The Seattle Republican., 1908-11-06

comings then in Heavens name who is free from it?
Peter A. Alberti, who has been recently driven
from the position Of Prime Minister by the discovery
of peculations amounting to than seven million
--a. dolaas, grew up in small
Denmark's Colossal village the island of Zee
Official Thief land, where his early youth
N.. appears to have been cOnspic-
Gus chiefly for cruelty to animals At the University
of Copenhagen Aberti attained unenviabe ennence
of unpopuarity with his fellow students account of
his selfshness and intolerable egotism. His ability,
however. already conspicuous and at the age of
twentyone he called to the bar and began practc-
ing in the courts of justice being admitted to the S-
preme Court of the country at the age of twenty-five
distinction which, according to a correspondent of
! of the Springfield Republican, is rarely achieved by
men under forty For the next ten years his life
notable for energy audacty and the widest forms of
dissipation. His wife brought him considerable for
tune but in few years compelled to divorce him.
At the age of thtyve he became the manager of the
iceland Peasants Saving Bank, and little later estab-
shed the iceland Fire Insurance Company which was
intended to extend the popularity of fire insurance
among the peasant classes. Later he founded the
Danish Farmers Syndicate and his energy and busi-
ness ability, with his large opportunities, made
him the most important figure in the industrial and
commercial life of Denmark At the age of forty-one
he became member of the Danish Parliament attack
ing himself to the Radical party, and developed
power of oratory level with his remarkable
gifts in other directions When thesfrst Liberal Min
stry that Denmark had known came into power AL
berti was Minister of Justice and promptly began to
use his financial power and his immense influence in the
commercial world to supply himself with funds for
great extravaganza of living He was not only su-
preme director of the savings bank the insurance COM
pany and the farmers association but he took control
of several other syndcates, governing them arbitrarily
October Outlook.
companies and institutions Albert now ranked as one
of the richest men of the country and lived like
member of the royal
When Ih1eves Fall Out family in the palace of
Inc Crash comes an extinct noble family.
He bought of the
leading Danish papers, and his house became gather
ing place for thinkers ancers young men and women
of ability, who wanted to get in public or business
life. In his case as in the of Madame Humbert
and Mrs. Chadwick fraud led to another until AL
ber the center of concentrc circle of
deceptons and preyng upon the entire community
and duping who had been regarded as having the
shrewdest business ability Probably in the his
tory of the world has the Justification of books of ac
count been carried large a scale His last
stroke borrowing $780, 600 from the government for
the iceland Savings Bank, which was loaned on the
most uncertain security and every dollar of which he
pocketed. few months ago Copenhagen newspaper
began to attack the political morality and financial
soundness of Albers position acting upon the nfor-
i nation of one of his women clerks whom he had be-
troyed. Alberti withdrew from the Cabinet ostensi
bly, to give himself wholly to the welfare of his enter
prises, but really to make desperate effort to cover
his frauds. He retired with official honor but an ava
lanche was impending him, and the first attack
signal for tremendous crash and not long af-
ter the former Minister and millionaire who had been
the foremost man in Denmark, walked into the police
station in Copenhagen and lodged an accusation of
fraud against himself. The story was so incredible
that the police teephoned for physician thinking he
was insane. He is now awaiting trial. The reaction
is naturally intense popular idol has suddenly been
transformed into public thief man universally
trusted by the whole nation from peasants to the King
suddenly stands forth vioator of every trust All
this happened under moderate monarchia govern
ment among people of economical habits -0ctober
= Outlook.