The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23

BERLIN CARNIVAL OF CRIME
GERMAN CAPITAL STIRRED ny EN-
PosuREs OF wRoNG-DOING.
Convicted Individuals Were Prowt-
nent in social md Financial Cir
cIes-Losses VIII Fall Heavily ON
small investors in One Failure.

BERLIN. Dec. 22.-Publc attention was
occupied wholly this week with crimes
in high places. The sentence imposed on
Sternberg, the millionaire banker, OF Two
and a half years imprisonment ana hve
years deprivation of civil rights TOT
crimes against morality, satisfies the pun
lie conscience and is well-nlerited retrlbu-
ton. Sternberg rapidly acquired for
tune, estimated at 100000 marks, by
shady methods and maintained social re-
lations with high officials and military
men for years while Disgusting his most
loathsome crimes in the lowest Berlin iife.
He was related by marriage TO high Of
ficers and was free giver for charitapie
purposes 1t was said in his defense be-
fore the court that he had made will
leaving to the Prussan government the
bulk of his fortune to establish an In
stitution for securing laborers against
loss of work.
The Sternberg case is working wide
spread ruin among others. The death of
Won Merscheidt Huellessem. the suspend
ed chief of the criminal department. an
nounced at the same hour as Sternberg's
sentence, had a peculiarly tragicai erect.
The public instantly assumed that he
had committed suicide, but the physician
certified that he died of aroplexy Won
Merscheidt established reputation by
introducing the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
system in Germany.
The case of Sternberg will continue
long to occupy the public mind. 1t is ex-
pected Sternberg will appeal again to a
higher court. Furthermore, numerous
prosecutions of persons connected with
the Sternberg case are pending. num-
Der of witnesses will be tried for perjury,
and three lawyers are under Investigation
for unprofessionai conduc = collision
to circumvent justice. public de-
mand for reform of the criminal police,
which did not yield fruit in 1897 in con-
nection with the Won Tasach case. has
now grown imperative. 1t is reported
that the authorities are preparing a
measure for reform
Mortgage Bankers' Sen nJiai.
The other great case this week, the
arrest of mortgage bankers. attracts an
immense amount OF attention The press
is pointing out the resemblance to the
Sternberg affair. since wealthy bankers,
moving in the highest society, have cara
The chief offender was Sander. who made
pretense of the greatest piety. He had
g private chapel in luxurious villa at
P0tsdam. His home was the center OF
the highest military and aristocratic So
cfety. He was Potsdam's weaithiest citi-
zen, paying $4,000 marks yearly in taxes.
II has been shown that Sanders business
practices were. most questionable. He
would compel borrowers at the bank to
buy one OF his lots at fancy price.
4 lie fOsses VIII Idli heavily on small IN
vestors. The fall of the shares of the
two banks represents about 175,00O0Oo
marks. 1t Is considered certain that the
imprisonment for classifying the balance
sheets.
The tariff question was most actively
discussed this week. The announcement
Of. the Conservative leader, Herr Won
klinckoswstroom. that the chancellor.
Count Won Bnelow, Is willing to compro-
mise with the Agrarians. makes a deep
imDrpSSipn 2fpDo l,nx
the commercial classes are growing more
united against the Agrarian demands