ITALIAN WILL CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9788, 3 March 1910, Page 2

ITALIAN WILL CASE.

THE POPE IN A LAWSUIT. The Lanciano Court has expressed its approval of the suggestion that the Pope shall appear when the action challenging the validity of the will of Monsignor Adami is proceeded with. According to the " Messaggero " and other papers, the testator was a man of misorly habits, who had accumulated a fortune of between £160,000 and £200,000, all of which, in a will executed two months beforo his decease, he bequeathed to the Pope. It was pointed out to him that his Holiness is unpble personally to inherit u bequest of tlin kind, whereupon ho decided upon a ruse, and sold his estate to the Vatican for half a milion lire (£20,000). Immediately on the death of Monsignor Adami, his three female cousins commenced an action nt law, alleging that tlx© testator was not mentally fittod to execute a will, being afflicted in mind, and that the testament was invalid, plaintiffs entrusted their case tp Signor Scioloia, the present Minister of Justice, who has presented to tho Lanciano Court a memorandum in support of his clients' contentions. Hie memorandum sets forth, among other things, that Monsignor Adami claimed to hiave received his fortune direct from Heaven, through the medium of the Archangel Michaej, and explained that the latter had intimated to him tho duty of leaving everything to the Popo. The following amassing narrative is also embodied in it: — When he had mad.e his will Monsignor Adami decided to leave Rome and pass his last days in his own country. He took carriage and left for Sangro. On the way he fell into a deep sleep, and on waking up found himself in his bed at nis Roman palazzo. At this he manifested surprise, but the monks around him said: "You are not in Rome; you are at Bologna." '* But this is my room," said the dying man. ' No. We * selected one identical with your own room in Rome." ""But tho furniture——" " We had it fetched from Rome." Monsignor Adami allowed himself to be pemiaded. Believing himself at Bologna, he wrote to the Cardinal Archbishop, and aaked him to come to him. The Cardinal came—a false cardinal, ft priest in fact, disguised as a cardinal. A few words having been exchanged, the soi-disant cardinal inquired if a will had been made. r °pi' e( l Monsignor Adami, "anu I havo left everything to the rope." " y°" still have some money by you." " T have £20,000, which I entrust to you, your Ennnonoe, to give to the Popo. \r • mom )- was handed over, and Moiwgnor Adami soon afterwards died. . V l ®. number of witnesses for the plaintiffs is very largo, and many letters of the testator will be put in. Tt remains to he seen whether the Pope and lus Minister of Finance will accede to tiie Court's request.