Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-06

One of the most marvellous tales of perse-
cution and injustice is revealed in the con.
densed life story of the ex-Sergeaut of the
Kings Body Guard, Mr. f. Hozendorf.
which is here subjoined Mr. Holzendorf
is now a man of sixth-four years of age, tall
and straight as a Norway pine, and weighs
considerably over two hundred pounds with
not an ounce of surplus flesh on his over six
feet of manly stature. He is physically cast
IN a heroic mold and his spirit keeps step to
his physical courage. In detailing the his.
tory Of his life in the GLOBE Office he spoke
with the calm, deliberate emphasis charac.
teristic of the man oftenacious purposes and
of determined will. His horrible sufferinRs
and ill-treatmenta at the hands Of the German
authorities, who, 10 escape the legal respon-
sibilties of their injustice had him twice
confined iu insane asylums though cruel
and barbarous beyond desert ption, are
not SO Infamous as the treatment accorded
him by our State Department here and the
American Ambassador ia Berlin. Secretary
Jackson Of the Berlin Embassy and Mr.
Penne6eld of the State Department are the
two American officials maihly responsible
for the unredressed wrongs of Mr. Holzeu-
dorf.
The highest court in Berlin discharged
Mr.. Holzendorf on his appeal from the
custody of the asylum authorities and de-
clared that he was neither insane nor guilty
Of the charges the American Embassy ad-
vanced for not interfering in his behalf, and
which the Secretary of State, John Hay,
reiterates as a bar to entertaining his claim
for damages against tine German govern
ment He has been three months in Wash
ington and has appealed through his attor-
ueys and in person for redress to the State
Department, but, as stated, Secretary Hav,
through Peuue6eld, has turned down his
claim and refuses to entertain the same.
Thus we have an American citizen ar
rested and confined in German insane
asylums whom the highest Berlin court
pronouuces sane and sets free, denied dam
ages, or rather refused the privilege Of lodg.
ing a claim for damages by the American
Secretary Of State, who says ne has no
case, iuasmuch as previous 10 his emigra-
tiou twenty years ago he was (wrongfully)
confined in Prussian insane asylum, and
on his return 10 Berlin in 1897 was guilty of
threatening the German authorities The
judicial decree of the Berlin court shows
that Mr. Holzendorf did not threaten the
German authorities nor anybody else, and
that he was a law abiding. peaceful citizen,
who bad pursued the proper methods to
secure redress from the Prussian authori-
ties for false imprisonment and for pension
money due him as brave soldier in the
Dragons or Kings Body Guard.
Mr.. Holzendorf sets forth the facts in the
following document, but the GLOBE has
other letters and documents it will publish
IN subsequent issues exposing the awful
torlures and unprecedented injustice en-
dured by this gentleman at the hands Of the
German authorities and the American EN-
bas+y in Berlin
Here is Mr. Holzendorf's memorial to the
State Department:
WAsHNGroN, D. c., Nogembey ,, IS9g.
Hon. JOHN HAY,
Secyefayy Of Siate,
WaShingf0Jl, n. {.
DEAR SIR / have the honor respectfully,
10 present to you, as the representative of
the United States Government, and through
you to the Prussian government at Berlin,
a claim for damages in the sum of one hun
dred thousand dollars. This claim is based
upon the subioined grounds and the corre-
spending statement Of facts
j. Imprisonment. - Without specific
charges and upon false testimony I, a reg
ularly naturalized and properly accredited
citizen Of the United States was uuIawfully
imprisoned and detained in the insane
asylum Of Dalldorf, near the city Of Berlin,
Prussia, for the period of one year, three
months and eleven days, viz: from May II,
1895, to August 20. 1899.
2. Loss of valuable property interests
In consequence OF said unlawful imprison-
ment and detention during the aforesaid
period, / was compelled TO sacrifice prop
erty and sustain pecuniary losses Of inn
mense value to me, the result of some fifteen
years industry and savings, viz
(I) Valuable mining prospects in Utah
These ] was unable to retain because my
enforced absence rendered me unable to
perform, either personally or otherwise, the
assessment work requisite to hold such
claims.
(z) A large tract of farming land in the state
of Idaho For the same reason / was pre-
vented from making the improvement re-
quired by law on all squatters' claims-the
title I held.
81 -Four town lots Wallace Idaho
was, in consequence OF involuntary abb
sence, unable TO maintain my rights against
the counter claims Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
g. Loss of mental aud social position in
the world.-During the period of cruel and
heartless incarceration / was not only uu-
Justly treated physically but was declared
non coBIb0S n1eAfiS. and treated as dead and
buried to the world. The high standing /
previously occupied when possessed Of
means and friends was in great measure,
sacrificed
The reason why make my appeal to the
United States Government for this satisfac-
tion is that during all Of this terrible period
Of suffering end humiliation ] was a natur-
allied citizen of the United States, and had
in my possession passport from Secretary
John Sherman dated September r. 1907,
certifying such fact and guaranteeing my
proper treatment everywhere. See exhibit
IL
IN support Of the position taken in No O.,
beg to submit (I) exhibits "a" and " B, %
which are made part Of this communica-
tion, (2) as specifying and confirming the