Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-21
SCANDAL 100
BAD FOR EARS
OF PEOPLE
HARDEN-v0N MOLTKE TRIAL
HEARD PRIVATELY
Prince Gutenberg, One of the Accused
Mobiles, SO III He Is Hardly Able
to Appear-Women Give
Testimony

BY Associated Press.
BERLIN, Dec. 2o--Prince Philip zu
Gutenberg, Frau Won Elbe, the divorced
wife of Gen. Count Kuno Won Moltke, and
Frau Won Heyden, mother of Frau Won
Elbe, testified in todays hearing of the
Harden-von Moltke libel suit. The court
has decided that the interests of the
public morality require the exclusion OF
all persons not Immediately connected
with the court.
The only witness heard openly was
Col. Otto Won Molthe, cousin of Count
Kuno Won Moltke. Col Won Moltke is a
studious looking man Of 60. He spoke
with much emotion of his twenty-five
years friendship with the co-plaintiff.
They had commanded squadrons of the
same life-guard regiment at Breslau.
After he left the army the colonel was
often the guest of Count Kuno in Berlin.
He believed, he said, that he knew him
better than anyone else. He was always
popular with his officers and men. His
cousin. the colonel continued. was a man
who exerted an elevating influence over
those he met rather than lowering one.
The colonel had observed Count Kuno's
friendship with Prince Philip Zu Eulen-
berg on the occasion of the various visits
both of them had made to the prince at
his castle at Liebenberg. but he never
gained the impression that the relations
between the two men were other than
what was to be expected in an ordinary
friendship. To these statements the
colonel took OATH
Regarding the statement made by Har-
den in the coarse of the civil action that
he would only be able to repeat the re-
marks about Count Kuno made by Gen.
Count Hulsen-Baoseler, chief of the em-
peror's military cabinet. the witness read
a letter from the general, in which he
said he was not conscious of having made
such remarks to anyone.
Challenges to Duel
The colonel produced a thick typewrit-
ten document from which to refresh his
memory concerning the offices he had
carried out between Count Kuno and
Harden. The count had come to him
in his hotel In Berlin on May s and said
he was in great trouble. He asked the
witness If he would stand by him, and
the colonel readily promised. Later he
carried challenge from his cousin to
Harden to fight duel, but Harden de-
clined.
The colonel is at present holding
sinecure In the state Lutheran church.
being head of the cathedral chapter and
superintendent of church properties.
Herr Bostern, counsel for Harden, ex-
amined the witness closely as to whether
he or his cousin had taken the notice of
the articles in Die Zukunft until En-
peror William took the action which re-
suited in Count Kuno resigning the posi- |
tion of military commandant Of Berlin.
The colonel admitted that Count Kuno
had handed in his resignation on May IL |
He declared he had taken his cousins
word of honor to Harden. denying the
insinuations published in Die Zukunft.
Harden had not accepted this communi-
cation.
At this stage of the proceedings the
public prosecutor announced that Prince
Zu Gutenberg. accompanied by his two
sons. was in an adjoining room. He was |
so i'll, the prosecutor declared, that he |
begged to be heard Immediately, and !
suggestion was made that the defense /
might wish to put questions to the prince |
which the father would not desire his |
sons to hear.
DR.. Isenbiel. the states attorney, then |
moved in the interests of morality that /
the public including newspaper reporters, |
be excluded until further notice. The |
five judges thereupon retired. In five |
minutes they returned and directed that |
all persons unattached to the court leave |
the chamber.
1t is understood the public will not |
again be admitted, though both sides |
have advocated publicity.