The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-04-19
MAN WHO FOOLED
KAISER'S ARMY
Captain k0spaRlek, Seen In Now
York, Told Of His Exploit.
MADE ALL GERMANY LAUGH.
Wilhelm Weight, ths cohbler, Whc
Posed az an Army Officer and Ralded
Town's Treasury, said He Did the
Job 60 Show FolIles Of The RlcE,--Ais
Interview With Emperor William,

| toWhe treasury, said he DID the
sob TO Show FoIlse of The Rlch--His
Interview With Emperor William.
Wilhelm Yoight, alias Captain Koe.
penick," the cobbler who made all Ger
many laugh by masquerading as an
army officer, arresting the mayor Of d
small town and raiding the municipal
treasury. arrived in New York recently
by way of Canada and is now retelling
to Germans the story OF the adventure
which made him famous.
Voight went to New York on visit
and incidentally, as was made appar.
ent the other night, to make money by
selling photographs of himself In the
uniform OF an officer of the kaiEer's
regiment of guards, the dress he adopt,
cd when commanding the kaiser's
troops"
To the clink of glasses in the Cafe
Bismarck voight spoke of his trip from
Canada. He is rather tall, well built.
elderly man. with fringe of gray hair
and blue eyes, the twinkle of which
tells that he Is not without keen
sense OF humor
In his adventure which landed him
In German prison he sees no wrong
and declares that he neither expected
to benefit from the money obtained in
the raid on the treasury nor be lifted |
from the obscurity of the cobbler's |
bench. His act he said, was q protest
against the scheme of society which |
made the follies of the rich the crimes
of the poor
Appreciated the Joke.
Twice. he said, he lost his position
through intoxication, and then the
scheme dawned upon him of imper.
sonating an officer of the kaiser's regi-
ment. Weight was cobbler near Ber-
lin. On Oct. Il. 1906, he obtained a
uniform of a captain of the First reg
iment of guards, stationed in Berlin.
he went to the military station at
Ploetzensee and ordered company of
guards to accompany him to Koepe,
nick. He marched his little company
TO the city hall, explained to the mayor
he was sorry, but must take charge
of his person and the city funds.
He arrested the mayor and appropri-
ated the $3.50 ia the city treasury,
following the action by discharging his
soldiers and making his escape. When
eventually he was arrested he was
tried and sentenced to a term of i'm.
prisonment, from which he was re-
leased over year ago. The German
people then began to appreciate the
joke on the predominant military spirit
In Germany, and when they laughed
the world laughed with them.
Il got here on March Il. landing at
Halifax" said Captain Weight. Il Wis
TIED Detroit and Chicago. | come here
simply as visitor aud expect to re-
main six weeks. have hrother-in.
law In Dallas, Tex, but | do not be-
lieve will be able to see him. want.
ed to see the United States. do not I
believe the sensible aud the humor.
ously inclined will object to my visit. :
Voight spoke through an interpreter,
sitting In the dining room of the cafe, !
Every one seemed to know him. and
he had to stop ana bow {
to new arrivals.
AT the time became Captain of /
1t was not for the money,
but wanted to show the absurdity Of 1
the system. Twice was thrown out I
1f employment because became v
drunk, and said will initiate those Z
y q higher sphere felt | was an | 3
abused man and wanted to protest d
md get even. was practically q
brought up near a barracks, and Il
knew the drill, though | had never I
'erved In the army, The military was v
he authority, and what more natural d
han that ! should seek to ape it, 4,
had no idea that my act would be +
sensation or that 1t would raise me n
rom the cobbler's bench"
What the Kaiser Said 20 Him. v
Voight said that he liked what he
iad seen of America, and when asked Z.
whether he did not think the iramirra- :
Ion officials would consider him an
Undesirable alien because he had been Il
onvicted and sentenced to serve a
hA ~ ASSA AN nHAu4 4 H9 not see
Thy any one should object to me-" II
VoiGht was asked whether he had
yer had an interview with the kaiser
lnce bis world famous adventure. He Al
aughed and said 1t was a secret.
fnally after some rapid IRE talk with ~
ae interpreter bis remark was trans. !"
tied like this: TX
Yes, ! saw the kaiser. He said to :,
le, Can you keep mumr and said !"
can. so can |, replied the kaiser B.
That was all he would tell OF the In. !.
.rvfew Al
Turing the evening an aid circulated
trough the cafe selling postal cards
presenting yoisht In civilian clothes ~
e as the captain OF Koepenick. The
lie was good. yolght was kent busv Al
gning bis autograph. =.
The noneOmnissioned officer OF the =
ven guardsmen who were fooled bv 20
= captain testified that he ordered | s.
e. = 4 Al