New-York tribune., 1909-04-05
A FATEFUL CIGARETTE
Cause of an Imperial Scandal and of
Military Degradation.

Tcopyright. 1902. by the Brentwood Conpanr1
So many fantastic stories have been circulated
with regard to the military degradation OF the
Hungarian captain of cavalry. Geza Mihalowitch
Until recently attached to the household of Arch
duke Joseph Of Austria. some Of the tales going
far as 10 associate the ex-oficer's name in
an altogether slanderous fashion with that of the
charming young arcnduchess, who is a grand
daughter Of the Emperor, that It NAV be lust as
well 10 explain what has really taken place The
scandal, for scandal it was, may be said 10 have
been pTecipitated by a cigarette
i seems that Archduke Joseph. who like his
father before him. is the principal and resident
representative in Hungary of the reigning House
Of Hapsburg, happening to glance out Of the win
dow Of the imperial palace at Pesth to the gar
dens below, where the archduchess was strolline,
about with her children. perceived that Captain
MihalowitCh de Orochovicza, who was one of his
sides-de-canp. more especially assigned To the
supervision of he education Of the archdukes two
bovs-one fourteen and the other eight-was CooIly
smoking a cigarette in the presence of the arch
duchess Rendered Indignant by this lack of cour-
tesy and Of discipline. he caused the captain to be
summoned to his presence and took him to task
both as officer for smoking on duty and 4
gentleman for smoking in the presence Of a lady
without having received her permission to do 50.
The captain. whose temper was so violent that
persons court had often expressed surprise that
tre archduke should have selected A man so prone
n brutality mentor for his youngsters answered
his imperial master with such impudence and with
such complete disregard Of the great superiority
of the princes military and imperial rank that
Joseph lost his temper and called the officer
2 scoundrel- The captain responded il kind, where
upon the archduke struck him a violent blow in
the face NihaloWitCh drew his s~ord, before
he could strike the archduke he had been seized
bv other officers Of the household, who had been
attracted ny the noise of the angry voices, and
placed under arrest
The archduke. who is a very sensible and uni
rersalIy popular OF about forty. realizing that
hs too. had lost his temper endeaYOred TO mini
rnze the affair. and contented himself with dis
missing the captain from his household and with
causin him to be transferred TO Of the frontier
ssrrisons. There the captain seems TO have still
further envenoed The situation by insinuatinS that
ne was indebted for his exile from the court of
Budapest to the marital jealousy of the archduke,
g jealousy which he intimated by looks and signih-
csr+ srr73gs was not wholly without foundation
The scandal OF the captains attitude eventually
reached such proportions that the general in COM
,rand of the district was forced to take notice
thereof and. making a report thereon the aIIAlI
vas brought 2 the attention OF the Emperor
The monarch at once took Archduke Joseph 20
task for his leniency with the captain and caused
The latter 10 be brought before court martial on
charges Of conduct unbeconing an officer ana a gen
,ie-,an and Of gross INSTRUMENTATION in drawing HIS
ssb-a On general and upon a prince Of the reign
g., family The ISLANDERS which the captain had
orfriuated about Archduchess Augustine by ins'hu-
s+to- and inference rather than by direct state
77e1ts were not mentioned in the charges hul u'
5o1bred1v weighed with the officers forming Iile
- martial and they lost time in sentencing
hin, fo dismissal from the army and 10 military
6e-radarion-that is TO say, 10 having MS shouiDe
,ra-.s his gold lace and his buttons ripped from
his uniform in the presence Of the entire gar s'
.16 his sabre broken-oeing thereupon al fdii'eo 0
Of the army ,,.- =,
Ae be has not been jailed and as residence IL
Austria and Hungary mas become inpossl'ie. .'-e
- has 1ef; his native land, bound II Is salo' io'
-. xev World Should he, when he turns up NJ NJ,
atternpt TO exploit himself, hnanClails - = -,
a. - # would be well bear in mind the
val cause Of his disgrace