New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-13
COUNT D ARSCHOT TIRED
BY LONG COURT ORDEAL
Secretary of Belgian Cabinet on
Stand Defends Will leav-
ing Him Fortune.
TELLS OF HIS MARRIAGE
Countess Mistaken in Her Oppo-
sition, He Declares-Talks
with Gestures, but Sur
rogate Understands.

Count Guillaume d Arschot. secretary Of
the Cabinet Of the King OF the Beleans.
arrived in this city yesterday on the
steamship Kaiser Wilhelm II. Two hours
later he was on the witness stand in the
Surrogates' Court in the contest OF the
will of Countess CASTOR d'Arschot, his
aunt. who left large part OF her 500 900
estate TO the count. who came here TO
uphold the will against the charge OF un-
due influence on the tcstatrix and her
mental inability to execute II. Count
d Arschot was on the stand all day. and
was much fatigued when court adjourned.
for he had submitted 10 searching ex-
animation at the hands OF counsel who
appeared for the four nieces and nephew
Of the countess. who are contesting the
Will
The count spoke English with uncer-
tainty. and ii was necessary 10 take his
testimony through an Interpreter. Not be
ing accustomed to the American method
OF demanding YES" or no from wit
nesses, he often went into explanations
that had to be stricken from the record.
Also he had n way of utterng sounds
like those OF escaping steam. which. how
ever the Interpreter readily understood,
or he would answer questions by mere
gesture. once when he waved his hand
J.. Latin Kellogg, counsel for the con
testants. wanted 10 know what was
meant. Surrogate Cohalan came 10 the
rescue by explaining that 1T is just an
other way he has of saying he doesn't
know
Tells Of Marriage.
The examination developed that Count
dArschot married a daughter Of Nubar
Paskash Pacha. an Armenian. who was
Prime Minister Of Egypt and that the
count feared his aunt would object To his
marriage into an Armenian family. Mr..
Kellogg introduced a .etter purpnrting to
be from the Countess d'Arschot TO her
nephew. hut he was not sure he had ever
received H. 1t read. In part
Il repeatedly expressed my surprise that
YOU were satisfied with an alliance with 4
Turkish family II perhaps ought not 10
have been done, but. knowing that YOU
were surrounded by people who wanted
IT, | wanted TO show YOU the other side.
bid YOU think for an instant that | ever
had the idea Of wanting 10 naturally mix
in that which in reality ! knew was not
my business? ] was deeply wounded.
murdered i'm my affection. To see that
everything was arranged. accepted
Count d'Arschot said that his aunt was
mistaken about his wife's nationality and
that she was an orthodox Christian. born
in Armenia.
The count. who was married in 1907.
had sent this pedigree ~ his wife 10 his
aunt Fortune large. situated good fam
lily known He said IN a letter that his
wifes dover would yield about $4,000 or
so 900 francs year
Surrogate tohalan interposcd 10 say
HE was following the family custom 81
marrying foreigner Tor money she
objected 10 the nephew's doing the same
thing his uncle did when he married her.
will pay no attention TO her views on
foreign marriages
Mr.. Kellogg explained that while Coun-
tess G'Arschot was rich woman, her
marriage was an affair Of love.
Mr. Kellogg asked the witness whether
he came 10 New York To look after the
will Of his aunt lie replied IN the mega
tive, saving that there was one IN exist
ence and that sine made new will be
cause some of her witnesses. nephew
and nieces mentioned in a prior WILL had
sufficient for their needs
The count will continue his testimony
to-day