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North Otago Times, 27 October 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

Tlic that beats upon a ; tlironc" did not disclose anything to j the discredit of the late King Humbert of Italy during his lifetime. ■Ho died, j if not "in the odour of. sanctity," at j least beloved and respected by. his subjects, and the breath of scandal hardly ever touched his name. He wad indeed looked upon as being a model monarch and a model husband. Now it is alleged that ho occasionally strayed fax' from tlie path of virtue, and as a consequence of one of these excursions..an extraordinary lawsuit is at . present before the Roman law courts, in whioh the Italian Royal Hpuse is sued for damages by Countess Caestti'ina Hercp-' lani, for the act of the late King Humbert. The story, as told ,by foreign papers, in a remarkable one! In 1881, the Counters, then a,girl between fifteen and sixteen, gave a pianoforte recital in Rome, which aroused the enthusiasm of the city to such a,point that Kjng Humbert expressed a wish to see the young artist. A fust visit to the Quirinal led to a, second, and matters progressed until visits became frequent, as well as private; and lasted until,' in 1882, the young Countess, had a son, which her parents, to cover as much as possible the dishonour of their house, acknowledged for their own. But the Count, her father, died, and, the Countess Oaesarina, her mother, and the- boy, became plunged ill distress, while the events of the year 18811882, had l'uinod Caesarina's professional prospects, In her distress the Counter Caeearina has, since King Humbert's :deatli, made vain-appeal to tlie-Royal ■ House, and then invoiced the law, her counsel basing her claim on thfe alleged fact that' her misfortuneand abpdon- ' ment occurred during,her girlish min-. 1 ority. The judpent of the Court reI mains to be delivered.