The record-union., 1896-04-12
A Court of Honor to Regulate Differ
ences of Principals.
Berlin Startled by the Announcement
of Professor Tangerhaus, Medical
Director of the MOabite Hospital.
That His Child Died In Consequence
of an Injection of DR.. Behring's
Z DiphtherIa Serum.

BERLIN, April 1.-THE annual con-
gress of the Germany Adelstag the no
bility) was convened to-day. Among
the questions discussed of general inter-
est to the aristocracy OF Germany was
that of the duello, apropos of the Incl
dents which are now exciting society
and the general public alike. This
question was discussed exhaustively,
and it was finally resolved as the result
Of the debate that il is not a brand OF
dishonor for a nobleman to refuse to
fight a duel if the grounds of his refusal
are honorable.
1t was also agreed to appoint a court Of
honor with view to the regulation of
such differences as have hitherto been
referred to the duello. which had as it's
fixed principles the settlement Of dis
putes by pistol or rapier
This pronouncenent, together with
the growing force of current opinion in
regard TO the code duello, may have the
effect to modify the existing custom
but it is very doubtful whether it will
be efficaciOus in eradicating it, as it is
generally felt that the custom is too
firmly fixed.
The Emperors prohibitory order
against dueling has utterly failed to
lessen the practice; indeed, dueling has
been more frequent since the issuance Of
the Kaiser's decsee than ever before.
The duel which was fought between
Lieberecht Won Kotze and Baron Won
Schrader near Potsdam yesterday fur
nishes an instance of the difficulty Of
getting quarrel settled by means of a
court of honor. The friends of both Of
these principals were unceasing in their
efforts to prevent a fight, but courts of
honor composed of officers of two regi-
rflents instead Of making an attempt to
reach peaceable settlement of the diff
Guilty decided that Won Kotze ought to
accept a challenge from Won Schra der
Won Kotze opposed this method of set
Ting his charges against Won Schrader,
whereupon the courts decided that in
the event of his refusal to accept the
challenge he must at once cease to be an
officer.
The Emperor at this juncture inter-
vened, urging Baroa Won Schrader to.
refuse to accept the decision Of the
courts of honor, while near relatives of
both the disputamts entreated them not
to engage In duel for fear of the social
Odium that would attach to the encoun-
ter. The knowledge that the leading
section of society would cut them, how
ever, finally compelled them to fight
Baron Won Schrader is still lying un-
conscious in the hospital at Potsdam,
and is lingering at the point of death.
His wife is ceaselessly watching at his
bedside, and host of members of the
court circle are calling to inquire as to
his condition The Emperor has also
telegraphed to him message Of sympa-
thy. '-.'' - - ~
In the meantime Won Kotze is holding
protracted receptions to those who come
to congratulate him, number of whom
when calling upon him have just come
from the hospital, where they have left
sympathetic messages for Won Schra-
der.
Won Kotze confidently expects to be
imprisoned in a fortress for his part in
the duel. His seconds in the duel, Cap
tain Won Kotze, and Won Schrader's
second, General Won Kissing, will also
be sent to a fortress without doubt. The
public are now asking the question
whether the Emperor will take other
measures to show his displeasure, and
his discountenance Of future dueling
The "Vossische Zeitung," in an article
on the subject, says: When high court
sets an example Of breaking it is
n,ockery to ask the people to unite in a
struggle to defend religion and moral
tty. Won Kotze has more affairs of the
same kind on hand. Must there be more
vi ~
these sacrifices? Can the supporters of
dueling believe that the issue of such
an encounter proves that one combatant
Is right and the other wrong? It is
barbarous reference to the ordeal and
disgraceful to modern ideas, making
the aristocracy contemplate in the eyes
of the social democracy.
The celebrated Professor Tanger-
haus, Medical Director of the Moabite
Hospital, who startled Berlin by caus-
ing the following announcement to be
published in the papers on Wednesday:
Our darling Ernest. aged p months,
died suddenly in perfect health, in con-
sequence Of an injection of DR.. Behr-
ing's diphtheria serum" followed up his
statement by a repetition of the publica-
tion, together with an announcement
giving the date and place Of the funeral,
all of which was printed in large type.
The publications created a degree of
excitement which has reached medical
circles, and discussion of the matter is
now going on in the press. The body
OF the child is still in the possession Of
the authorities, who at once seized it
after the fathers announcement. Inn
mediately after the death of his son,
Professor Tangerhaus sealed a phial
containing the serum used in giving the
alleged fatal injection.
The Professor states that his son was
in strong health, and was innoculated
with serum merely as precaution. a
housemaid in the family having diph-
iberia. The adherents of DR.. Behring
ask for a suspension of professional
judgment and a calming of the public
mind until the cause of the death. of the
child is proved.
1t is learned from an inner source
that the Emperors desire that the Prince
of Fuerstenburg shall accept the Office,
of Chief Marshal Of the Imperial Court
is associated with his intention to APP
point him in succession to Prince Ho-s
henlohe. the Imperial Chancellor. This