Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-16
WINE RUINS AMBASSADOR
Baron Won HOIIeben Recalled for Adj
vertisinE Champagne in
tiOn with Katser's Yacht.

NEW YORK, Feb. 15.-The World to-
morrow will say from evidence brought
out In the United States circuit court: "It
appears that Emperor Williams sudden
and mysterious recall Of Baron Won Holle-
ben, German ambassador at Washington,
closely followed charges that he had used
his oflcial position to advertise a certain
wine.
This wine has been urged in vain by
the embassy for use in the christening of
the emperor's yacht, Meteor, by Miss Alice
Roosevelt.
Herbert L%imburger. member Of the law
firm of Hoadley, Lauterbach and Johnson.
who figured in the litigation in the circuit
court at Milwaukee returned to New
York yesterday, and told for the first time
that these charges against Baron Won Hol-
leben were presented in person by Edward
Lauterbach to Secretary Hay, that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had directed an investiga-
ton Of the charges inssmuch as he here
tofore had taken a conscious part in the
launching of the emperor's yacht and his
daughter had broken the bottle Of wine
at the christening. Mr.. Limburger says
Count Won Quadt, secretary Of the Ger
man embassy, admitted on cross-examina-
ton that the baron had received a letter
from the producers of a certain champagne
offering him twenty cases II he would des-
ignate that wiae for the christening OF
Meteor.
wallace Downey, who built Meteor.
testified tina he was repeatedly importuned
by Count Won Quadt n by the secretary
of the German consulate to use a special
brand OF wine at the christening. He had
already bound himself to use another brand
and he refused to break his contract IN
less assured that the emperor himself had
requested the use Of the wine designated
by the secretary Of the embassy.
when seen by a reporter at his home
Mr.. Limburger gave details Of the AFFAIR;
'It'is true" he said. that charges were
fled last summer against Baron Won HOlle-
ben with the State department at Wash
ington, accusing him of using his oficial
position to advertise q certain, wine, and
further accusing him OF having sent a
wiIfully false telegram to the agent at
Milwaukee the night after the launching
Of Meteor, saying that his wine was
used at the christening, when in fact u
was not.
"These charges were presented to Sec
rotary Hay in person by Edward Lauter-
bach Of our firm, representing our client.
The reason why they were not made public
sooner is that we received express permits
sion of Secretary Hay to make them public
only a few days prior to my leaving for the
west to try the action between the two
wine merchants. We shall make them pub
lie in a few days, when / receive a trans
cript of the evidence taken. l have been
informed that after the filing OF these
charges President Roosevelt had an In
yestlgation made. Some time thereafter
Baron Won Holleben was recalled by the
German emperor.
Count Won Quadt's testimony was taken
in washington, and correspondence between
Baron Won Holleben, Coun Won Quadt and
others was introduced. The testimony OF
the German consulate was taken here In
New York.
upon cross examination Count Won
Quadt admitted that no Instructions had
been received by the German embassy from
the emperor, but that Baron Won Holle-
ben's action was instigated by a letter to
him from the makers, in which they offered
him twenty cases as a gift II their brand
was used"
Judge Seaman in Milwaukee. after hear
ing all the testimony In the United States
court, instructed the jury in the report
that had been made public that the make OF
wine used had been selected by the en-
peror OF Germany, and the statement that
another had been substituted was libelous
and false. and that our client was entitled
to damages for the circulation OF that re-