The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
Court Gossip of Interesting
Events on Two Continents
Copyright, 1913. by A. d. Jacobson.J

Copyright, 1913 by A. D. Jacobson.)
Not since the days or the famous
Green Room jester. Theodore Hook. who
hoaxed towns and princes to his hearts
content. has the world laughed so much
as it has done during the last few
years owing to the escapadeS of Ger
man jokers; for the Fatherland seems
alive with men who desire to make ma
lions laugh. First. there was Weight,
who seven years ago convulsed Europe
by Incorporating as a captain of the
Prussfan Foot Guards. He arrested the
! Mayor of Koepenick. with the aid of a
Communicated detachment of soldiers,
had his prisoner conveyed to Berlin
under escort and then made off with the
municipal exchequer.
In 1909 there was an audacious raid
by three young men. who walked into
the building of the First Civil Law
Court of Berlin. quietly stole from one
of the rooms, in which the judges met
to confer. the black caps and long black
gowns worn by the latter when on the
bench, gained access to certain rooms,
made from documents relating to law
suits in which considerable sums or
money were in question, judicial orders
for payment, which they presented TO
the victims in thirty-one cases and thus
OF the most audacious jokes on record,
and one almost feels sorry to report that
such inventive geniuses were ultimately
arrested and sent to prison for their
daring.
Germany as well as the other European
nations still are chuckling over the ex-
plot of the ex-sergeant August Wolter.
who, by sending a bogus telegram TO the
military governor of Strassburg. an
,hat he Kaiser arriving
to review the troops caused the whole
garrison to be turned out on full dress
parade wolter, having been attached
10 the army in the telegraph department
was familiar with the special mark at
tached to the imperial kilograms and the
cipher code.
Disguised as a telegraph messenger, ne
delivered the telegram himself. having
secured possession of it by sending wire
to himself from neighboring town. eras-
ing the few words, and inserting mes
sage from the Kaiser to the Military Gov
ernor at Strassburg-
The result was that 20,0o0 troops turned
OUT and that 10000 spectators congre-
gated, the event being made still more
impressive by the accidental appearance
overhead OF a new army airshlp. Sus-
picion was created when the Kaiser was
late in arriving. inquiries were set on
foot. and 1t was discovered that the
German Emperor. as matter OF TACT,
was then at Koenigsberg, about LOCO
miles away. And the crowning point of
the Joke was that Wolter, who was ulti-
mately arrested. was among the most
interested of the spectators VINO VII
messed the grand parade.
In England also the authorities have
been badly hoaxed at times There was
the audacious joke. for instance, carried
out three years ago by five young men
and one young woman. who disguised
themselves as Abyssinian princes, two
of the party posing. respectively, as at
taches of the Foreign Office and inter-
prefer. and who travelled to Weymouth.
after telegraphing. and were conducted
with all >Aonors over the British battle
ship Dreadnought. The commander-in-
chief of the home fleet at Portland re-
ceived the following message: Prince
Makalin and suite arrived at Weymouth
at 4:20 Kindly made all arrangements to
meet them" The party received splen-
did reception. They were greeted with
bands and flags, had a good time. and
all the officers on board were pleased
with the event until the joke leaked out
day or two later.
Nor is this the only naval hoax
which has been played. for in 1906
Spanish officer in uniform presented
himself at the main gate of Ports
mouth dockyard and asked for the
commander-in-chief, TO whom he was
conducted. With many apologies. he
explained that he was from Spanish
cruiser at Cowes. There was a mid
shipman on board very i'll. Would
England extend to this unfortunate
patient the courtesy of her naval hos
pital? OF course, everything was at
once done. Instructions were tele-
phoned to the Hasler Hospital for the
reception of the sick midshipman, and
with many thanks the Spanish OFFICER
left, escorted by a lieutenant to see
him to the boat. which he said was
meeting him. No boat was visible, |
however, and after some time the hos
pitable lieutenant insisted that the |
Spanish officer should return to the |
barracks and partake of dinner. TINS
he agreed to do, and had a right royal |
time; furthermore, borrowing IA In
money, saying that he had nothing nut
Spanish coins-which he produced
with which to pay his cab fare. Next
day inquiries were made, and the as
founding information was received
that there was no Spanish Vessel near
the Southern British shores. The re-
suit was that the naval officers came |
to the conclusion they mad peen
done" From that day to TINS no
trace has been discovered OF the mys-
terious Spanish officer.
A hoax was played in 1905 on the Mayor
of Cambridge by a number of under
graduates, who wired him in the name
of Henry Lucas, Hotel Cecil, London:
THE Sultan of Zanzibar will arrive to-
day at Cambridge for a short visit.
Could you arrange to show him build
ings of interest and send carriage?" An
hour later four dark-compleXiOned
gentlemen. in turbans and voluminous
trousers. arrived at Cambridge. The
"illustrious" party was conducted all
over the city, and were ultimately ac-
to the station by the city
officials and a great crowd. The feelings
of the Mayor. when he discovered that
the interesting "Orientals' were simply
a quartet of undergraduates. playing a
joke on the city, can be better
imagined than described.
They are fond of their practical jokes
at Cambridge. 1t is not long since two
students of Magdalerfe College figured
in an amusing escapade. 1t Is strict
rule of the theater management that
may not purchase tickets
fod