Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08
GAMBLING IN HIGH LIFE
Sensational Revelations of the DoinEs
of Swell scioDs of the Ger
man Nobility.

Copyright 1899, by Press Publishing Co)
BERLIN, oct. 7.-CNew York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram)-The trial or
three gamblers, Kayser, Krocker and Schact-
meyer of the Innocents club, on the charge
OF pro OCCASIONAL gambling, has been revela-
tion Of the seamy side in the highest social
circles in Berlin. Prussian aristocracS,
priding itself on its lofty lineage, piety and
scrupulous honor, has been proven no bet
ter or no worse than the aristocracies Of
other lands.
These three young scions OF the best Prus-
sian houses, having dissipated their patri-
mony gained a living by cards, taking as
their intimates the offscourings of society.
Kayser is about 30, an officer in the reserves
and so high In court favor that on the night
before his arrest he was at a select court
ball basking In the favor OF royalty Krocker
Is only %, big blonde boy, son OF a major
general high in the kaiser's regard. but
what Krocker does not know about cards Is
not worth knowing. He has visited Monte
Carlo, Wiesbaden, Aix-la- -Capele and
other notorious places, with portmanteau
stuffed with playing cards, roulette, etc.
Schachtmeyer is OF noble blood, but as
son OF poor parents is considered of no ac-
count by his Weather companions, who
simply utilized him in their hunt after
prey.
Revelations regarding the private lives Of
were at home In every haunt of vice; that
their companions In the various hells and
dancing establishments were men of title
and rank in whose veins run some of the
noblest blood OF Europe. Each had a mis-
tress, usually an actress, on whom vast
sums were squandered for short season.
Horses were also bought and sold and
! Krocker for short time enjoyed the repu-
tation Of having the smartest horses in
Berlin.
The trial has shown that q large number
Of fashionable restaurants have been used
for years as meeting places for dissipated
young military officers and civil officials
for gambling. At one hotel two rooms were
| engaged at a rental OF $3.50 month; in an
other apartments at $3.50 a month. The
walters were often in the confidence of the
gamblers and when funds ran low these
young aristocrats, grafs, barons and vons OF
all degrees thought nothing of applying to
them for loans. At their meetings cham
! pagne flowed like water. certain baron
drank five bottles as his share. Two indi-
viduals called Wolf and Kornblum are badly
wanted by the police in connection with
this case.
hVIHDlulll SeelnS 10 nave given InuCn lnloT-
nation to the authorities regarding the do
| ings of the Innocents. 1t was, in reality
his information which set the police on the
track, but suspicious have now arisen that
he was himself implicated and that he turned
informer to revenge himself on Kayser and
Krocker. who did not relish his company
Wolf is evidently the villain of the piece. He
| is an old man with polished manners and
speaking elegant French. There is suspic-
ion that Wolf cheated and Kaysor and
| Krocker were either his allies or dupes, but
as Kornblum and Wolf have both fled to an
unknown foreign country and as their health
| will not permit them to return to Germany
probably this point will never be cleared up
| Meanwhile the trial proceeds Counts
barons and vons appear in a regular row in
the witness box and testify to the respecta-
billty of their friends in the dock.
professional gamblers" they exclaim
Certainly not If they were we would moi
have admitted them to our society. They
are only unfortunate Players
This is the gist of their evidence Yet
these unfortunates on an average income
of $500 year managed to keep horses, car
| riages and mistreSses, give splendid din.
nels, travel in splendid style over the con-
tinent and spend thousands of dollars
year for clothes. The dramatic incident o.
the trial occurred when General Krocker
father of the prisoner, testified his belle
that his son was not a professional card
player. The whole course of the evidenc,
has been to show that, although the de-
PENDANTS were professionals there is moth
ing to prove they had been cheating. Tht
court came to this conclusion and allowed
the prisoners out on bail during the re
mainder of the trial. They have been il
confinement nine months