
and the Petit Bleu praise the work of
Leopold for both Belgium and the
Congo. The socialist organ, the Peuple,
violently attacks the kings memory be-
cause he. repulsed his daughters and
admitted his favorites to his. bedside. :
The paper discusses the reported
morganatic marriage of the king and
Baroness Vaughan and asks whether
the children of the union will hold
pretentions to the throne. This point
appears to be settled by the con-
stitution. The children will have no
rights, but it is Understood they Will
inherit a great part of the kings i'm
mense personal fortune.
Following the. funeral Wednesday
the body, will be- placed in. the crypt
of st. Marys beside those of his
father and his wife. The bourse. was
firm today, the death of the king hav-
ing been discounted. In addition to
his other American securities the king
held many shares in interurban cleo
trio railway companies, especially in
Indiana. He leaves to his daugh-
ters, it is said. personal property of
about S3,000.000 which he inherited
from his father. His will is expected
to reveal large legacies for public in
tereSts.
The sensational rumors that Baron
ess Vaughan had fed from Belgium
are believed to be unfounded. The
Peuple says when the king died the
baroness threw herself upon the body.
weeping bitterly. Since then she has
come and gone between her mansion
and ''Ihe Palms" through the private
passageway that the king built IF
she refuses to leave the country 1t is
said she Will be expelled.
Prince Albert quietly has assumed
command of the situation and impress
ed every one by his dignified bearing.