davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

carrying On d private conversation in a
secluded room in a private house utters
a disrespectful remark about the German
Emperor, his companion can denounce
him to the police for the offense of lese
majeste and his conviction viii be almost
certain.
II is curious that the evidence required
by law to convict a person Of the crime
OF lese maJeste is less than that required
10 convict him Of any other offense. The
evidence Of one witness alone is under all
circumstances sufficient to convict a per-
son CT lese maJeste in Germany. If a
father IN the course of a private letter
sent IN a sealed envelope to his son
were to insert a sentence which might be
construed as an insult to the Emperor,
Il would, according to German law, be
the bouncen duty Of the son TO denounce
his father TO the authorities for this
serious crime.
In public speeches almost every word
of criticism uttered on the Emperor, on
his method Of government, on his foreign
policy. his domestic policy, his naval and
military policy. or any other Of his pub
lie acts can be construed as lese majeste.
DIFFICULT To TALK AND
AVOID DANGER OF ARREST
As all the world knows, the German
Emperor rules personally, being his own
Chancellor, Cabinet, Government, head
quarters staff, admiralty and ecclesiast-
cal synod rolled into one 1t is. therefore,
extremely difficult. If not impossible. to
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

jeste which occurred IN the town OF
LISA, in the Prussian province of
Posen, where a little boy of 13 years
named Adelbert Grzabka was SEN
fenced to three months imprisonment
for this crime: Adelbert Grzabka II is
solemnly related, was in the habit OF
consorting with other boys in the
street and discussing the Polish insur-
rection OF 1868 and the present Russo
Japanese war. Adelbert Grzabka main
tanned that Germany had not observed
war, and dragging the Kaiser's name
into the impeachment of Germany's
policy he stamped with both his feet.
This outburst Of childish petulance was
regarded as lese majestic and Adelbert
Grza bka was sentenced to three months
Imprisonment. Grzabka, by the way,
is not the youngest child who has been
imprisoned for lese majestic. Some
three years ago a lad OF IL years was
imprisoned for three months for utter
ing insulting remarks about the Ger
man Emperor. ..
1t Is strange that the German En-
peror himself. who Is so intensely mod
ern IN many respects. should not per-
enactments relating to lese majestic.
He has, however, given no Indication
that he disapproves OF convictions for
lese majestic. Criminals who are in
prison for this offense very rarely re-
ceive an imperial pardon There Is
reason to believe that the Kaiser re-
CARDS the maintenance OF the laws re-
lating to lese majestic as necessary to
the protection OF his own dignity and
for the prevention Of disrespectful re-
marks about his imperial person
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
essssaI GAIA. % xs Can

BERLIN, Aux. 6.-Made tncsutious hy
700 frequent potations from the flowing
bowl, Friedrich Greuhch recently re-
marked TO an acquaintance, apropos OF a
certain speech Of the Kaiser's, "All is not
6olomonic wisdom that falls from the
Emperors lips" The next day Greunch,
who Is e small miller in Berlin was ar
rested and he has just been sentenced to
three months Imprisonment for lese
majestic.
This case Is typical OF the workings OF
the law against leSe mRteSte-which is
one OF the terrors OF life In Germany.
II creates oistrust and suspicion between
friends hinders the friendly discussion
Of current events between casual ac-
Gusintances and offers wide field Of mis-
chievous activity TO those who take q de-
light N malicious denunciation OF their
neighbors. Lese majestic, briefly ex-
pressed, is the crime OF uttering an in
suit 20 the ruling monarch of the coun-
Try. The character of the o1fense is ex-
pounded in no less than rs paragraphs of
the German statute book, and 900 books Of
legal reference have been published for
the information Of lawyers on this COM
plicated question.
The laws relating to lese majestic are
50 woTded as to make every remark
which is even suggestive Of disrespect to
the ruling monarch Of criminal offense.
TNCORROBORATED EVIDENCE
Is SUFFICIENT TO CONVICT
The clauses Of the acts relating to lese
msjeste seem TO have been purposely
worded so loosely that they justify the
widest possible conception of the offense.
Lese maJeste can be committed by words
or by actions, in private conversatio
and in public speeches. in private letters
as well as in newspaper articles or in
books If one of two persons who are
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
SENTENCE SELDOM FALLS
SHORT OF A TWEEVEMONTH

