New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
ROYAL DUELS.
SATISFACTION FOR pRINcELY INSULTS
IS HARD 20 OBTAIN.

Gus capitals OF Europe as to whether Emperor
William Will permit his brother-in-law. Duke
Ernest Gunther Of Schleswig- Hostein. to ac-
cept the challenge which Is reported To rave
been addressed to him by Baron Won kotze' tne
victim OF what is now known as the anonymous
letter mystery. The Baron. IT may be :emem-
bered. was arrested while in the performance OF
his duties as Master Of the Ceremonies ana
Chamberlain at some court function and thrown
into prison at Berlin on the charge Of being me
author of the anonymous letters which were
being dispatched broadcast at the time to man!
OF the principal leaders of Berlin society Inc!
contained the most scurrilous. and in most cases
groundless. calumnies directed generally against
some near relative or friend OF the recipient u
the letter in several instances even against
members Of the Imperial family. having 'ne
natural effect Of setting by the ears everybody
concerned. For time the case looked WI!
black against the Baron. The letters appe"reu
TO be In his handwriting. on note-paper idehV-''i
with that which he was in the habit OF Isihs'
and contained gossip which he. like most other
people OF his circle. had been heard 10 u'sc"ss'
The charge hung over his head for nearly
year and half until few weeks ago. when ne
was entirely cleared. the Emperor following rs
signature of the finding Of the court -rlartial
with most friendly message expressing lis
unaltered regard for the Baron ard regret Tor
the Injustice 10 which he had been subjected.
Baron Won Kotze started in at once by send
ing challenges to a number OF noblemen WIN
had been loudest in their denuncaions II num-
including Prince Arbert oe Anhali. "ho' Ike
Emperor William. is grandson OF queen VIC
,oria. Inasmuch. however. as 1t was consideFei
unfair that after all he had undergone he should
be exposed to he bullet sword OF eight an
tagonists In succession. II was decided By court
OF honor convened FOR the purpose at the Union
Club of Berlin that honor would be satisfied by
one of the number being delegated to hsht Won
Kotze's challenge In the name OF the entire
eight The lot fell Baron Won Reischach'
Court Marshal of the Empress Frederick. ana lie
straightway lodged bullet in the thigh 81 'he
unlucky Baron Kotze when they net IN
single combat 1t Is from the bed TO viii N ne
will be confined for some weeks to come mat nc
has dispatched n cartel to Duke Ernest Gunthel
the only brother Of the Empress 10 wh)m
rightly or wrongly the Baron attributes indis-
Greet association with the foreign woman 70"
known TO have been the author of the anony-
nous letters and grave responsibility IN connec-
ton with the latter Indeed. there are mah'
people who do not hesitate to assert that much OF
the information contained in the letters was OBJ
tained from the Duke.
Under ordinary circumstances the Duke would
be under no obligation to accept the Ba"ons
challenge. According TO the code OF honor. men
are compelled 10 accord satisfaction only TO
those who can lay any pretension to being their
equals In socia. rank. Thus, nobleman Is de-
barred from fighting duel with a tradesman,
and II is this that renders officers on the Cont
nent so quick to answer on the spot with
sword thrust any blow OF insult received from
stranger since they never know If he is of sufi
Client quality 10 afford them satisfaction on the
field of honor: while If the indignity remains un
avenged they are compelled TO resign their COM
missions. In the same way colonel or gen.
eral can on the same ground of inequality or
official rank decline to accept challenge from
lieutenant captain. and in 1863 the Marquis De
GaIlifYet at that time colonel Of regiment of
chasseurs d'Afrique. was temporarily placed on
the retired list for having. in defiance OF all
etiquette and precedent, fought duel with one
OF the lieutenants of his regiment. the late
Prince Achille Murat. who committed suicide
few months ago In Russia
with regard to royalty there have been
markably few instances where a prince Of the
blood has consented to respond to a cartel from
= social inferior and the results have not been
NJ a character to encourage the practice. For
there il at the present moment in this country
n German nobleman Of very ancient lineage.
Count Wede who was forced to expatriate him
self many years ago for having had the mis-
fortune TO kill In a duel royal parsonage. The
Count who was the chief OF the household OF
ex-King George Of Hanover. and his most de-
voted and trusted follower became involved.
while In attendance upon that exled monarch AT
Vienna In some discussion With his masters
nephew Prince Sons. The latter lost his tenn
ver completely. and struck the Count In the face
wedel had two courses open to him. either to
tnduce the Prince to fight duel with him. or
IN blow out his own brains. much In the same
manner ms the japanese noblemen were wont
IN times gone b. to commit hari-kari when sub
tected TO any indignity, the stain OF when 'hey
were unable 10 efYace on the spot by shedding
their adversaries blood. Several Instances could
y. mentioned IN which notions Of this kind have
led TO the suicide OF officers In Continental
armies and the present Emperor of Germany
the late Prince Charles Of Prussia. brother of old
rmneror william the late Crown Prince Ru-
ao,nh of Austria. and the late King Alfonso of
snain are each credited with the responsibility
~ the death OF young officers In this manner. AL
though Count Wcde was. in the eyes of I'M
,,retudiced people, in nowise to be blamed for the
Auel since II was agreed by all military men
that he could not continue TO wear his officers
,,n,form while leaving unavenged the blow which
y. had received yet he was bitterly reproached
nv all the regning houses Of Europe to which
ounp Prince Solms related for his death.
So imbued were they with the inviolable and
sacred character Of royal personages as the an
o,nted OF the Lord that they did rot hesitate
N dcnounce the hostile encounter between the
Count and the Prince as an act Of lese majeste
and as an actual crime committed by the
former
4 pathet;c element was added TO this tragedy
So. The fact that the dead Princes mother was.
ike her half-brother. King George Of Hanover.
afflicted with blindness This led her surviv-
ting children to keep her in ignorance of the
<.sth of her passionately beloved eldest SON She
,y,s made to believe that he was merely trav-
cling around the world, and regularly every
month letters purporting TO be from him were