Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-20

The case of Mr.. Ferdinand Holzendorf
published iR erfeHSi0 in the SUNDAY GLOBE,
April g. has excited considerable comment
and much indignation against the Ameri-
can Embassy in Berlin, which permitted a
citizen Of the United States TO remain fifteen
months a prisoner in an insane asylum,
whom the physician of the asylum pro-
nounced sane and whom the high court of
Berlin declared sane. No effort whatever
was made by the American Ambassador to
secuie Mr.. Holzendort's release, and but
for the efforts Of his wife and relatives he
would have been detained until his death
an inmate Of the German insane asylum.
That the American Embassy was not
in ignorance of the situation the following
letters, written by NIr Holzendorf will
demonstrate. 1t will be observed that they
were written two or three months after his
arrest and confinement, and that for twelve
months longer he had to endure the un-
speakable agony of confinement in a cell
such as described in the SUNDAY GLOBE.
Here is Mr.. Holzendorf's fourth letter to
the American Minister at Berlin:
DALLDoRF, BERLIN. JHiY IS, 1895
To the General Consulate and Embassy Of
the United States Of America, at Berlin,
so Friedrich Street aud 10 Kronne Street.
Concerning Ferdinand Holzendorf Citi-
zen Of the United States Of America at
the present time at Dalldorfl
EXCELLENT AND ESTEEMED SIR;-Eveu
a criminal demands justice, and when
man who has done nothing wrong is I'M
Justly treated, he can certainly do all in his
power to procure his rights Since the nth
Of May, !, a citizen Of the United States Of
America Ferdinand Holzendori, have been
J0rci6lp and 1OikhOHf a hearing imprisoned
and confined in the I.unatic Asylum at Dali
dorf, near Berlin, after being ordered to
Police Station No. IoI to hear a decision.
Il is officially unknown to me what grounds
have been assumed TO justify these steps
against the American representative here;
but I suppose them to be based on false
hood and deception illegally proven July 8.
1909, by decision Of the Common Pleas
Court I.andgericht" q. c. r. 90 at Ber-
lin, because demanded an indemnity of
f7s, 900 for earlier wrongs suffered from the
Prussian authorities it is therefore the in
terest Of the Prussian authorities to expe-
dite me and my claim quietly to America,
OF to bury me alive here.
7 have threatened or insulted no one; If
may have done so in any written article
against my wish am ready to give an ac-
count Of myself to the competent judge. /
am not, however, willing that the crimes
and wrongs committed by the Prussiau
authorities should be. for the second time,
cloaked by the "lunacy swindle;" this new
lunaCy fraud is not made use Of, out of con-
siderations for me or the United States, but
in order that the wrong doink might not
acquire publicity or that it might be repre-
sented as the phantasy of demented per
son.
! earnestly and respectfully beg that the
American General Consulate and Embassy
shall propose and insist that / shall be
ordered before the medical board of the
Province OF Brandenberg at Berlin, for I
am physically as healthy as could be ex-
pected Of a man sixty ,6o) years Of age, and
in full possession of my mental powers.
Hereafter I shall be allowed to face the
competent judge and will prove what
have publicly written.
That they hold me for two months as a
prisoner here is new crime. ! take ex-
ception to those obscure and honorable
gentlemen who have taken the liberty to
Judge Of me. and demand 10 be brought be-
fore The medical college, which is respon-
sible to science and the civilized world
] came from America believing in the
justice Of the Emperor, and 1 believe still
to-day that if His Majesty were truly in
formed regarding my case, he would be the
first to say, Justice shall be done that
man" Therefore His Majesty cannot and
never will be threatened or in danger by
me.
You, however, gentlemen, are respon-
sible 10 the people Of America when you
permit a citizen Of the United States to be
treated with violence here in Germany.
Thus, with all respect, will close.
Very truly yours, etc,
(Signed) FERDINAND HOLzENDoRF.
Three days later MI Holzendorf ad
dressed the following letter which was
reply or commentary on the report of Mr.
Scharf, Mr.. HolzendOrf's agent:
DALLDORF, BERLIN, /Wiy rs, 1895
To the General Consulate and Embassy o
the United States Of America $500 Fried
richs street and Krouen street. 70 icon
cerning the case Of the citizen Of tbs
United States Of America Ferdinand
Holzendorf at present in Daldorf, nea
Berlin)
EXCELLENCY: In connection with M,
communication Of the 18th instant. viii
reply to the report Of Mr.. Scharf Emdeue
street, H. Moabit, which was sent to yol
by postal card, as follows: Mr.. Scharf, com
missioned by me had proposed that / shoul
be brought before tine medical board Med
FINAL Collegium), of the Province Of Bran
deuburg at Berlin. and received the answe
That it was not possible" Secondly.
report Of the Prussian authorities wa
shown him. In answer to his question a
TO what would be done with me they SAID
THAT I would certainly not be again e1
amined as the opinion of four doctors pre-
nounced in 1879 So, by order of the Prussia
government, was sufficient, but not for m
dragged as ] was by reason Of their test
mony, through three asylums and burie
alive by tie false oaths Of those dOctors).
escaped. however, TO America, lived thei
sixteen years and sued those four doctor
(up to the highest ourts-Reichs-gericl
Anwaltschaftl OF course, without success
because Germany is corrupt and rotten iut
the very roots ! sent the copy Of procee'
ings 10 the embassy Of the United States
sent it from America July 6, Of the preset