ever, that malicious persons denounce in
nocent persons without the least legiti-
mate reason. If two men, Schmidt and
Schimmelpfennig, quarrel. Schmidt can
not revenge himself on Schimmelpfennig
more completely than by denouncing him
to the police for the crime of lese ma
jeste. Although Schimmelpfennig is a
loyal and patriotic German who has
never in all his life dreamed of uttering
a syllable suggestive of disrespect to the
imperial person, he is nevertheless imme-
diately arrested and detained until the au-
thorities have the full facts of the case
in their possession.
If Schmidt In his burning desire for re-
venge is willing to commit perjury, and
to swear that Schimmelpfennig was
guilty Of lese majestic, then nothing can
save Schimmelpfennig from sentence of
imprisonment. If at the last moment
Schmidt declares that he cannot swear
to the exact words used. or otherwise
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

evidence against him on oath in court.
Eberstein was found guilty of lese ma
jeste and sentenced to three months i'm
prisonment. Altogether, reckoning the
preliminary period Of detention during
the official investigation Of the case,
Herr Eberstein was deprived OF his lib
erty for five months.
A month later at Magdeburg a woman
named Clara Meyerstein denounced her
husband, Fritz Meyerstein. to the po-
lice for perpetrating a crime of 1ese maj
este. The husband was arrested and de-
tanned for six weeks before the trial
took place. At the trial evidence was
given that husband and wife had lived
unhappily together for at least a year
and that violent disputes had been fire.
quent. The husband. moreover, denied
that he had uttered the words that his
wife attributed to him. The court,
however, considered the accusation Of
lese majeste proved and sentenced the
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
Case of Friedrich Greulch Fairly illustrates the System of
Tyranny That Is Approved by Kaiser Wilhelm:
Unfortunate Miller Says His Imperial Majesty Is Less Wise
Than Solomon Was and He Gets Three Months in Jail

I discuss current political events in Ger
many without alluding to the Emperor,
SO that the danger of lese majestic arises
in all conversations, debates, newspaper
articles and books.
It Is however unnecessary for the 'in-
suit" to the Emperor to be actually ut
tered 1t can be indicated or implied by
bodily actions. If, for instance, when the
Emperor Is driving through the streets of
Berlin any casual spectator fails to take
on his hat as a mark OF respect to the
imperial person he may be arrested on
the spot and will certainly be convicted
OF lese majestic. The excuse that he did
not recognize the Emperor is not accept
ed as adequate. On the contrary the pre-
cedent has been laid down in more than
one case that If a man did not recognize
the Emperor he ought to have done so.
If a person were to point to a photo
graph Of the Emperor hanging i'm a shop
window and at the same time had q dis
respectful or cynical or mocking or
angry expression on his face, and any
bgstGnder construed the aspect Of his
features as an Indication Of his feelings
toward the imperial person, that un-
fortunate individual might also be ar
rested and subsequently convicted for
lese majesty. If any one looking at a
photograph of the German Emperor were
to express the opinion that the brushed
up ends Of his mustache presented a
ridiculous appearance he would be liable
TO conviction for lese majeste.
MUST BE RESPECTFUL TO
TWENTY BESIDES EMPEROR
Any guest who, at a public or private
dinner, fails TO stand up when the toast
of THE Emperor" is given, is liable to
conviction for lese ajeste. Lese majestic
in short, is a most elastic offense, which
comprises all sorts of varieties of di-
rect or indirect references and sugges-
tions Of references to the imperial per-
son.
What makes the matter worse is that
the committal of the offense is not limited
to insults to the Emperor, because the
Emperor is not the only reigning mon
arch in Germany. The Federal German
Empire contains twenty states over
which Independent sovereigns reign.
These monarchs, insignificant as many of
them are, are constitutionally on an
equality with their fellow-sovereign the
King of Prussia, who is the German En-
peror; and lese majeste can be commit
ted by being disrespectful to any one of
these twenty royal personageS
They are the King of Bavaria (and at
present the Regent of Bavaria) the King
of Saxony, the King of Wurttemberg, the
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-S -Schwerin,
the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-St -Strelitz,
the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. the Grand
Duke of Hesse, the Grand Duke of Sake
Weimar. the Grand Duke of Baden. the
Duke of Anhalt, the Duke of Sake Mem
ingen, the Duke of Saxe-Altenberg, the
Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Goth the Prince
Of Lippe, the Prince of Schaumburg-
ippe, the Prince of Schwarzburg-Ru-
dolstadt. the Prince of Schwarzburg-
Sondershausen, the Prince Of Reuss (elder
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

