Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-02
Fight for SackviIIe Tile
Once More on Trial.
Present Lord SaekyiIIe Denies
His uncIe's Marriage
TO Spanish Dancer Says Children
Have No Claim to Estate.

London, Feb. IA crowded court
room testified today to the public in
terest in the Sackville peerage ro-
nance, another chapter OF which OPEN
ed before Sir John Brigham. president
Of the probate court. The petitioner in
the suit is Ernest Henry Sackville-
West. who asks the court to declare
him the oldest and legitimate son Of
the late Lord Lionel Sackville-West
Ii he is successful he VIII acquire the
title to the estates now held by Lionel
r. Sackvilie- West, a nephew Of the
former British minister at Washing.
ton and the present Lord Sackville
who married his cousin, sister of the
petitioner. The present Lord Sackville
denies that ms uncle legally married
Josefa Buram, the petitioners mother
The court disallowed a similar claim
in 1903. Ernest is the son of a Spanish
dancer who married Lord Sackville al
Madrid. Subsequently Sackville claim
ed that the woman had husband liv-
ing when she formed an alliance with
him and the enc son and three daugh-
tiers born from their union have never
been recognized by the courts as hav-
ing any rights to the Sackville title
and estates.
Noted counsel has heen engaged by
both sides. Sir Edward Clark in OPEN
ing for the petitioner, said that he pro-
posed to prove the marriage by repu-
tation and the declarations of Lord
Sackville himself on documents at
| tached to certificates Of the birth and
baptism of his children.
Lord Sackville died in September,
1905 He was British minister to the
| United States from 1881 to 1888. when
he was dismissed by President Cleve-
land. His downfall at Washington,
which practically ended his career. fol-
lowed his indiscretion in writing let
ter in which he expressed the opinion
to a correspondent in California that
thu r"-e :tion Of President Cleveland
would he satisfactory to Great Brit
ain.
In support Of his contention, Barris-
ter Clark referred to the stay and rec
ignition at Washington of Lord Sack
viile's daughters. He read volumes of
documentary evidence taken abroad
regarding the life Of Lord Sackville
and Josefa Duran at Arcachon,
France, where they were known as the
Count and Countess West.
Counsel laid stress upon the fact that
some of the birth certificates Of the
children and the death certificate of
Josefa Duran. described the latter as
the wife of Lionel Sackville-West.
Sir Robert Finley on behalf of the
present peer, recalled and placed in
evidence the testimony given by Lord
Sackville when a similar suit was
brought during his lifetime. On that
occasion the defendant swore that the
declarations which he had made re-
garding his companion were inspired
solely by desire to save the reputa-
ton of the lady. He affirmed that there
had never been a marriage Of any sort
and that all the children born to them
were illegitimate.
Sir Robert added that he weuld
prove that the Duran woman married
Antonio De La Olivia in 1851 and that
Olivia did not die until 1855. According
~ ne said that if Lord Sackville had
figured in any marriage. of which there
was no evidence, such alleged marriage
must have been illegal AS the counsel
for the defence concluded the case was
adjourned.