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Court May Have to Decide Whether Absence of Jewish Blood Can Be Proven

April 1, 1928
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(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The claim that the possession of Jewish blood can be demonstrated scientifically, which was put forward by Professor Mehely, the Dean of Budapest University, in his official address on assuming office last September, may be tested by a Court of Law shortly.

Some time ago, Eva Barsonyi, the daughter of the famous surgeon, Professor Johann Barsonyi, supported by her mother, obtained a ruling from the Court setting aside a provision contained in her father’s will excluding her from the inheritance of his fortune, which would then go to Budapest University, if she marries a man who cannot prove by scientific tests that he has no drop of Jewish blood in his veins. The mother and daughter contended that it is impossible to prove such a thing scientifically, and that the will therefore amounted to a prohibition of the daughter’s marriage and was consequently immoral and should be declared null and void.

A member of the family, Colonel Illesi, now claims that Professor Mehely is able by his method of bio-chemical blood reaction to identify Jewish blood, and is seeking to obtain an order from the Court restoring the provision made by Professor Barsonyi, on the ground that it is scientifically workable.

Eva Barsonyi contests Professor Mehely’s claim. “My father,” she declares, “hated the Jews fanatically. Hatred distorted his vision so that he imposed this impossible condition, which would prevent me from fulfilling my natural right of marriage.”

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