weeks before his trial came on. At the
trial his son, Gustav. was the only wit
ness against him. Other evidence was
called to show that deep-rooted enmity
had existed for several years between
father and son. The fathers discipline
was severe and the son resented the
methods used to check his youthful fol-
lies. 1t was proved that the son had
once raised his hand against his own
father. The perpetration of lese majestic
on the part of the father consisted in a
single remark to the effect that one of
the German Emperor's speeches con-
tanned many false and insincere SEN
tences. This remark was uttered in the
privacy Of his own dinipg-room in the
presence of no one but his wife and his
son.
The wife refused to give evidence
against her husband. After denouncing
his father the boy carried out his re-
venge to a logical conclusion by giving
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

capital It is, however, a criminal Of
fense for any one in any part of Germany
to be disrespectful to his Royal Highness.
the Prince of Schaumburg- -Mppe. There
are thus many pitfalls for the unwary
person who commits the imprudence of
discussing any one of the score of royal
personages in Germany.
The law relating to lese majestic pro-
vides that minimum punishment for the
offense shall be Imprisonment, without
the option of fine, and the minimum
term of imprisonment is three months.
1t is seldom, however, that the minimum
term of Imprisonment is imposed. The
maximum punishment for the offense Of
lese majestic is ten years penal servi-
tude.
SENTENCE SELDOM FALLS
SHORT OF A TWELVEMONTH
Although the offense is not often pun
ished with this degree Of severity, 1t Is
nothing unusual for sentence of two,
three or four years imprisonment to be
passed. sentence of less than one
years Imprisonment for lese majeste is
quite exceptional
Official statistics reveal the number Of
convictions for lese majestic and the Sc
verify with which the crime is usually
punished. During the year 1904 there
were 1886 convictions for lese majeste in
ly $500 persons We're convicted for insult
ing the German Emperor, 250 persons for
insulting the King of Saxony, and 200 per-
sons for insulting one or other of the re-
naming German monarchs. The SEN
tences passed amounted to an aggregate
period of 1858 years. 1t is thus evident
that on an average more than ten per-
sons are convicted in Germany on every
day Of the year for less majestic, and that
the average punishment irnposed slightly
exceeds one years Imprisonment
The official figures demonstrate the fact
that ali classes of the population had
their share of punishment for less ma
jeste The total of 1856 was made up
roughly as follows: 240o worknen in
towns. 600 agricultural workmen, 800 COM
mercial men of all classes, 200 women of
all classes, 100 professional men, and 100
children under 16 years Of age. 1t should
not be supposed that there were more
convictions in 1904 than in other years of
recent date. On the contrary, last year
the number of convictions for this offense
remained beneath the average for the last
quarter of century.
GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR
WREAKING OF VENGEANCE
Since the establishment of the present
German Empire in 1871, more than 25O.OO0
persons have been convicted of lese ma
jeste and sentenced to terms of impris-
onment aggregating more than 100000
years.
One of the worst features Of the statute
relating TO lese majestic is the wide op-
portunities for ignoble revenge which it
gives Law and tradition together make
1t the, bounden duty of every German SUBJ
ject who witnesses an act of lese majeste
to denounce the offender to
the police. 1t frequently happens. how
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

