Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-16
EVENING STAR.
SERIOUS CBARsE AGAINST PRINCE
ALBERT.

s1hious CHAKeE AGAINST PRINCE
ALBERT.
The New York Times treats its reader,
to an extraordinary piece of London
Court gossip, which, if true, reflect:
severely upon the character of Primo,
Albert. We condense as follows:
The Prince, as everybody knows. re-
ceived his education at the University O
Bonn, at which he became student in
1851: There was at Bonn, at this period
as Professor, a DR.. Peithman, whose
medical skill was frequently called to the
relief of such of the Alumni as ito use
conventional term) had "lived too fast. ,
vi this 1T is enough to say that, when the
Prince left Bonn, be made such profes.
slons of gratitude to Peithman that, on
the marriage with Queen Victoria
February, 1910, the Doctor fondly fancied
that his fortune was as good as made,
and that his former friend and patient
would provide for him. Therefore he
went to London, taking with him his port.
folio filled with testimonials, which
showed his ability as a physician, and
his good character as gentleman. He
sent these documents to Prince Albert
with letter, slightly glancing at his par
ticular claims, and requesting that an.
pointment, professional, or otherwise.
should be given to him.
'lt appears that, at first, Prince AL.
bert was so well inclined to assist DIR.
Peithman that he directed a reply to be
sent, declaratory Of his disposition to
oblige his old acquaintance, and saving
that, on an early day, he would personally
receive him. The interview never took
place. The belief is, that when the
Prince requested an appointment for DIR.
Pelthman, the Queen was curious to &C
count for the interest taken by her con-
sort in an obscure stranger, and, having
read his letters, fastened upon certain
passages in them, in such manner that.
to avoid domestic feud, the Prince had
to resign all interest and interference in
the affairs of his unfortunate compatriot."
Peithman irritated by his ungrateful
treatment, demanded the return of his
testimonials-but these, it appears, the
Prince had lost or mislaid. An angry
letter followed from Peithman, and the
result was his incarceration in London
madhouse for fourteen years. The day
of the Doctors liberation, however, was
at hand-for the Times goes on to say:
"a medical man who accidentally saw
and spoke with this ill-used foreigner,
ascertained that he We ~ insane. signed
was 1--we in the matter, and succeeded
in obtaining his Liberation few months
ago.
"Soon after, DR.. Poithman again wrote
to Prince Albert on the subject of his
testimonials, received no reply and went
on Sunday, July 16, to attend divine
service in the private chapel Of Bucking-
ham Palace, in which the Queen and
Prince Albert are wont to listen to the
Christian precept. ''DO unto others as
you would be done by" The Queen
knew him not, of course. He was rec
ognized by Prince Albert. and as lac was
leaving the house of God, lin which his
department had been grave and decorous)
this unfortunate Peithman was seized by
a policeman and dragged off to a dun
geon, where he was not told what offence
be was charged with, nor allowed to see
any of his friends. After three weary
days and nights in felon's cell, he was
taken to Bow street Police Office on We'd
nesday, July 10. There, before, Mr..
Lardine, a magistrate, he was charged
with being of unsound mind and unable
to take care of himself
The counsel of Prince Albertendeavor-
ed to have the proceedings private, but
in this he did not succeed, owing to a
protest from a Mr.. Otway and Mr..
Lewis, (the former a member Of the Par
Lament, and the latter solicitor. How
ever, Notwithstanding the proofs were
said to be positive, they offered to submit
that Peithman was not insane. The
magistrate said that two medical men
(Dr. Davis and DR.. Weed) had certified
that they thought the prisoner was not
of sound mind; and on this document he
again committed the prosecuted man to
lunatic asylum, and made out his war
rant for his removal to, and detention in,
the mad-house at Colney Hatch"
The Times adds:
ssThus ended the matter for the present.
Mr.. Lewis had announced that he would.
apply to the Judges for writ of habeas
corpus, on which an argument on his i'm
prisonment can take p ace. Mr.. Otway
stated that he would bring the case be-
fore Parliament, and also move for in.
quiry into the particulars of DIR. Peith-
mans imprisonment, without a trial, for
fourteen years in mad-house."