The New York herald., 1922-04-17

Spcciol Cable % THE Nuw York HERALD.
Copufoht, 19se, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. April is. /
II IS still uncertain whether Nine.
Jacques Lebaudy's attempt to have an
nulied what she describes as the white
marriage OF her daughter Jacqueiine
with Roger Harris. or Sundreau. son OF
Q spectacular French detective, will be
made here or In Sew York. Although
an annullment if granted in a United
statement she had exercised certain
amount OF coercion to obtain her daugh-
ters consent as a vital step toward OBJ
tanning Jacqueline's share OF the self
styled Emperor Of Sahara's'' fortune
would be recognized by French courts
as valid, friends here believe Nine. Le-
baudy will first seek a judgment on this
side Of the Atlantic.
This decision, according to reliable in
formation given to THE New YORK
HERALD correspondent to-day. is attrib-
uted to the difference between the
French and American laws as to suf-
ficient grounds for a decree The New
York court legitimatized Nine. Lebaudy's
marriage after she had lived with Le-
baudy for twenty-five years. Although
regular marriages are automatically
justified in all European countries such
special decrees." especially when ad-
Indicated after death. do not have any
precedent in the French law.
1t is pointed out that this would give
Nine Lebaudy In addition to the conten-
tion Of a white marriage" in which
her daughter was not allowed to exert
her own free Will. the new argument
that under the French law Jacqueline's
marriage documents are irregular, as
they apparently attributed continue
ton Of the legitimacy decree to Jacques
Lebaudy's offspring before any affirma-
tion of the French courts had been OBJ
tanned.
To further complcate the case. how
ever. recognition of such status is
likely to induce contests by Lebaudy's
relatives here on the grounds that no
such American decree may have uni
yersal jurisdiction and that therefore
Nine Lebaudy's title to properties out
side of the United States may be ques-
toned.
Lebaudy left one sister. now married
TO the Count de Fels, who may be af-
fected by such a decision. The De Fels
family for the time being are absolutely
uninterested In the LebaudyH Harris con-
fi1ict and refuse to be drawn into the
case. 1t is believed that 1t is only a
question of time before Nine. Lebaudy
and JacGueiiae will return to the United
states 10 settle their affairs there.
The Paris newspapers. following the
information published in THE New YORK
Herald of Paris of Mime. Lebaudy's in
tention to attempt to have the marriage
annuled. are seeking the persons who are
responsible for introducing Nine. Le-
baudy to the detective who later became
her confidant. and are publishing stories
about the disappearance from the Le-
baudy property at westbury. L. l.. of a
chest believed to have contained val
liable papers. jewels and cash. and
which, it is said, is still missing. One
paper this morning suggests that behind
this factor in the Lebaudy- Harris rela-
tions might be found the real reason for
Harris's decision last February not to
return to the United States and to urge
a final liquidation of the estates. At
tat time Harris held Nine. Lebaudy's
power Of attorney. which since has been
s~itldra xu