backs out of the affair, Schimmelpfennig
will have been detained for period
varying from two weeks to six months
pending the conclusion of the official in
vestigation.
LEADS FAMILIES TO FEAR
THEIR DOMESTIC SERVANTS
During this period he has suffered from
the disadvantage of being regarded as a
probable criminal, has lost all his earn
ings and probably suffers in health from
the enforced confinement. Even if he is
finally released without a stain on his
character he receives no compensation
for the injuries done to him.
If domestic servants harbor feelings of
resentment against their masters they
can easily wreak an effective revenge by
denouncing their employers to the police
for the perpetration of leSe majestic
Many other opportunities of denunciation
and revenge which are supplied by the
laws of lese majestic could be cited The
German newspapers are full of reports of
cases of this kind No foreigner can be
| long in Germany without noticing the
reluctance of all Germans to discuss the
Emperor and his doings in the presence
OF strangers. When the name of the En-
peror is mentioned 1t is even possible to
see those present glance furtively round
as If to convince themselves that no ma
licious informer is present
At dinner parties where the domestics
are serving at table all discussion of poll
ties which would involve mentioning the
Emperor's name is cautiously tabooed
Lese majestic thus introduces the poison
of mistrust and suspicion into German
social life. The authorities do not neces-
sarily wait for the receipt of definite in
formation supported by the name of the
informer before taking action against a
person suspected of lese majestic.
An anonymous denunciation suffices to
bring about the arrest on suspicion of the
person denounced. The number of
anonymous denunciations of this kind
which the German police receive is enor-
mons. Naturally, in the majority of cases
of this kind where no evidence is forth
coming the persons arrested are released
after q short period of detention, but
nevertheless, owing to the anonymous de-
nunciation, they have been submitted to
the indignity of arrest and the inconve-
nience of compulsory detention at the
police station.
BOY GETS FATHER JAILED
FOR ALMOST HALF YEAR
The following cases of convictions for
lese majestic have been selected from the
official records of the year 1904 In Feb
ruary, 1904, at Stettin, boy named Gus
tav Eberstein, aged Is years. denounced
his father to the police for committing
the crime of lese majestic. The father
was arrested and detained for eight
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
Mrs. Potter Palmer Has Troubles.

LONDON, Aug. 5.-Mrs. Potter Palmer
is rather depressed at thoughts Of Cowes
week, as she finds it difficult to get the
sort of party she wants to stay with her
at Egypt House Although she appealed
to Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester. to
help her, the latter has not come up to
the mark. Mrs. Hwfa Williams is now
sending out all the invitations, and both
are hoping for good returns In few
days.
At Egypt House there IS house room
for eight guests. while on her yacht the
women's cabin has room for nine. Mrs
George Keppel would. Of course. have
been the biggest possible fish for Mrs.
Potter Palmers net. but she was already
engaged to visit Baron and Baroness de
Corest on their yacht
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

husband to one years Imprisonment.
Another striking case occurred at Bres-
lau nearly ten years ago, where a man
of independent means named Sigmund
Steinitz dismissed his man servant for
repeated disobedience to his orders The
servant thereupon went to the police
and accused his former master Of having
uttered insulting remarks about the Ger
man Emperor on several occasions. AL
though it was clear that the servant had
reasons for desiring to wreak revenge
on his former employer the court ac-
cepted his evidence, and Herr Steinitz
was sentenced to two years imprison-
ment.
INADEQUATE CONFIRMATION
FOR UNJUST PUNISHMENT
He served two years Imprisonment
and emerged broken down in health and
spirits Six years went by, and In De-
cember. 1904, the servant who had
brought about the conviction OF his for
mer employer confessed on his death
bed that he had committed perjury and
that there was no ground whatever for
the accusation against Herr Steinitz.
His deathbed confession was taken in
the presence OF notary and duly wit
messed. after which Herr Steinitz re-
ceived tardy and inadequate compen-
sation for the unjust punishment which
he had undergone.
One other curious case is worthy Of
note. A new house of several stories
had been erected in a suburb of Berlin
when one Of the bricklayers who had
assisted to build 1t informed the police
that the architect had walled In a docu-
ment containing statements which
amounted to aggravated lese majestic
in one of the foundation stones of the
structure. The Public Prosecutor took
the matter up and investigated the case.
The bricklayer maintained his assertion
SO emphatically that the Public Prose-
cutor procured an order from the law
courts directing that the entire build
ing should be pulled down in order TO
bring the discriminating document to
light. The entire building was actually
pulled down, but no document was
found At the last moment the brick
layer disappeared and is still wanted by
the police on a complicated charge of
perjury and other offenses The civil
courts have not yet decided who is
to bear the costs of pulling the build
ing down and rebuilding it again
THIRTEEN-YEAR-OL LAD
GETS QUARTER OF YEAR
Unusual attention was directed in
November, 1904. to a case of lese ma
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
AMONG THOSE PROTECTET

