Bankrupt Scion

Reprint from the North American Sun April 1902

Bankrupt Scion of Imperial family (House) Sought to Replenish Family Exchequer, Because He was not Successful, Sensational Suits Agitate Vienna Courts. Vienna April 26, 1902

The Imperial courts of Austria is in a turmoil because come ten years ago Prince Leopold of (E) Isenberg failed to marry Consuelo Vanderbilt and thereby acquire enough money to pay his own end his fathers debts. The matter became public through the trial of a suit brought by the estate of Lawyer Umlauff against Archduke Francis Salvator for the recovery of 30,000 florins loaned to Prince (E)Isenberg under his imperial highness’s guarantee. Duchess of Marlborough

It appears that the (E)Isenbergs were mortgaged to the limit, when young Prince Leopold started for America with borrowed money to attack the hearts of American heiresses, notably that of Consuelo Vanderbilt, who was singled out as the richest plum to be plucked. In order to pay his traveling expenses the elder (E)Isenberg borrowed nearly 60,000 on his estates and when Leopold returned minus a wealthy wife things were looking black in the principality. The servants went without wages, and the horses went without fodder, the princesses without pin money and the Prince himself without the where with all to play baccarat and other notable games.

Gave Imperial Guarantee

In this crisis Isenberg, Sr., persuaded a Hungarian lawyer named Umlauff to lend him 30,000 florins, now sued for, but Umlauff insisted upon a guarantee by Isenberg’s imperial relatives. This guarantee was finally obtained from Archduke Francis Salvator, a nephew of Prince Isenberg. Francis, it appears wrote to Umlauff setting for the that he (the Archduke) would repay the loan if his uncle failed to do so. When Isenberg died Umlauff attempted to levy Sr. on his estates, but the German law guarantees the integrity of entailed estates, barred such procedure. Then Umlauff sued Francis Salvator but again the law stood in his way, for an Archduke cannot be sued like ordinary debtors. There are many miles of red tape to protect him, and the Minister of the Imperial Family shields him from rude attacks by creditors. Twice Umlauff carried his case before the Cabinet court, and twice he was defeated. This misfortune excited and chagrined Umlauff to such an extent that he died, leaving his family of young children to want.

Socialist Take Up Case

Now the socialists have taken up the matter in Parliament, and promise to make trouble for Francis Salvator, who hill either have to pay or give up his position in the Army and forfeit his rights to the throne “as a cheat”. The Socialists are determined to force the Minister of Justice to answer to complaint of the defrauded family in public–no more secret Cabinet courts for them. The Socialists say that Francis Salvator and Archduchess Marie Teresa, widow of old Prince Isenberg, Sr., are jointly responsible, as her Imperial Highness helped to persuade Umlauff to part from his money for the benefit of the bankrupt Prince.

The whole truth be hold, and if there was a conspiracy between an archduke and an heiress-hunting, bankrupt princeling to fleece a confiding man, that conspiracy will have to be laid bare.

All Vienna Is Agitated

Umlauff, they say, was dazzled by so much imperial prestige, and his loyal heart was broken when he discovered that the nephew of Francis Joseph so far lowered himself as to refuse payment of a just debt. All Vienna is on a tip-toe of expectation, for it is expected that the Socialists will bring a bout such an airing of imperial dirty linen as never before flaunted in the breeze of public opinion.

Besides The Archduke and Archduchess named, another prince of the reigning house is involved in the conspiracy, namely, the former Duke of Parma. This prince is said to have extracted a commission from Umlauff for getting him a patron of the rank and prestige of Isenberg. Part of the loyal Austrian press blames America for the scandal. “Why didn’t some rich American girl marry Isenberg Jr., and forestall all this trouble?” argue the papers. Meanwhile, Umlauff’s widow and children are kept from starving by public charity.