LAMBERTINI-ANTONELLI CASE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 309, 21 March 1879, Page 17

LAMBERTINI-ANTONELLI CASE.

The Court of Appeal in Rome has pronounced sentence in the case of Lambertini v. Antonelli. It annuls the decisions of the court below and quashes the whole case ; that is, it rejects, or rather will not allow, the testimony desired to be produced, and condemns Madame Lambertini in all the costs of the trial, This decree is decisive, and for ever clears the memory of the late Cardinal from a scandalous imputation. It will be remembered that after the death of Cardinal Antonelli this Lambertini claimed a share of the property. She declared she was the natural child of the cardinal, had been reared by him, and given away in marriage by him with a not insignificant dower. There were two difficulties in the case — first, how far an illegitimate child could claim to inherit against the precise terms of a valid will ; and secondly how could the fact of paternity be substantiated. The second was the all important point. In favour of Lambertini there was merely her own assertion. Her mother is dead, or at least not to be found. But it was proposed to produce the evidence of a doctor and a monthly nurse. The heirs to Antonelli, on the other hand, denied that Lambertini was the offspring of their brother. They produced the registry of baptism of this pretender. It was in good order and of untainted credit. The father and mother are given, the date is correct, and the witnesses real. The question, therefore, before the court was, could it accept the testimony of witnesses whose evidence, should override the baptismal registry 1 It was not for a moment attempted to prove the registry a forgery by a direct evidence, but simply to invalidate it indirectly. The ordinary tribunal heard the case, and after nine months to consider the question, gave a judgment that the secondary evidence might be produced. Upon appeal this judgment has been reversed, and it is distinctly decided that unless the registry of baptism can be clearly proved a forgery, no counter evidence can be accepted. This is simple justice, and in accord with common sense.— Catholic Times.