BOGUS KING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 39, 8 October 1931, Page 4

BOGUS KING

NEW PRETENDER "HENRY OF NAVARRE" COMMITS CRIME IN DEFENCE OF THRONE. UNDER MENTAL OBSERVATION. LONDON, August 30. Alleging he is a member of the French royal family, and a claimant to the throne of France, a man calling himself "Henry VI." has been detained in Paris on a charge of having murdered a woman. He

to the police that. he had strangled the woman, Ltlcie de Champagne, after a drunken orgy, but stated that it was to "defend my throne against illegitimate pretenders." Throughout the hearing he seemed totally unconcerned, and when called up for evidence answered questions m dull monosyllables. Only during | one part of his evidence did the grey | eyes show a glint of steel— when "Henry VI." sought to prove his claim to the throne of France. The concierge of the house in which the "Pretender" and the woman were living stated that she brought the couple a bottle of champagne at about 10 o'clock in the evening. The woman was half dressed, and it was evident that hoth were preparing for a carousal. There was no sign then that "Henry VI." contertiplated murdering the woman. Later in the evening she heard shrielcs of laughter, "and other signs usual when the coupl'e were drinking." An hour afterward, the "Pre-

tender" came down the stairs muttering, "I have killed the old witch like a dog. There will he no fear for the throne now." Henry of Navarre Ihe man was called by the name of Henry Navarre." The crime was commitfed, he declared, for two reasons. He wag anffry hecause the woman had become drunk so quickly. "She drank the champagne like a pig, then took some wine, and began to sing. That was one reason why I strangled her. The other was I feared she was going to have a baby, and that m'ight have complicated matters in connection with my claim to the throne of France. I wanted to defend my throne against illegitimate pretenders." Why, asked the examining magistrate, did he persist in his claim to be attached to royalty? What proof had he? "Henry of Navarre" became animated. He searched his pockets for documents to prove his claim, and argued about his royal blood for nearly an hour. Letter to Pope The police reveaTed that when they searched his pockets they found the following documents: — A letter to the Ponp prmtcjinino-

evidence attempting to substantiate "Henry VI's" claim to the French Throne; Letters supposed to have been received from Napoleon on varied topics, ranging from royal procedure to love; Letters to the Soviet Government in which "Henry VI." had made 'the suggestion that Russia should send her armies into France on "the King's" behalf on condition that France paid tribute to the Soviet for a number of years. Other witnesses gave evidence that the "Pretender" and Max Lucie de Champagne had lived together for many months. They had taken a room in a small Parisian boarding house, «£rom which neither ventured much during the day. At night they were often seen in the Bohemian quarter of the city, "Henry VI." attired in "regal clothing," and the woman in an expensive gown. "They were a queer couple," stated a witness. "Sometim.es they would fight. Sometimes they would treat each other with the exaggerated courtesy which was their idea of regal conduct. They were always drinking, though where their money to buy champagne came from no one knows. In their cups they either made violent love to each other or had equally violent quarrels." "Henry VI." was remanded at the end of the hearing, and is now under observation at a mental institution.