AMONG THOSE PROTECTED
The absurdity Of the conception of lese
majeste is illustrated in several of these
cases. The King of Bavaria is q raving
madman who crawis about on his hands
and knees, barks like a dog, eats his
food off the ground like an animal, and
is altogether much more of a beast than
a man. Nevertheless it is a criminal
offense TO utter any remark which could
be construed as disrespectful to his royal
person The Prince of Iippe and the
Prince of Reuss (elder nne) are also
hopeless lunaucs whose dominions are
governed by prince regents. The Prince
of Schaumburg-Lippe is an Insignificant
individual who reigns over a state 100
square miles in area, with a total popu-
lation of 1900, and the village of Buckle
burg, containing 5000 inhabitants, as it's
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
BEEN PUNISHED FOR LESE M4JEsTE
AID KING OF BAVARIA Is

line), the Prince of Reuss younger line),
and the Prince of Waldeck.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06

backs out of the affair, Schmmelpfennig
will have been detained for a period
varying from two weeks to six months
pending the conclusion of the official in
vestigation
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
1 E-AH-OLD LAD


Unusual attention was directed in
November, 1904. to a case OF lese ma
The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-21
4 FARCE.

The annual distribution of vegetable and flower seeds by the United States Department, of Agriculture is about to begin, and the first of next month will see the start in the annual outpouring in this respect. In all about 38,o0o,0 coo packages will be sent out, at a cost of $290. 900. As says the Providence Jour nal: The original intent of this seed distribution was to place in the hands of the people new varieties and thus enable the department to determine, in a practical way, their value. Those who received these experimental pack ages were expected to report the results obtained. In this way was it proposed to further the agricultural interests of the country, but the system has degen- erated into a species of petty graft. Instead of new varieties the depart ment sends out, chiefly through con- gressmen and senators, the commonest kinds of garden seeds, when are fuf- nished to the government in great quantities by private growers. The spirit of reform which has seized Wash ington ought to give this matter of seed distribution attention, but it will be difficult to make congress return to the original idea of securing practical tests of new varieties. The present plan enables a congressman to remem- Der his friends in the district at the ex- pense of the government, and in close districts this is considered highly inn portant. Reform is likely to come only
 when the agricultural interests voice
 their protest and demand that this
 s29O, 900 now wasted by the government
 be devoted to work that is really of
 benefit to agriculture"
The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-21
BUSINESS.

From all quarters come continued re- ports of prosperity throughout the country. There does not seem to be a cloud upon the sky in this respect. A week ago financial markets were fur ried over a deficiency in the legal re- serve of the New York banks and high rates for money, which for call loans touched 25 per cent. But these rates brought funds from all directions, for eign exchange declined until it looked as though gold might be imported, and loans were reduced partly by the call ing of loans and partly by certain transfers of foreign credits. The rate for money declined, and last week closed with the reserve of the New York banks nearly three millions above the minimum.
 Upon the general course of trade this furry in the money markets seems to have had no effect; it did not last long enough. The bank clearings last week were more than 12 per cent. greater than in the week before, and the in- crease over last year was 9.5 per cent. This increase over last year was almost entirely in points outside of New York. For example, the increase in Philadel- phia was 25.9 per cent, while in New York it was only per cent.
 The railroad earnings give not less I significant evidence of the great volume of trade. The earnings for September, just compiled, show an increase of 914 per cent. gross and 6.7O per cent. net. The preliminary report for October shows an increase of AS per cent. over 1 last year. For the fourth week of Co., tober the gain was just under 3 per cent, and for the first week in Novem- Der it was 7.21 per cent. The car short age is not quite so serious as it has been and grain is reaching the seaports freely, but in the South there is not quite so much movement of cotton, as efforts are being made to hold back a substantial portion of the crop for 15 cents.
 Altogether the outlook is sufficiently good to make the prospects for the ap- preaching holiday season very happy.