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Hungarian Aristocrats Have Jewish Blood, Argument in Famous Will Case

October 15, 1926
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Public interest here centered yesterday in the contents of the will of Professor Barsony, who stated in his will that his daughter Eve would be disinherited if she marries any one who has “a drop of Jewish blood in his veins.” The case came up in the Budapest court yesterday when the widow of the late professor contested the will.

One of the arguments of the attorney for the widow was that it is scientifically impossible to ascertain whether any given Hungarian individual is free from a strain of Jewish blood, it being known that even the aristocratic Hungarian families, including the royal family, have Jewish blood in their veins. The case was adjourned.

In his will which disposes of a large fortune, Professor Barsony appoints his daughter his sole heiress and her mother her guardian until she becomes of age, with the condition, however, that if she marries a Jew or a Christian whose forebears back to the fourth generation have a drop of Jewish blood in their veins, she will get nothing, not even a dowry.

As soon as this condition in the will was made known, all the numerous suitors for the hand of the heiress withdrew, not one being willing to face an examination into his ancestry lest there should prove to have been Jewish blood somewhere in his veins.

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