Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-17
HIS MoRGANA1Ic WIFE.


Baroness Vaughan. who is said to
have been the kings morganatic wife,
occupies a chateau close to the paw
ilion where Leopold died. The baroness
is the daughter of parents of the namc
of DelacrotN, who were concierges, or
1anltors. first at Liege and afterwards
In Paris Her mother Is dead and her
father is an inmate OF an asylum for
the insane. She is the mother of two
children. King Leopold spent much
time with the baroness and gave his
ministers much concern on this ac-
count. AL one time there was talk of
his abdication. but his subjects appa-
rcntly become accustomed TO his ways
and abdication became thing of the
past.
King LeopoId's recent Illness dated
from about two weeks ago, when he
was compelled to take TO his bed. suf-
fering with rheumatism. It was thought
at the time that he had stroke OF
apoplexy, for he was paralyZed on one
side and the paralysis seemingly spread
over the entire body. His confinement
brought about an intestinal obstruction.
for which an operation was performed
on Tuesday.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
The kings death, IL was announced
by DR.. De Page. was due to embolism.
rled to the heart.
Baron Geoffinet said death occurred
exactly at 2:47 o'clock.
Yesterday the king was In capital hu-
NOR. He talked with Baron Geofhnet
about going, a few weeks later, to the
Riviera, and, although his old trouble
OF ecdcma of the foot had reappearcd
In aggravated form. he was hopeful,
as also wero the doctors The latter
were anxious. however. because of the
weak conditions of the kings heart.
A TRUSTED FRIENDS ESTIMATE.
One OF the most powerful men in
Belgium, who knew King Leopold bet
ter than any one man, Is Senator Win
er, the late kings trusted friend and
confidential legal adviser. He assisted
Leopold in drawing up the Congo
project and probably will handle the
disposition OF the kings fortune
Senator Winer welcomed the Asso-
ciatcd Press correspondent most cor
daily tonight. He insisted that Loo
pold was greatly misunderstood by
the world He pictured the kings in
tense admiration for the United
States, which his majesty was anxious
to visit. but was prevented by the
Congo criticism However, the king
had prevailed on Prince Albert to go,
as he considered this a most useful
preparation for the future ruler OF
Belgium.
The king had marked respect for
Theodore Roosevelt. He never liked
photographers, but placed President
Roosevclt's autograph picture In his
favorite office In the Brussels palace
beside those OF Princess Clementine
and Prince Albert. Continuing, the
senator said.
THE king was slave to work and
business. 1t Is fact that Is min
utoa before the 0uerution he dictated
documents relating to certain negotia-
tions and insisted before going under
cloroform upon correcting the type
written sheets. 1t was this marvellous
intellect and doggedness which con-
ceived the Congo project He lost
money at first. but emerged rich.
'FThe whole trouble in the Congo"
| Senator Wilmer went on. was that the
| system was bad-worse than the king
| though. The eternal cry was. Rubber
| and yet more rubber and II must
| be remembered that tho military COM
! nlanders in the Congo had the double
| capacity OF soldier and merchant Thoy
| had to get rubber. Nevertheless many
| stories OF abuses are absolutely un-
| true"
The senator campioned King Leo
| pold as the great benefactor OF Bel
| gium He had developed cities and
| erected monuments and public build
| ings at his own expense. He support
| cd architecture and advanced the
prosperity of the people. The senator
] did not care to say much of the king 8