Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-06-18
HAPPENINGS IN
HAWKEYED0M
What Has Been Going on
During the Past
Week.
IS HE HEIR TO A THRONE 2
Sensational Story Regarding Identity
Of Des Physician-Said to Be
Crown Prince Rudolph. of Aus
tria.

Ehai lhSltS, VIE, june u ne MAJ
inette Star is authority for a story to
the effect that Prof c. H. Hoffman,
who recently resigned from the facul-
ty of the Iowa Medical college, is
Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria,
who was supposed to have been killed
fifteen years ago. Hoffman's resig-
nation at the University was reques-
ted because he refused to reveal his
identity after admitting that he was
going under an assumed name.
1t is stated that Prof Hoffman"
visited in Menominee, Mich, at the
home of prominent woman who IS
a sister of the commander of an Aus
trian battleship. At the time that it
was reported the Crown Prince had
been killed in Austria, it IS asserted
that a corpse resembling him was
made use of at the funeral while the
prince disappeared from the empire,
and that he is none other than Hoff-
man, professor of medicine. The
crown prince was considered one of
the leading physicians of Austria
The story in part is confirmed by Dr..
Redeling of this city and Attorney B.
J. Brown of Menominee. Circum-
stances in connection with Hoffman's
stay here also tend to confirm the
story.
Des Moines, June 15.-The sensa-
tiOnal story from Wisconsin was fatty
denied by Mrs. Hoffman and by in
innate friends in the absence of DR.
Hoffman. Circumstances discrediting
it were pointed out
Prof. Charles H. Hoffman was con-
nected with the faculty of the medi-
cal department of Drake University
in this city for two years. Dean
Lewis SchoOler, who had known that
he was living under an assumed name,
desired that he produce the diplomas
and certificates which would attest
his scholarship in educational institu-
tons. Rather than do this and di-
vulge his real name, DR.. Hoffman re-
signed. He had the support of most
of the physicians. however, and open
ed a successful archaeological labora-
tory in Des Moines.
He appeared in this city in May.
1899, wandering in the streets and
apparently demented. He was exam
ined by the insanity commission and
Pleasant. His trouble was a nervous
disorder caused by insomnia. He dis
played great learning and talked free
ly except as to his identity, of which
he would say nothing. He was COM
mitted under the name of Carl
Schwart
Leaving the institution. cured, in
three months. he assumed the name
of Hoffman. Under this name the state
board of control employed him as
state bacteriologist at the institution
at Mount Pleasant. From this he en-
tered the faculty of Drake University.
When he resigned from the faculty
of the university the mystery in his
life became commonly understood.
and he was appealed to to tell his
story. This he declined to do, or any
part of it. 1t was learned, however.
that he had worked in Pittsburg. and
was injured in a dynamite explosion
in a smelter in Butte, Mont. He had
been a patient at st. Peters hospital
in Minnesota and also there had been
employed, after being cured. as a
bacteriologist. His other whereabouts
were not located, and he has posi-
lively declined to tell the truth of his
life. He and his friends. however,
have constantly insisted that there
were no blots on his history. and last
night friends denied emphatically
that he was Crown Prince Rudolph of
Austria. He is thirty-eight years of
age. and is married and has a child.
Des Moines, June 15.-Dr. Hoffman.
who has just returned to his home
from Marshalltown, denies the story
that he is Prince Rudolph of Austria.
He said: "You may say, once for all,
and to all who inquire, that I am not
scion Of royalty; that I am not a
descendant of the house of Hapsburg
but let it go at that. The whole
matter is tiresome and there is in
reality no use to carry it any further
/ am not even a member of the house
of per-Hapsburg."