Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-15
Bismarck's Spies.


ployment of particular class of spies,
who are known to his countrymen as
reptiles" They are sham revolutions
lists, whose business it is either to get
on the staff of Radical newspapers, or to
play leading part in Socialist electoral
committees. The disgust of mankind
at some of the atrocious sentiments put
forth by German Socialist newspapers
would no doubt be grea ter than it is, if
one could get rid of the suspicion that
many of these incendiary articles are
written by reptiles" for the express
purpose of bringing tine Radical party
into odium. They conceal their game
SO well that often they are flung into
prison for their writings, and acquire a
great popularity as martyrs to the pop
ular cause, whence it may be concluded
that the pay they receive from the rep
tile" fund is large. Nobody would care
to he locked up long in German fort
ress for mere bread and cheese.
Three years ago a wretched man.
called Denecke, brought ont a most
virulent newspaper, Das Hackmesser
''The Cleaver'') at Berlin. 1t was ably
written, and the editor soon gathered
around him a staff of medical students,
young doctors and idle advocates. These
young men had the greatest confidence
in Denecks. They admitted him to their
clubs, and ' orked for him without ex-
pecting any pay. A day came when the
Haekmesser was prosecuted for seditious
writing in the persons of its editor and
another member of the staff. They
were sentenced to six months imprison-
ment and heavy fine. which was paid
by subscription got up in the braueries,
as tine editor was believed to be almost
penniless. While Denecke was in prison
the publication of his newspaper was
suspended. but when he had undergone
his punishment he resumed his editorial
labors, md was soon sentenced again
this time for year. A few weeks after
Denecke's trial, a former member of his
staff who had gone to seek fortune in
Paris, saw the Socialist martyr sitting
outside cafe, nicely dressed and smok-
ing cigar. Much astonishcd, he ac-
costed the man, but Denecke appeared
not to know him, and said that there
must be mistake, as his name was
Engelracht, and he produced card to
proye it. The Young man apologized
and went his way; but he was not con-
vinced. The Denecke of Berlin was
certainly shabby fellow with scrub
by beard, while the Engelracht of Paris
was well shaved and had spectacles.
Yet Denecke's was one of those express
sive faces which are not easily forgot
ten. His former associate tried to watch
him home. but failed, for Herr Engel-
raeht, seeing himself spied, got into an
omnibus. and the other did not ike to
follow him. The young man wrote to
friends at Berlin. however. to tell them
what he had seen; but he was quickly
answered that he must be In error, Us
his friends had lately visited Deuecke in
prison, and We re quite certain that he
was under lock and key. The mystery
was not destined to be cleared up until
some months afterward, when Denecke.
having completed his sentence, reap
peared among his fellow Socialists at
Berlin, He was then III very weak
health, and announced that he should
not bring ont his newspaper for the
present. He even talked Of emigrating
to America, saying he could not bear a
fresh incarceration, which was sure to
await him if he were to recommence
wiring But soon after this Denecke
died, and he was found to have left
considerable sum of money. This for
tune could not have been honestly come
by, for if it had there would have been
no reason for Denecke to feign abject
proverty and to allow his fines to be
paid for him by men much poorer than
himself. From additional facts which
transpired it came to be seriously sus-
pected-thoueh it could not he actual
ly proved that Denecke was ''rep-
tile" who never underwent the full
term of Imprisonment to which he was
sentenced. Government used to release
him privately and send him on police
missions to France; but every now and
then the man used to return to Jail to
show himself to friends who came to
visit him on appointed days. 1t was
established that Denecke and Engel-
racht must have been one and the same
man, for good deal of the editors
money turned out TO have been invested
in the name of Engelracht.