HUNGARY: Karolyi’s Law Suit

Count Michael Karolyi, living in London while his wife tours the U. S. to “make a little money,” scion of one of Hungary’s most ancient and famous families, the man who early in 1918 took the oath of allegiance to Emperor Karl and later, in the same year, proclaimed Hungary a republic with himself as first President, who, allegedly, “sold” the country to the Bolsheviki in 1919 and who is probably the most hated man in Hungary, once more entered the legal lists to recover his confiscated property.

At Budapest, Hungarian capital, the Supreme Court began to hear the suit over Count Karolyi’s property, confiscated by order of two lower courts on the grounds of high treason and lese-majesté.

The State Attorney moved ‘that the defendant’s free and entailed property be confiscated because “the material and moral damage perpetrated by Karolyi against his country is immeasurable.” He is officially accused of:

1) Inciting workmen to strike during the War in an endeavor to force peace on Hungary.

2) Communicating with the enemy.

3) Establishing a republic and changing the constitution without the consent of the people.

4) Creating soldiers’ councils and handing over power to the Bolshviki.

5) Fleeing the country and intriguing against the State.