The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-11
HAS FOUGHT HIS SECOND DUEL
Court Won Kotze HAS Again Wounded
His Antagonist.

Berlin. April 10.-There was sensa-
tion in court and military circles here
this morning when it was announced
that another duel, growing out Of the
great court anonymous letter scandals
had taken place in the woods near
Po4sdam, and that Baron Won Schra-
der. the Master of the Ceremonies Of
the Prussian court had been shot and
seriously wounded by Count Won
Kotze. The latter was formerly Court
Chamberlain, and was tried and ac-
quilted on the charge OF being the au-
thor of the anonymous communlca-
tions alluded to.
Count Won Kotze and Baron Won
Schraf1er fought with pistols, and the
latter was severely wounded in the alb
domnn. He was taken to hospital,
where his wound was pronounced 70 pe
of a most serious nature. His near rei-
atives were telegraphed for. and
promptly gathered at his bedside.
Count Won Kotze's arrest has been
ordered, and his friends say he will
surrender to the authorities whenever
and wherever called upon to do SO.
This is the third duel Of the series of
about q dozen. for which challenges
were sent out last April by Count Won
Kotze. and he has repeated to-day his
announcement of his determination
to keep on fighting his enemies, one
by one. until he has settled accounts
with an on his list. Those who know
Count Won Kotze feel confident that
ne viii keep his word
The scandals which gave rise to this
series Of duels began nearly i've years
ago. when high court personages, male
and female, old and young, began re-
ceiving anonymous letters or postal
cards calling their attention to this
or that escapade upon their own part,
or the part Of their relatives or friends.
AS a result, wives became separated
from their husbands, and fathers and
mothers discarded their children.
Nearly everybody Of Importance being
sgmirched, more or less, by the venom
of the ANONYMOUS writer, who was evil
IDENTIFY a person thoroughly familiar
with all the details Of court life, people
began to look askance at their best
friends Every effort possible was made
to discover the guilty party. But IN
spite of this, the anonymous tormentof
was able to continue the cruel work
for about four years.
The general opinion was that the
vile communications were the work OF a
woman. but gradually this opinion
changed, and for some unexplained
reason suspicion fastened itself upon
Count Won kotze, one Of the Court
Chamberiains, a popular man, Well
liked BY the Emperor and trusted by
all his friends. Finally q volunteer
spv denounced him TO the court au-
thorities on the ground that on blot
ting paper Of a letter pad used by the
Count, he had found a clear reproduc-
ton of one of the anonymous cOmmuni-
cations, a postal card.
Thereupon Won Kotze was arrested
and confined in the fortress. Upon trial
he was acquitted Of the charges
brought against him.
Count Won Kotze yesterday practiced
for several hours with pistol on the
estate of his brother-in-law, Count
Won Tresckow, at Friedrichsfelde, and
finally succeeded in hitting a target
the size and shape Of the outlines of
man, ut every shot. lie left F1~ediichs-
felde last night night saying: Vow
I have got him"
At his own quarters iu Berlin Count
Won Kotze to-day received the cougrat- 4
ulations Of his brothers and Of the
other members of his family lie was
also congratulated by scores Of friends.
Baron Won Schrader's wound was
operated upon during the day and the
physicians in attendance came to the
conclusion that there is no chance of
his recovery.
Emperor William has been notified Of
the duel in a special despatch ft is
believed that Won Kotze wil mot be ar
rested until his majesty has been
heard from.