New-York tribune., 1909-06-09
PRINCE BIsMARCKs GUEST.

After the death OF his friend the late Due de
Morny he got into some sort OF trouble with the
French police which rendered his speedy departure
from Paris advisable. He next turned up at Ber-
lin where he found means of getting into contact
not only with the great railroad king Strousberg
and through him with the Duke Of Ratibor but
also becoming quite intimate with Herbert Bis
IIarck VINO introduced him 10 his father the great
chancellor, and on several occasions he figured
among the guests of the latter in the palace Of
lhe NIihelmstrasse. Suddenly in the zenith Of his
career al Berlin, his apartments in the palace OF
Count now Prince HenckeI Won Donnersnarck
were invaded at night by the police all his papers
ana correspondence were conhscated, and on the
following morning he was conducted TO the Belgian
Hohuer, under the escort Of three detectives in
pam clothes 10 explanation was vouchsafed
b1i from the peculiar Bismarckian method Of
oeallhg with MS case 1t manifest that the old
chancellor had become acquainted with the ante
Seoehts and identity OF his sons crony
ne spent several years IN the United States be-
1ofe turning Up in London where he described him
set as TIE nephew Of Baron de Hoffman, who at
that time held the post Minister of Finance OF
e <A0s14 14o-f1lEsarian Empire II on account
oi q helief-entertained even by tha Prince of
aes--n this altogether mythical relationship that
te "ss mace an honorary member of some Of the
-est LONDON clubs. where the liberality and sang
Hold With which he lost large sums at cards soon
won Tor him z host OF friends Of the highest rank
tIief1ds s who not only invited him TO their town
1OUses ana country seats but who even went SO far
d 10 furnish him with letters Of introduction and
warm Recommendation TO British diplomatic repre-
eehlaiiyes abroad. He turned these TO good use
IAey enabled him start q new and I,rohta bic
career on the Continent
Al Madrid the late King Alfonso found so much
.teesoIe ana entertainment in Hoffmans company
= tlat ne conferred him the chevaIier's cross Of
ie OIeer o1 Isabella The Catholic. At Rome he Sc
cured The cross OF tie Order Of the Crown, while
= Brussels he became acquainted with Crown
riIhee Rudolph, who visiting at the Belgian
N0filei a. that time IN connection with his pending
marriage 10 Princess Stephanie
1o-eseeing the advantages OF an intimacy with
.-e austrian hetr-appaTent Hoffman announced his
mention Of presenting the archduke with q mag
iiHcei't steam yacht . wedding present The
tisis oi the vessel we're duly submitted to the
N-i'"h Prince and approved by him. and the yacht
was being built at Trieste-nay, was almost com
+'e.=d. FOR Hoffman already in correspondence
WITH the archduke's chamberlain respecting the
oale on which Princess Stephanie was to christen 1t
-~hen Suddenly the intended donor was arrested
d The Hotel Zum Goldenen I.amm in the Leopold
seact al Vienna. charges Of forgery and fraud
VI ne most extensive description. 4 days later
On June &c. 1859. Hoffman was sentenced by the
'%hnese courts to a long term OF penal servitude
'or series Of swindles UNPARALLELED since the days
OF Robert Macaire
On his liberation he turned up first at Bucha-
rest, where ne managed swindie King Charles
VI Rumania out OF $Ia099. and then made his
way TO Berne, where. related above. he -four
lshed for time military attache Of the United
States Legation. His exposure was followed by an
oiher 'ern Of Imprisonment this t.rne in a Swiss
pehtehtlary. after serving which he cropped up in
london. somewhere about the time of the American
var With Spain. as interested in Anglo-Ameri-
csn-Chinese trading corporation.