The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-25
REVIEW OF THE CASE.
One OF the Most Sensational Chapters
in Recent German History.


BERLIN, May 24-If all the features of
the programme are presented to the public,
the trial of Herr Won Tausch, the former
commissioner of the secret political police,
will turn out to be one of the most SenSa-
tional chapters in the recent history of Ger
many. The very highest names have, in
some way or other been dragged, rightly
or wrongly, into the affair, and the result
cannot fail to be the washing of much dirty
linen in the courts and the strengthening
of the disconnected elements throughout
Germany. Won TauSch is charged with
four-fold perjury, and, incidentally, with
treason. He threatens if pushed to the
wall, to make clean breast of everything,
and this may include establishing the iden-
tity of the authorship of the famous So
called Won Kotze letters, by which an
anonymous writer, for over year, kept
the court of Germany in state of turmoil
by making the most scandalous insinua-
lions against male female members of
many aristocratic families, resulting in
stormy scenes separations, duels and
deaths. Count Won Kotze, the former court
chamberlain, according to general report,
is certainly not the author of this series of
VenomOuS attack upon various members of
the nobility, and it has been more than
once limited that the author of these scan
dalous misSives IS to be found in the very
highest circles in Germany. Therefore, I'M
der all the circumstances, the very greatest
interest is taken in the proceedings against
Won TauSch, whose preliminary eXamlna-
ton may be said to have commenced on
Dec. last, when he was arrested at the
close of the sensational Luetzow-Leckert
trial, during which the imperial chancellor,
Prince Hohenohe and the minister for for
eign affairs, Baron Marschall Won Bieber-
stein, were among the witnesses.
The whole matter seems to date from the
fall of Prince Bismarck from power and the
the CHARACTERISTIC. From that time on a
mercileSs underhand political warfare was
waged against General Won Caprivi, and his
enemies were eventually successful in caus-
ing his retirement. This was seemingly fol-
lowed by another political campaign, this
time against several other members of the
minister for the Interior and General
Bronsardt Won Schellendorf, minister for
war, lost their portfolios while others were
in danger of the same fate.
climax in the campaign of political cal
umny and court intrigue was reached short
ly after the Car and Emperor William
met at Breslau last year. Their majestieS
toasted each other, and the Emperor of
Russia, replying to the Emperor of Ger
many, said he was 'imbued with the same
feelings as your Majesty" But a version
or the Cars toast was published in which
it was stated that he said he was 'imbued
with the same feelings as my late father. -
and 1t was further asserted that the Cars
wording altered in the report of the
toasts at the instance of Count Won Eulen-
berg, the high court marshal in British in
terests, and the editor of the paper in which
this version of the toast appeared was in
duced to believe that the minister for for
eign affairs, Baron Marschall Won Bieber-
stein, was DESTROYS that this charge against
Count Won Gutenberg should be published
Later Count Won Gutenberg and Baron
Marschall Won Bieberstein commenced ac-
tons for libel against two newspaper men,
Baron Won LuetzoW who bears one of the
most honored names in German history be-
ing a descendant of the famous LuetzoW of
tne war OF liberation, and Herr Leckert,
al1aS Larsen, young man who was clearly
only tool in the hands of powerful wire
pullers. But, in reality, the action was
taken against the political clique which for
SIX years past has been directing the in
trigues which have resulted in the over
throw OF chancellors and ministers, and
which have brought about a state of af-
FAIRS which 1t Is impossible to even outline
in this dispatch eliminating in the steady
growth OF socialism and a feeling of re-
sentiment and unrest throughout Germany.
IL was lnslnuated repeatedly that the in
trlgues originated from the Foreign Office
and the reports of alleged differences of
opinion between the Emperor's intimes and
the members of the government were craft
lily fed by a series of malignant insinuations
and mysterious hints.
AT the close Of the Luetzow-L eckert trial
Baron Won LuetzoW and Leckert were SEN
fenced to sixteen months Imprisonment and
the other and less important persons who
We're on trial with them, were sentenced to
shorter terms and fines. The trial left this
question unsettled: Who is the man or
men at the back of Won Tausch. who was
Caprivi, when imperial chancellor, was una
BILE to secure his dismissal from the office
of chief of the secret political police all
though he earnestly tried to remove him?
| This may be determined during the trial
OF Won Tausch. But it is admitted that
it all depends upon him.
In addition to Chancellor CapriVi. the
present chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe, is
known TO have striven in vain TO obtain the
removal of Won Tausch. Who, then is the
man who is so powerful as to stand success
| fully behind the secret police commissioner
against the influence of two chanceIIors
to say nothing Of many Cabinet ministers +?
This is the question which people are ask
ing themselves and which makes the trial
of Won Tausch such an interesting chapter.
in history. Some idea of the methods fol-
lowed by Won Tausch can be gathered from
the following instance Some time previous
to the visit of Emperor William to Thorn,
about two years ago, Won Tausch was sent
TO inquire into the Polish movement. He
took Baron LuetZOw with him, and the lat
ter succeeded in engaging himself to the
daughter of a prominent Pole. whose resi-
dence was frequented by the leaders Of
Polish society When Won Leutzow found
his mission was fruitless, he broke his
promise and returned to Berlin.
Since CapriVis fall Won Tausch's main
political intrigues have consisted in at
tempting TO drive from power the present
Cabinet, especially Baron Marschall. whom
he wished to be replaced by Count Herbert
Bismarck, who formerly held that office.