The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-23

Goprdeler oil this city, makes the Io'-
I,wipp statement in regard to the case
., aor husband, an American citizen,
wbois held in confinement in Germany
gs lunatic and idiot;
"ln July, 1901, Mr., GoerdeIoF arrived
IN Germany where he had gone to in
.tmto criminal proceedings against his
Younger brother, Judge Goerdeler' OF
Marienwerder, who he alleged had
cheated him OF his pa!rimony. After
having visited several cities in Ger
many, Mr. GoerdoIeF went to his former
home, Marlonwerder lie was met at
,bo railway station by this younger
brother, who greeted him with these
words. Il arrest you in tho name OF his
Majesty the Emperor OF Germany, for
tho crine OF llse-mujests.' Thereupon he
rn.bel him back into the railway car
rIopo, where two rutiians, armed with
rIpB., took charge OF Mr.. Goerdeler and
conveyed him 10 tho state lunatic asy'
INN at Schwelz, West Prussia, where no
has remained ever since, lie was not
rjyen a trial or hearing on the alleged
charge: he was simply locked up, and
Ms brother pays for his safe keeping in
said institution.
81 have made unCeasing efforts to
bring about the release OF my husband,
but quite in vain. The American min
lister Hon. W. W. Phelps, at Berlin,
has not even during more than nine
teen months thought it worth his whilc
TO send one OF his men TO the asylum to
ascertain Mr.. Goerdeer's mental condi-
ton, and vet, on the strength Of re-
mort written by the director Of the in
sane asylum, a person who profits by
the inmates OF that institution, Minis
tor PHELPS has testified TO Mr., Goerde.
lor's hopeless lunacy.' Judge Goerde-
Ter, who has considerable influence in
tho province OF West Prussia, seeing
that he could have it all his own way
and need not fear any interference from
the American representative, has now
succeeded in having this citizen OF the
United States put under guardianship
Tor alleged 'idiocy.' Meanwhile | have
received great many letters from my
husband during his confinement, which
are proof positive that the writer is not
m idiot, but an uneommonly gifted
man, who has not lost his mental iacul.
ties since he lett home.
"Nlr. GocrlelCr always provided well
for his family, and it was Il great griev-
anCe to him to know that they were un.
provided for. So he turned his talents
to account by writing musical compost.
tiols, which | have been able to sell to
his publishers aud which are conceded
to DO very good. Thus an alleged idiot
has been contributing to the support OF
his family by brain-work."
Mrs. Goerdeier claims that her hus.
band was prevented by trickery from
seeking justice in the German courts.
The following statement OF tho case is
obtained from Washington.
John Dewitt Warner took up the
case OF Mrs. Goordeler some time ago
and ascertained the position OF tho
state department, 1t appears that Mr..
GoerdeCr went to Germany for the
purpose OF challenging the German en-
pcrOr to duel. His action and words
were such as to lead the authorities to
believe him insane and they charitably
took this view aud put him into an
asylum instead OF furnishing him for
disrospeCto OF his majesty, Our state de.
partmont inquired into the case care
fully, aud correspondent with tue Ger
man government, but it was one Of
those cases governed by local law, which
could not be made the subject
OF diplomacy. The German authorities
however have made themselves ready
Mt any time to turn Mr.. Goerdeler over
to the American minister, to be sent
home under proper custody, but they
do not consider that Mrs. Goerdeler
would DO the proper custodian, They
also required that ono Of the physicians
connected with tho asylum where no is
confined should accompany him till he
sails, rs {, precautionary measure; and
our government has held itself ready
70 SEQ to his proper transportation TO
this country rs soon as the expenses OF
tho trip could BIO guaranteed. Mrs.
Goerdeer docs not seem to grasp tho
legal phases OF the situation"
Mrs. Goerdeer, on reading this state
ment from Washington, said that her
husband was the victim Of n strange
notion that through the action of his
brother, an imperial judge, ho had been
wronsod by tho emperor, and had Il
right to demand satisfaction from him.
NY husband did not 90 to Germany to
challenge the emperor" explained Mrs.
Goerdeler, "rho deplorable incident
referred to which was duo to moment
oil anger on the part OF my husband,
happened three months before he left
America The challenge was sent bv
letter, not to the emperor, but to the
student corps at Halle, of which my
husband was member, to be
transmitted to the corps to whi1lt
the emperor formerly belonged II
was based on my husbands ideas
that ho had been wronged by
the cmporor's officials and that
ho wa privileged to demand such salts.
faction from the emperor, former
member OF another corps, under tho
rules governing nil German atudcnt
corps. Can an American citizen be
punished in Germany for an oiIense
committed in American Tho dispatch
says tho authorities woro led 10 be-
love my husband insane. The sole
authority in the case which Mr. Gocr-
dolcr received an opportunity 10 mco'
was his own brother who abused his
Official position TO arroat my husband
without u warrant. As to tho German
authorities not considering me proper
custodian OF my husband, In their OH.
eiol communication TO the state depart
mint Il rnnu al ,rlInh ~ knnn fnr