THE MEMOIRS OF MARIA STELLA
(LADY NEWBOROUGH)
Maria Stella, Lady Newborough, as a Gypsy.
From a picture at Glynllifon
THE MEMOIRS OF
MARIA STELLA
(LADY NEWBOROUGH)
BY
HERSELF
Translated from the original French by M. Harriet M. Capes
and with an introduction by B. D’Agen
LONDON
EVELEIGH NASH
1914
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| To face page | |
| * Maria Stella, Lady Newborough, as a Gypsy | |
| (From a picture at Glynllifon) | [Frontispiece] |
| * Lord Newborough | [76] |
| (From a picture at Glynllifon) | |
| * Glynllifon | [88] |
| (From a drawing by the late Sir John Ardagh) | |
| * Maria Stella, Lady Newborough | [104] |
| (From a bust at Glynllifon) | |
| The Duke of Orleans (Philippe-Égalité) | [152] |
| Mme. de Genlis | [198] |
| (Photo, Braun Clement et Cie) | |
| Maria Stella, Lady Newborough, Baronne de Sternberg | [228] |
| The Duchess of Orleans (Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon-Penthièvre) Wife of Philippe-Égalité | [244] |
| Louis-Philippe, King of France | [280] |
* The thanks of the publisher are due to the Hon. F. G. Wynn for permission to reproduce these pictures, and to Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, Bart. (author of The Mystery of Maria Stella, Lady Newborough: Edward Arnold), for the use of his copyright photographs of the same.
THE ORLEANS-CHIAPPINI CASE
Newborough v. Joinville
Whereas the plaintiff has claimed that the rectification of her certificate of baptism should be properly carried out, etc. That Lorenzo Chiappini, being near his death, wrote a letter to the plaintiff, in which, to ease his conscience, he declared that she was not his daughter.
That the words of a dying man must bear the impress of truth.
That, according to the evidence of the witnesses Bandini, it is absolutely proved that Count Louis Joinville exchanged his daughter for a boy of Lorenzo Chiappini’s, and that the Demoiselle de Joinville was baptized under the name of Maria Stella, falsely described as the daughter of Chiappini and his wife.
That the Lady Maria Stella therefore justly claims the rectification of her birth-certificate.
Moreover, that the evidence of the aforesaid witnesses is supported by public notoriety and the difficulties the Comte de Joinville experienced.
Finally, that the legitimacy of the claim is proved by the careful education given to the plaintiff—an education unsuitable to the daughter of a jailer, as well as by the improvement in the fortunes of Chiappini which ensued.
For these reasons, which will be established both in fact and law by the proofs put in, and for all others resulting from the proceedings, it is held that the plaintiff’s request should be granted, etc.
THE ORLEANS-CHIAPPINI CASE
Joinville v. Newborough
Whereas the plaintiff, in both her birth and baptismal certificates, is described as the daughter of Lorenzo Chiappini, who brought her up as such, and that so she acknowledged herself for nearly fifty years, etc.
That this plainly establishes the fact of her birth and consequent rights, etc.
That the proofs brought forward by the plaintiff amount to no more than the depositions of a few witnesses, whereas the proof should be in writing, etc.
That failing the necessary proofs of affiliation and paternity, the law holds good that given in the birth-certificate, etc.
That, even if the proofs given in evidence were alone sufficient, the witnesses produced by the plaintiff do not plainly report the fact of the substitution, etc.
Moreover, doubt is not dispelled by Chiappini’s declaration, because it is not expressed in authentic or documentary terms, etc.
Finally, that to claim to be the daughter of a certain person not that named in the certificate of birth or shown as in possession, it is necessary to prove that such person has really existed, etc.
For these reasons, it must be held that the claims of the plaintiff be refused, and that she be condemned in all the costs of the trial, etc.