The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-18
Pressure Brought to Bear
To Prevent Her Attending
Funeral of Leopold.
HEIRS MAY DIVIDE
LEOPOLD'S ESTATE
Second Wife Lays Claim to All
Property Outside of
Belgium.

BRUSSELS. Dec Is Baroness
Vaughan, widow Of the late King Leo
pold, quietly left Brussels today for
Paris. presumably to consult with law
yers regarding the contest Of Leopold's s
Will. which the Kings three daughters
viii institute Immediately after the
Kings funeral on Wednesday.
The utmost secrecy surrounded the
baroness departure in order to avoid a
hostile demonstration by the public.
1t is announced that the baroness Will
return in a few days. and there is
much speculation as 20 whether this
means that she will be present at the
funeral It is known that great pres
sure was brou. hit to bear on the baron
ess 10 have her remain in secIusion
during the funeral.
Princesses Louise. Stephanie, and
Clementine announced that II the baron
ess were permitted to attend the
funeral, they would absent themselves.
Many think that today's departure Of
the baroness was not voluntary, hut the
authorities deny that they forced this
action upon her.
Contest Promised Over Will.
There will be no contest for success
sion to the throne, as II is admitted on
all sides that L,eopold's sons, born to
Baroness Vaughan. are ineligible. there
having been none but a rel zious cere-
mony in their marriage, whereas the
Belgian law requires both a religious
and a civil ceremony.
The impending fight is. therefore. re-
duced TO a desire for the Kings vast
wealth, and In its prosecution It is ex-
pected- there will be brought to light
many affairs IN the dead Kings life
that the government would much prefer
to have remain hidden.
II IS unoffclally stated today that tho
government will cooperate with Leo
polds daughters. the Princesses Louise.
Stephanie. and Clementine in contesting
the marriage OF Leopold and the
baroness. By lending its aid to the
daughters, the government IS actuated
by a desire to bring the suit 10 a speedy
termination, and escape as much scan
dal as possible.
Estate Estimated at SIoo,ooo,ooo.
Iuasmuch as the Pope to-a the papaI
representative at Brussels that Leo
pOld's marriage to the baroness was
satisfactory as far as the church was
concerned. It is presumed that the con-
testants Will base their action on the
absence Of a civil ceremony. which Is
available to them because the marriage
was not performed on Belgian soil, hay
ing taken place in San Reno. Italy.
The eagerness with which the daugh-
ters 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 furnished them with a
right of action
Some Of the estimates Of Leopold s
wealth run considerably over SlOO,OOO,OO0.
The daughters have been cUt off with
a beuuest Of 100000. this being the
sum that Leopold reCe. .sd from his
father The balance Of the Kings es-
tate, it is presumed, is transferred TO
the baroness.
ful as regards the Kings property with
in Belgium, but many lawyers asserted
today that the baroness right 20 the
Kings property outside Of Belgium
cannot be attacked. This constituted by
far the greater part OF LeopOld's riches,
embracing his immense holdings in the
Congo, large interests in American
stocks and valuable realty IN the Ri
ViCra-
VIII Change Congo Policy.
One Of the first acts Of Prince Albert,
on his assumption OF the throne on
Thursday will be a complete change I'm
the administration Of the Belgian Congo.
according 10 a report current today.
The new King, # is said, plans To oust
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