The Washington herald., 1911-03-31
GENUINE AND
BOGUS BARONETS

BOGUS BARONETS
British society is looking forward to
the now imminent issue of the official
| roll of baronets which, by command of
King George. has been in preparation
at the home Office for more than a
year. The event that led up to the
| preparation of the roll was a discussion
on bogus baronets in general.
In 1906 the home secretary appointed
departmental committee to inquire into
| certain matters connected with the
baronetage." 1t was not too soon. For
many years discomfort had been rife
among gcnhine baronets, owing to the
| large number of impostors in their
midst Impostor. perhaps, is 100 strong
word to use. In many cases, though
the claim to the title may be doubtful
legally. the holder has kind Of moral
| right to it through long years of usage
and recognition. Still, there were others
who had no shadow OF right. legal or
moral. to call themselves baronets. and
the whole situation was unsatisfac tory.
Genuine baronets were compelled to re-
ceive as equals men whose rank was in
grave doubt. Society was embarrassed
by the presence OF these "susrccts' and
to some extent there was a fraud upon
the public. as the status of baronet was
declining in reputc.
The precise situation was that out Of
roughly 1000 baronetcies fhis docs not
include those hidden under superior titleSl
about seventy were questionable, and of
these at least dozen altogether were
spurious. OF the remainder the holders
rights depended on questions OF law
which still have to be settled. For ex-
ample, in the reign OF George l a Ger
tain baronet was attainted, which meant
that he was deprived OF all rank, titles,
&c. Afterward he was pardoned and re-
sumcd his former rank. The legal point
is whether the pardon annulled the ef-
feCtS OF the attainder. Many hold that
il did not. and that 10 restore the Of
fender to his former position il was nee
csSary to-recreate the baronetcy and to
issue fresh letters patent
In another case a baronetcy was inher-
tied under curious remainder
through a woman. and here again it is
a legal point whether the succession was
valid. Anyway. the existence of spurious
and doubtful baronets was well known
and the committee sat with the object
Of determining the best method of deal
ing with such questionable cases and Of
restoring the baronctage to its former
purity and dignity. Certain suggestions
10 that committee wcrc adopted, while
others. though not recommended by the
committee, were embodied in the royal
warrant issued hv the late King This
warrant provided. among other things for
the establishment of an Official roll OF
baronets. to be prepared by the homo
Office by a registrar appointed by the
home secretary. Tho most important
part. however. was the provision made
for dealing with doubtful cases.
The position now is that in future
when harOnct dies. his successor must
prove his right to tho haronetCy. In most
cases of course. this will be a mere for
mal!ty. but tho great thing Is that at
least Great Britain has an official ma
chinery for dealing with doubtful cases.
Claims must be submitted in the first in
stance to the king at arms, who has he
raldic jurisdiction over the claimant. II
his report is unfavorable. the claim goes
before the attorney general for England.
TN" lord advocate for Scotland. or the at
rOrnev general for ireland. and should
the verdict still be against him, the claim
ant may then take his case to commit
tee Of the privy council, whose decision
is final
Nomiually. therefore, present holders OF
baronetcies arc left undisturbed, but
probably il will he found that when the
official roll is issued. Sundry wcll-known
names will he missing therefrom. the
owners having been quietly advised that
they must prove their right. as otherwise
the registrar. acting on tho advice or
the Garter. Lyon. or Ulster king at arms,
would omit them from the list
! know Of only one case where a man
deliberately had taken a false title or as
Sumed A genuine one to which he had no
right. If was a very agreeable person.
with a charming wife, and, oddly enough,
the haronet he was imperSonatinG himself
was a doubtful case. though quite innO-
Gently so MANY years ago a certain
baronct died. leaving no issue. Tho ducal
head Of the family looked around for
successor to the title and eventually de-
Cided that a distant relative in America
was entitled to it. He wrote to him tell
ing him of his good fortune, and the gen.
tleman in question assumed the title. The
duke, however, had overlooked the fact
through the maternal and not through the
paternaI line, and legally, at least, the
succession was doubtful. He went to
prison fer obtaining money by false pre-
lenses, for, while any one may call him
self a baronet. if he does so for the pUr-
pose of obtaining credit or for other
fraud he is amenable TO the law.
1t is rather an interesting question
whether a baronet can sell his title.
There arc prccedcnts for the surrender.
that any baronet, in some of the colonies
at any rate, can dispose of his title. Any
way, it never has been legally settled
which prevents the transfer of peerage
does not apply to a baronetcy.
How can a genuine baronct be deprived
OF his rank? Only by "attainder" The
effect of the new roll will be this II the
has neither official nor social status. and
though he may continue to call himself
baronet, he is entitled to be placed on
privy council. The net effect of the new
order Of things will be that while some
baronets whose status legally is doubtful
cessors will have to establish their rights
up to the hlt. and gradually the roll will
contain only the names of those whose
claims arc beyond dispute. And this is
as ii should be. FLASEUR
Copyright, 1911. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicaie)
In, Do