The herald., 1896-04-11
THE EX.cOURT CHAMBERLAIN
Is Not Satisfied With an Acauittal q
the Court
And viii vIndieate His Honor by Appeallag
to the Code
Count Won Kotx, the Victim Of an Alleges
Conspiracy, Is Making Very Coed Progress
Toward Wiplng oil Ills Essnlss Frs0
the Pace Of the Earth
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
BERLIN, April 10.-There was q sens
sation 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 Pots.
dam. and Baron Won Schrader, master
of ceremonies of the Prussian court, had
been shot by Count Won kotz, formerly
court chamberlain, who was acquitte9
on the charge of being author Of the
anonymous communications Count Won
Kotz and Baron Won Schrader used pis-
tolls. The latter was severely wounde1
in the abdomen. He WIS taken 10 =
hospital where the wound was pro-
nounced of a most serious nature. His
relatives were telegraphed for and
promptly gathered at the bedside.
This is the third duel Of the series Of
about dozen for which challenges
were sent out last April by Count Won
Kotz. He repeated today the an
nouncement Of his determination to
keep on fighting his enemies, one by
one. until he settled accounts with all
on his list.
Count von Kotze practiced for hours
yesterday with pistol on the estate
of his brother-in-law, Count Won Tre-
sckow, at F'riederichsfelds, and finally
succeeded in hitting the target, the size
and shape outline of man at every
night saying Nov have got him.
At his own quarters in Berlin, Count
Won Kotze today received the congratu-
lations of his brothers and from men,
bers of his family. He was also con-
graduated by scores of friends.
Baron Won Schrader's wound was
operated upon during the day and the
physicians in attendance came to tho
conclusion that there is no chance Of
his recovery. Emperor William has
been notified Of the duel. 1t is said Won
Kotze will not be arrested until his
majesty has been heard from
The scandal which gavee rise to this
series Of duels began nearly five years
ago, when high court parsonage 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
on the part of relatives or friends.
Various wives became separated from
their husbands, and fathers and moth
ers discarded their children. Nearly
everyone of Importance was scorched
more or less by the venom of the anony-
nous writer, who was evidently a per-
son thoroughly familiar with all the de-
tails of court life, soon began to look
askance at their best friends. Every
effort possible was made by the police
to find the guilty party, but in spite OF
this the anonymous tormentor was able
years. Thegeneral opinion was that the
vile letters We're the work of a woman,
but gradually this opinion changed ana
for some unexplained reason, suspicion
fastened itself upon Count Won Kotx.
one of the court chamberlains. popular
man, well liked by the emperor, and
trusted by all his friends. Finally q
volunteer spy denounced him to the
court authorities on the ground that
on the blotting paper pad of al letter
packet used by the count he had found
a clear reproduction of oneof the anon
ymous communications, postal card.
Thereupon Won Kotz was arrested and
confined in the fortress Upon trial
he was acquitted of the charges
brought against him.
While Won Kotz was in prison the tide
of sympathy turned decidedly in his di-
rection. Ugly whisperings were heard on
all sides, his arrest was openly de-
nounced as an outrage, and the names OF
number of very high court personages.
including Duke Ernest Gunther OF
Schlcswig- -Holstein, the brother-i in law
of Emperor William of Germany, be-
came involved; in fact, some persons
even had the audacity to cast the side
lights of suspicion upon a higher person
than Duke Gunther, though. it would
seem, without just ground for so doing.
When Count Won Kotz was released
from prison he promptly sent out chal-
lenges to a dozen of those whom he be-
lieved to have been implicated in a plot
to ruin him, in order to save the reputa-
tion of the high parsonage, whoever he
may be. who is looked upon as being the
rea author of the anonymous communi-
cations.
Among the principal persons chal-
lenged were Baron Won Reisch, court
marshal to ex-Emperor Frederick of
Germany; Baron Won Schrader, master
of ceremo;3 Of the PruSsian court:
Prince von r'uTstenberg, Prince Herbert
of Saxe-Altenburg and Prince Albert Of
-Altenburg.
A rumor, not substantiated, has also
said that Won kotz had challenged Duke
Ernest of Schleswig- Holstein, but this
has been denied, and it is not believed to
be true.
The first of the proposed series of
duels was fought with pistols, in the
Gruenwald. early during the morning
Of April 18th last, between Count Won
Kotz and Baron Won Reisch. The
former had insisted upon severe condi-
tions namely that shots should be ex-
changed until one of the contestants
was so badly wounded as to be unable
to continue. Seven shots were ex-
changed with the result that both the
count and the baron had more or less
severe flesh wounds. But at the eighth
shot Won Kotz fell with a bullet IN the
loin. He was taken to a hospital anu
for some time his life was despaired OF.
and even when the attending physl-
clans announced that he would live,
they coupled this statement with the
remark that he would be crippled Tor
life This is practically the case. al
though the count walked with greater
ease than was expected.
There was some talk OF sending
Count Won Kotz and his opponent =