Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-06-03
DARONESS Bees
U. s. CITIZENSHIP
Former Miss de Haven, Wife Of
Baron Won Aten, Seeks
Special Act.
CASTS OFF HER CHILDREN
viii Recognize Them Only When The 7
Quit Germany-In Danger Of Be-
coming Destitute-$15,0 900
Year Involved.

New York.-Congress, through the
passage of special act, will shortly he
asked to restore to citizenship the Bar
oness Augusta Louise de Haven-Alten.
the former Miss de Haven of New
York, who In 1883 married the Baron
Eberhard Won Alien, a German officer.
Caught In Budapest when the revOlu-
ton broke out In February of Last
year, the baroness, who Ia now known
as Mrs. Louise de Haven. was forced
to flee to Vienna as a German refugee,
and after many vicisstudes reached
Switzerland practically destitute. On
money borrowed from professor In
Geneva. a childhood friend, she reached
New York several weeks ago,
The question of the restoration Of
Mrs de Haven to citizenship was
taken up by the house committee On
immigration and naturalization aud
she recently appeared before the COM
mittee and told her life story. Under
German law her personal property has
passed into the custody of her hus-
band and her interests in trust fund
created by her grandmother. who was
the widow Of Admiral Abraham Bige-
low, u. 8. NJ. was seized by the enemy
alien property custodian. Her attOr-
ney, Walter Bruce Howe of Washing
ton, told the committee that Mrs. De
Haven was "inevitahly and rapidly ap-
preaching restitution"
When very young Mrs. de Haven
went with her father to live In Swift
zerland and was brought up near Gene
va. On her nineteenth birthday she
married Baron Won Alien and went to
live In Germany. She had two daugh-
tiers, who are now married and living
In that country.
my married life was not happy"
Mrs. de Haven told the committee. In
1910 she entered into formal separa-
ton agreement with her husband. IN
1911, she said, she left Germany ami
has never seen her husband since.
Her Funds Here Seized.
Two years later she again brought
suit. This time she charged her hus-
band with misconduct. The war sus-
pended all proceedings, for the law
would not allow litigation against an
officer on active duty.
Mrs. de Haven's interest In the trust
fund of her grandmother, Mrs. Louise
Bigelow. was $4,000 year, and this
amount was paid by the Northern
Trust company of Chicago until the
alien property custodian took charge
of the funds.
"AbOut February. 1919. riots and rev.
olution broke out In Budapest" Mrs.
de Haven told the committee. son the
day of the outbreak an immense mob
was resisted by the police near the ho-
tel where I was. After the conflict
some 80 dead and many wounded lay
In the street near my hotel. The dead
were brought into the corridor Of the
hotel and then the mob came In and
seized everything In the dining room
that could be eaten or drunk. The dis
turbance lasted all night.
"In this situation I decided to accept
a German passport. I did not 60 my
self to the German authorities to ask
for it, but sent friend WHO obtained
it for me. Arrangements were made
for train to take the German refu.
gees BACK to Germany,
Borrowed From pressmaker.
"The train took "a hours to reach
point on the outskirts Of Vienna. The
Germans went on toward Germany. l
got off In the railroad yard. All had
with me was two small handbags.
had nothing to eat or drink on the
train"
Because they sided with Germany In
the war Mrs. de Haven said she broke
off relations with her children. She
added In her declaration that she
would recognize them only when they
came to this country and became citi-
zens.
1T is certain" she continued, shat
unless relief by special act Of congress-
in restoring me to citizenship is speed.
lily afforded shall be penniless and In
dire want before can regain my citi-
zenship through the operation Of the
suit for divorce. OF the borrowed mon
ey, $4,000, l. brought with me to this
country. only about $1,000 is now left"
Representative Isaac Siegel ques-
toned Mrs. de Haven regarding her
use of a passport as German subject
when travelling out Of Austria. The
use Of a German passport, she said.
was against all her instincts but there
was no other way for her to get out Of
Budapest. She used such passport,
she said, on the advice of Colonel
Yates.
MY only wish Is to become an Amer
lean, to live over here, and, II possible.
to have money to live ap. am not
we'll enough to 50 to work. That is all
I wish. do not care whether ! get
my German money or not. All ! wish
is to become an American. q good
American"