THE CLAIM OF THE CARDINAL'S DAUGHTER.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 441, 27 September 1877, Page 3

THE CLAIM OF THE CARDINAL'S DAUGHTER.

Rome, July (5, 1877. The plaintiff is a Countess Loreta Lambertini, the defendants are the brothers of the late Cardinal Antonelli, and the lawsuit is to recover a share of the late Cardinal's property, which Countess Lambertini claims as a daughter of his Eminence. Tier claim to be recognized as such is chiefly based on papers in her possession, and on the evidence of a midwife, a priest, and a confidential servant of the late Cardinal. She has been hitherto considered to be the daughter of a Mdme. Marconi, and was brought up uudar that name ; but according to her present statement she is the daughter of a young English lady who was in Rome in 1850. The name of this lady (since married) she aaya she knows, but she does not wish to divulge it unless compelled to do so. At her birth Mdme. Marconi took charge of her and brought her up, receiving from the Cardinal various sums of money, amounting to about 200,000f., for her education. She alleges that he frequently came to boo her as a child, and gave her a medal to wear with his name on it. When ivldme. Marconi died sho was left under the care of a guardian, \vho also received money for her support. A year or two ago she married Count Lambertini, and afterwards paid frequent visits to the Vatican, and corresponded with her father, who' answered her letters, up to the time of his death. Among the, papers on which she bases her claim is a letter written by alumo. Marconi in 1857 to a friend urging him to press the Cardinal for money, "for," blio says, "you know I have his daughter to support, and if he refuses me money I ahall make a scene some day." When the claim was first made some months back it was thought to'bo an attempt to extort money, and that the brothers would pay something to hush it up, or if thoy refused to do ao, that it would fall to the ground for want of proof or legal standing of the claimant. It seems, however, that her advisers are serious. The indictment contains fifty-three articles, and gives the names of seventy witnessed to be called in the plaintiff's behalf. Application waa made to tho president of the tribunal to take down at once the evidence of those who, from age, m'ght be likely to die; but as the defendants raised objections, the president has taken till next week to consider the point. It is suggested that the defendants wish to drag on the case in hope of the chiet witnesses dying, From the line of defence thoy are going to adopt it would seem that they admit that the plaintiff is their brother's child, but maintain that, her father having been in holy orders at the time of her birth, she would be filia sacrilega, or child born in sacrilege, and consequently can have no legal standing whatever. To this her lawyers will object that at the time of the Cardinal's death the Italian Civil Code was in force, and that under that code she, as a child of his, though an illegitimate one, has a right to at least a share of hia property, and that the Pontifical law relating to Jilii sacrilejji has n6 longer any force. It is believed that great efforts have been made to induce tho Antouellis to compromise, so as to avoid scandal to the Church ; but they seem determined to fight it out.—' Pall Mall Budget.'