The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-20
WILL FIGHT FOR
LEOPOLD RICHES
Lurid Disclosures Threatened IN
Daughters Fight Against Baroness
Vaughan for Sloo,0oOo00 Estate.

BRI SSEI.S. Dee. lS-king LEOPOLD
Is dead but the scandals OF his life
stu live. and today there Is every
prospect OF the bitterest lesal fight
against his will and his latter-day
wife. the Baroness Vaughan, fight
that will make the kings domestic
life the most unsavory page IN Eu'
ropean royalty
There will be no contest for sue
cession 10 the throne, as II is admit
ted on all sides that Leopold's sons
born 10 Baroness Vaughan, are IN
eligible. there having been none but
a religious ceremony in their reputed
marriage. whereas the Belgian law re-
Quires both \ religious and civil
ceremony The impending fight Is.
therefore. reduced 10 desire for tho
kings vast wealth. and in its prosecu.
ton. IL is expected. there will be
brought 10 light many affairs In the
kings life that the government would
much prefer 10 have remain hidden.
Inasmuch AS the pope told the papal
representative at Brussels that Leo
pold's marriage 20 the baroness was
satisfactory as far as the church was
concerned. IL is presumed that the
contestants will base their action on
the absence OF civil ceremony. which
Is available 10 them because the mar
rage WAS not performed on Belgian
soil. having taken place in San Reno,
Italy.
The eagerness with which King Lee
polds 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 Leopold
wealth run considerable over 800 900
600. The daughters have been cut OF
with a bequest OF $4,000 this be-
ing the sum that Leopold received
from his father
The balance OF the kings estate Il
is presumed is transferred 10 the
baroness. The contest OF the Will viii
probably be successful as regards the
kings property within Belgium. bur
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 Leopold's riches. embracing his
immense holdings In the Congo. large
interests in American stocks and valu-
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 10 a report
current today. The new king. II Is
said. plans 10 GUST those who are now
in authority in the Congo and supplant
them with officials who will put an
end 70 the misrule that for so long a
time caused Leopold 10 be denounced
by all civilized governments.
Baroness Vaughan left for Paris to-
day. presumably To consult with law
vers regarding the contest OF Leopold 8
will that the kings three daughters
will institute Immediately after the
kings funeral Wednesday
The utmost secrecy surrounded the
baroness departure in order 10 avoid
a hostile demonstration by the public.
II IS announced that the baroness
will return "in few days" and there
IS much speculation as 10 whether this
means that she will be present at the
funeral. II is known that great pres
sure was brought 10 bear on the bar
oness 10 have her remain in seclusion
during the funeral. Processes Louise.
Stephanie and Clementine announced
that II the Baroness were permitted 10
attend the funeral. they would absent
them Ives