The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-22
SLAPPED A PRINCE
''Bob" Kneebs, Who Caused a Stir
in Germany, Is Dying.
JAILED FOR ALLEGED ''RINGING''
Exploits Of the ''Nebraska Farmer
Who Had No Fear of Old
World Royalty.
Special to The Journal.

NpSCld1 " 1uS JOuIudl
Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 22.-"Bob'
Kneebs is dying. The man who dared to
slap the face of a German prince, who
made his home in a German prison for
eighteen months, the center of interna
tional attention, while sportsmen of two
continents struggled ceaselessly for his
release, the turfman who out-droye every
horse in Europe and finally spent his
whole fortune in being freed from charge
preferred by the aristocrats whose horses
could not win, is about to succumb to an
enemy for the first time in his life.
hneebs was just a plain Nebraska farm
er, but he knew horsefesh and horse
bone, and he could drive his racers like
the very devil. He lived on ranch near
Wakefield, Neb., until the past few years.
There he bred and raised the horses that
made the Nebraska Farmer" famous on
both sides ofthe Atlantic.
kneebs did some racing through Eng
land, winning races right and left.
Nellie Kneebs" was the sporting sensa-
ton of the season. Under his driving the
horse seemed capable Of just enough extra
speed TO win every race.
After cleaning up the English sports,
Kneebs shipped his bunch Of horses to
Germany. Various tracks were made I'M
til finally Berlin was reached. Here the
sporting blood ran high. Princes Of the
royal blood, dukes, counts, lords and
mobiles of small and high degree frequented
the track and played strong against
Kneebs' bay mare. The Nebraska farmer
jockeyed we'll. He cleaned out the bunch
until finally the only man who had the
nerve to stay against him was Prince
Schmidt, Of some petty German princt-
pality His royal highness was sure he
had horse that could beat Nellie Kneebs.
and backed his belief we'll. Kneebs drove
over the line, smiling back at his rival.
Bringing" Charged.
It was here that the fine Italian hand
of the "backer'' was exhibited. He gained
the ear Of the sporting prince and in
formed him that the alleged Nellie Kneebs
was ringer" and the horse was actu-
ally Bethel, the speedy mare supposed to
be browsing on the pastures of the Wake
field ranch.
The prince was enraged. He went to
Kneebs and taxed him with his duplicity.
kneebs, into whose blood the virus OF
title worship had not penetrated, replied
in characteristic American fashion,
landing his fist on Prince Schmidt's aris-
tocratic nose. The spectators were as
founded What crime could be greater
than this violation Of the royal person.
The princes anger, was out of all reason,
and he made immediate preparations to
have Kneebs incarcerated on the charge,
not Of lese majestic, but for ringing
which is serious offense in Germany.
Kneeb's friends, seeing the seriousness
of the situation, interceded with Prince
Schmidt. They told him it would not be
sportsmanlike to proceed aginst the visit
ing American, and his highnesS agreed to
withdraw his action If KneebS should
apologize. The message was borne to
Kneebs by the self-appointed diplomats
and was received with furious scorn.
Apologize! Yes, 1 will apologize. You
tell his royal job-lots that I will apollo
gize by hitting him another belt in the
nose" The message did not tend to heal
the breach and action was commenced.
kneebs in Prison. 1920
Kneebs was thrown into prison, and
during the four years the matter was
under consideration he spent eighteen
months in jail. Turfmen all over the world
took hand, and the state department
was Inundated by letters. petitions and
communications. A committee was APP
pointed and sent to Wakefield, Neb., to
investigate the farm and find the mare
Bethel" and returned with the report
that Bethel was there. a..
Local sportsmen went to Berlin to as
sist Kneebs. George Hammer and Jim
Matttson appeared in the Berlin court and
swore to the identity Of 'Nellie Kneebs, "
but the judge would not listen to them.
He scornfully said that American wit
nesses could be bought for $500 apiece,
and at this statement Kneebs' friends had
to hold him down in his seat to keep him
from assaulting the judge. After four
years of litigation, Kneebs was dismissed,
but his property, to the amount Of $4,000,
and his horses, were conf1scated or spent
in the progress of the trial.