New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-18
Letter Shown to Aid
Gerhard Side of Case

Gerhard SlOe Oh Ease
Hvsterical efforts were made yester-
day, by German adherents, to discredit
the story, printed in Wednesdays
Tribune. Of the foisting off on the
United States government Of DR.. Alfred
Never. a German war official, as DR..
Never Gerhard Red Cross delegate.
Every phase Of the story was repeat
edIv denied. but the most interesting
stem taken was the distribution OF
letter. in FAC simiie, from "Dr. Meyer
Gerhard" purporti2g 20 show that the
"Red Cross delegate was in Florida
when he was supposed TO be in New
York. The documentary evidence was
furnished bv y. 3. ClausSen. head OF
fbe German Information Bureau, and
was circulated through the American
Press Association.
The Gerhard letter was addressed 10
CAPTAIN Emil Heckor, who SUCCEEDED
DR.. Bernhard Dernburg in the ked
Cross when the latter departed Tor
Germany on June y. In part II reaoS'
jacksonville, Fla.
Germania Club. 1915, March s.
Nv Dear Captain tRittmeistoI'.
| am very grateful to you for
your detailed letter. II has
Address. page /, remains un-
changed until further notice. l
trust that you have completely re-
cuperated. Yours very truly,
MEYER GERHARD.
Tho lac smile letter bears the date
If March ;. the same day on which a
contract between Mrs. Selma Lewis and
Dr. Never was drawn up in New York.
Seek to Clear Envoy.
Therefore. il may be inferred that
the idea is to drive home the theory
that. as his excellency could not be IN
collapses, and Count Won Bernstort and
his envoy stand acquitted Of foollng
the State Department.
The facts in the case, of which The
Tribune has positive evidence, are
these: The original contract published
in Wednesdays issue was written on
March 8, in the Office Of DR.. Carl
Schimmel and on the stationery OF the
German Legal Bureau. Mrs. Lewis
wrote the agreement in pencil, as the
doctor had no typewriter IN his once
at that time.
tract was left in the hands of DR..
Schimmel. who promised to obtain his
excellencys signature and return the
uaper TO Mrs. Lewis. Schlmmel did so,
signing the document as a witness, and
"A number of days later the contract
was returned by mail to Mrs. Lewis.
The reporter who wrote the exposure
Of the Meyer Gerhard hoax called at
the Ritz Hotel yesterday noon and
asked 10 see Count Won Bernstorh. lie
was told that the count was not re-
ceiving reporters. but when Captain
Elder, secretary TO the ambassador.
learned the identity OF the visitor he
called Count Won Bernstorh 10 the
telephone.
Greetings were exchanged after a
fashion. and then the count said: 81
told you when you saw me in Wash
ington not TO print that story"
well, il has been printed
az also seems to have been denied
a few times
"Do YOU care 70 deny it. Mr.: Ambas-
sador?"
81 have already communicated with
the State Department and what have
20 say will be given out by the officials
there"
"Have you no further comment to
make?"
mo- will not say anything more
now, goodby"
Count Won BernstorfT departed for
Washington az 1880 p. m.
In an interview with a Tribune re-
porter Mrs. Lewis complained yester-
day that she had been grossly misquot-
ed.
81 never said that the Federal au-
thorities had requested me 70 hold
whatever evidence had for an inyesti-
CATION" she said.
Mrs. Lewis Complains.
what did say was that in view Of
the fact that an investigation had been
ordered. / did not feel at liberty 70
disclose any more facts until learned
what action would be taken.
"There are a number of lesser points
in which l have been done injustice IN
the printed accounts, and shall have
nothing 70 do with those who persist
in warping what ! say TO suit their
inclinations.
81 do know that Dr. Meyer and DR..
Meyer Gerhard" are one and the same
man. Whatever story ! tell will be
amply eorroborated and have no fear
of being discredited in any way. Some
of the papers are falling over them
selves TO give the public wrong i'm
preston Of me. All / have 70 say Is
that my entire life is an open book.
What beliefs ] have and what philos-
opbies ! expound are mine 70 do as
niease with. Please let me at least
think as / like-won't your
A Washington dispatch received last
night was 20 the effect that President
Wilson had no official knowledge OF
the Meyer-Gerhard affair, and the news
served 10 stihe rumors that Count Won
Bernstorf had appealed directly TO the
President.
Asouith's Son Hurt at Front.