EMPEROR'S EXECUTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 107, 21 September 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

EMPEROR'S EXECUTION

AN ECHO. WEALTH OF WIDOW OF ILL-FATED MAXIMILIAN I. DISPUTE SETTLED. London, July 14. A message from Brussels on Tuesday announced that an agreement had at last been reached between the Courts of Belgium and Austria with regard to the estate of the Empress of Mexico, Princess Charlotte, sister of Leopold 11, of Belgium. Princess Charlotte has been insane since 1807, when her husband, the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, was killed at Quercato in 1867. Before accepting the throne of Mexico he was known as the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. Princess Charlotte is 72 years of age, and enjoys good health. She lives in the Chateau de Bouchout, near Brussels. The fits of mental illness from which she has long suffered are now rare. After the death of King Leopold 11. the Austrian Court made inquiries as to the administration of her estate, with the result that an arrangement has been reached. A delegate was sent from Austria to look into the accounts, and he will henceforth pay a visit of inspection yearly. From the estate of Leopold I. Princess Charlotte received £400,000, but owing to the condition of her health she could furnish no account of the cost of.her maintenance. The value of her estate is now £2,500,000 sterling, and the bulk of this amount is invested in England.

Princess Charlotte married Archduke Ferdinand in 1857, and her ambition strengthened him in his determination to accept the Mexican throne in 1864. The experiment was an unfortunate one, and Maxinilian 1., as he was styled, was shot with his back against a wall toy the Republican troops to the haunting melody of ""La PalomaJ" which was played by his own desire.

His wife visited, Europe to enlist aid from France and Austria, but found few listeners and no active sympathisers. It is stated that the failure of Napoleon 111. to keep his promises, coupled with the loss of her husband, drove her insane.

Since 18G7, the year in which her husband was killed, the Princess Charlotte has been under medical restraint. Her brother, Leopold L, was devotedly attached to her. SET PALACE ON FIRE.

For some years she lived in the Treoueren Palace, but in those days her malady took a violent turn, and she contrived, to set the palace on fire and burn it down. With advancing years her illness became less acute, but she is never seen outside the gates of her own park.

She often receives visits from her relatives, who invariably present her with rave flowers. Formerly they brought handsome presents, but she brushed them aside to snatch a bouquet. The Princess plays the piano frequently but performs only the pieces which she learned as a girl. In the evening she plays cards with one of her ladies in waiting, but always in silence, and she is permitted to win every gnme.

Princess Charlotte is careful to exact the homage which she believes is still due to her as Empress of Mexico. Throughout her weakness she has never forgotten that she occupied a throne.

There are no mirrors in the castle of Bouchout. Once the afflicted Princess saw her reflection in a mirror, and shrieked "No! No!" She could not be. lieve that the wrinkled face and bent figure which confronted her was the representation of the once young and beautiful woman who sailed with her handsome bus-hand from Trieste many years before to occupy a foreign throne.