The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-21
COUNT IS DESCENDED
FROM ANCIENT LINE

the candidature of the held marshal
For several days he withheld his per
mission TO Bernadotte 10 accept the
the marshal impressed him with his
loyalty and wound up with the ex-
clamation. Would YOU make me great
er than yourself by making me decline
the otfer OF a throne?" that Sanoleol
gave way and enabled the soldier
who had risen from the ranks and
who was the son OF a Pyrenean peas
ant TO become Crown Prince OF sweden
and eventually King of that country
as well as OF Norway.
The tragedy which I mention above
most OF the Moerner family from swe-
den and their adoption OF the German
nationality was the death of Count
bror Mo t and the trial Of his
having murdered him. Count Bror was
found one morning deau in his bed
with two bullet wounds in his head
and by his side on the ground re
volver. quickly Identified as having
belonged to Count John.
When placed on trial John declared
that he had called upon his brother
to ask him for a loan of monay in.
order TO nay a pressing debt of honor
that permitted of no delay and thar
he had brought his revolver along for
the purpose of blowing out his own
brains in the event of his being unable
to obtain the funds. He, added that
on his elder brother declining to ac-
cede TO his request he had endeavored
to execute his intention whereupon
Bror had jumped upon him for the
purpose of preventing his suicide. and
gone off accidentally inflictinG wound
| on the head of Bror, The latter. so
John declared. had suffered such acute
agony from the pain that he had en-
of his misery by a second shot, John
claims to have declined but admits
that no handed the pistol to his broth,
cr, which was thereupon discharged
for a second time. with Immediately
/ fatal effect. There are some people
at Stockholm who do not hesitate to
J assert that John himself fred the
second shot, in Difference to his broth
ers ansuished appeals. The appear-
ance of the wounds and their char
acter, however. seemed to bear out
/ the tremendous influence welded by
his family in Sweden led to his ac-
lquittal OF any criminal Intent.
1t was Immediately after this that
the aIoerncrs. horrifed Nv the noto-
riety in connection with the AFFAIR. lett
Sweden. John coming to America and
the late Count William settling *
1898. from Emperor William. a patent
authorizing him to use his swedish
title of count in Germany.
4 Whereas now race suicide ana de-
4 population have reached such stage
in several countries OF Europe as
lead to the proposal of bounties for
Z large families less than 100 years ago
lin England the birth of child was
made the preteXt for GENEROUSLY taxing
its parents. the amount of the tax
being graduated according. to the rank
of the father. Thus. duke had to
pay tax of $3.50 at the birth of each
Of his children. Moreover, when duke
married he had to pay to the Treasury
an impost of $3.50, and If he lost his
} wife he had to pay similar amount
!. tolthe state for her death. If he died
himself it was his heir. that was taxed
so guineas. Finally, the government
} imposed upon him an annual poll tan
J of $3.50 Just because he was a duke
and he had to pay annually a poll tau
! of $3.50 for his eldest son and Sl25
a year for each of his younger sons
Yet in spite of all these economic
disbursements on the part OF the
state to prolifcness, families were
much larger in those days than al
lpresent. when additions to the popu-
lation are encouraged alike by crown
and state.
Copyright, 1910. by the Brentwood
Company