The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

Berlin. Nov. 1.-THE escapade Il the
Cobbler Voigt who persOnated an army
officer. arrested the mayor Of Koepenick
and looted the town treasury. is still the
talk OF Germany. and much fun is poked
at the army for its almost ridiculous
creduiity.
The Kaiser himself has thoroughly en-
joyed the joke, and regards the bogus
captain in somewhat the light of a hero.
at least as a remarkably clever man. II
is even stated that at a dinner given By
Prince Buelow. at which the Emperor was
present, the conversation turned on the
Koepenick affair
one OF the guests remarked that every
country had its national great man, to
which the Kaiser laughingly replied:
Yes. and Prussia has its Capt. Won
Koepenick." II was then suggested that
the pseudo captain should be paTdoned.
To this his majesty said he could agree
personally, but 1t was impossible in the
case of a person who had served term of
penal servitude. It was not the custom
OF the Crown TO exercise the privilege of
mercy on such people.
Voigt was taken IN chains yesterday /
to the Central TAIL in Berlin, where he
will remain until he is brought to trial |
His sister has engaged Dr.. Schwindt. "a |
local barTister, and tomorrow the gallant /
old bandit will confer with his counsel !
and map out a scheme Of defense.
At the final hearing before the police /
yesterday, Voigt indicated that he viii /
plead that the coup has been taken too /
seriously He said that it was in no I
cry. because the money was not actually /
taken, but was given 10 him.
Voigt hopes to escape with a light sen |
tence but as he must face five serious /
Charges-fOrgery. burglary. depTiving citi- !
zens Of their liberty, criminal coercion, !
and the Illegal use Of armed men-his next
prison sojourn is likely to amount to life
Imprisonment.
Voigt only acquired the German mill
tary manner a couple of weeks before the
raid, by visiting theaters, concert halls,
and restaurants frequented by officers,
and studying closely their apparel and
characteristic manner Of talking and
staggering.
VOiGt's Career.
On February of the present year voigt
was released on ticket-of-ieave Cunter
polizeiaufsich0, from Rawltsch Jail on
completing fifteen years penal servitude
for theft, burglary. and forgery He came
to Berlin in July from Wismar. where he
worked for a court shoemaker until ex-
PEELED by the Mecklenburg government
wholly and solely on account Of his shady
past, and not in consequence of any mis-
conduct at Wismar But for this expUl-
sion, Voigt might have been still work
ing for the court shoemaker, for he IS
very clever at his craft
AT the preliminary examination on Fri
day Voigt complained that the police kept
worrying hinl-never gave him a chance
10 settle down and earn an honest liyeli-
hood All his cOups have been directed
against public bodies, not private persons.
The pOst-office fell victim 20 the forgery.
Asked how he came upon the idea Of
plundering the Koepenick municipal cof
fers. Voigt said that he had all along been
convinced that big thing could be
done by means Of soldiers; with soldiers he
could have brought down bigger game
than the MAYOR and accountant of kOepe-
nick Voigt wanted money 10 start house
keeping with He was engaged 10 a widow
and purpOsed marrying her as soon as the
necessary funds were got together It is
likely the widow viii have 10 wait little
for the gallant captain Of KOepenick.' Il
appears that with Jne money saved at
Wismar-for he was a very thrifty work
man and put by most of his wages-VOigt
would go 20 theateTs and concerts for the
purpose OF studying the manners and
bearing OF officers in society; as matter
Of fact, his conduct at KoePenck was
Just what might have been expected from
a well-bred officer. He waxed Indignant
over the statement that he had drunk the
mayors coffee Had I committed such a
blunder I should have Immediately been
detected as a swindleT. The KOepenick Of
ficals must Go me the justice TO admit
that I behaved myself as a gentleman"
One of the police officials in Berlin ques-
toned him as TO why he had elected to
masquerade rs q captain. since there were
no captains of his age Voigt was born at
Tilsit on February Is, 1S49, whereupon
NOigt replied u had thought OF that TOO.
but didn't want TO go as an aid major, as
I should have had TO have lieutenant in
attendance; and you will probably agree
with me that no lieutenant Of the guard
might have been found ready to partici-
pate in such an expedition"
Defends His Victim.
Voigt resoluteIy defended the mayor:
He had absolutely no other alternative
than to submit. II you" said Voigt Il
Criminal Commissioner Wehn, who clev-
erlv ran the captain to earth. had
been in DR.. Langerhans' place, you would
have done exactly the same. / shOuldn'
have wasted time in explanations. but
called upon my soldiers to use THEN
weapons"
Voigt speaks very correct German, and
carefully chooses his expressions. Accord
ing to a Tilsit report, and one which car
be easily believed. he displayed remark
, eble talents at school Noigt seems 10 b.
a perverse genius, who might otherwis,
have been OF real service to his fellow
countrymen. Various unCOmplimentarl
remarks about his general appearance a.
an officer have made the rounds OF III,
German press Elt VCigt triumphantIl
. points TO the fact that he met several O.
the real articles on the road, and ever,
one had saIuted without the slightest hes
itation."
That the cockade on his cap had beer
mt on wrongly was no fault Of his bu
that Of the court military tailor who sun
piled the headgear. The portrait herewith
shows the captain" with slight growtl
OF beard on the day OF the coup he wa
clean-shaven except as 10 the upper lip
The mayor has withdrawn his resIgna
ton and resumed Office. to the great 10,
OF the Koepenickers, who hold the docto
in high esteem. Pretty nearly all tn
money was found al VOigt's lodgings il
Berlin. I dare say you have read tha
the Emperor has had all particulars o
the hunt and capture reported TO him viv
vcce.
Pirate Leader Is Beheaded.