Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-07-20

His hand would have lett no trace
If he had not been SO indiscreet as to
buy his paper from that one shop close
to the Rue de Provence, where he had
rooms
The Arrest Of General Won Trsutmann-
On the third night following I stood
in the emperor's private room at Pots
dam and made my report, explaining
all that I knew and what 1 had wit
messed in Paris.
'That man knows very great deal
but how does he known snapped the
emperor. "See Schunke early temor-
row." he ordered, "and tell him to dis
cover the link between this young
BLACKBOARD and your friends the Bret
tenbachs, and report to me-"
Next morning I sat with the astute
Schunke at the headquarters of the
detective police in Berlin, and there
discussed the affair fully, explaining
the result of my journey to Paris and
what 1 had seen, and giving him the
order from the kaiser.
"But, count, If this woman Breiten-
bach and her daughter are your
friends, you will be able to visit them
and CLEAN something" he said.
81 have distinct orders from the en-
peror not to visit them while the in
curry is in progress" I replied.
Later that same morning returned
to the Marmor palace to report to the
crown prince, but found that his high
ness was absent upon an official visit
of inspection at Stuttgart.
In the meantime several times saw
the great detective, Schunke, and
found that he was in constant commu-
nication with Baron Steinmetz in Paris.
The pair were evidently leaving no
stone unturned to elucidate the mys-
terry Of those annoying letters, which
were still falling as so many bombs
into the center Of the kaiser's court.
Suddenly, one Sunday night, all Ber-
lin was electrified at the news that
General Won Trautmann, captain gem
eral of the palace guard-whom, truth
to tell, the crown prince had long Sc
cretly hated because he had once dared
to utter some word Of reproach-had
been arrested and sent to fortress at
the emperor's order.
An hour after the arrest his majes-
tvs personal adjutant commanded me
by telephone to attend at the Berlin
SchIoss. When we were alone, the
kaiser turned to me and said:
"Count Won Heltzendorff, you will
say nothing of your recent visit to
Paris, or Of the authorship Of those
anonymous letters-you understand?
You know absolutely nothing"
Then, being summarily dismissed by
wave Of the imperial hand, I retired,
more mystified than ever. Why should
my mouth be thus closed?
When I returned to my rooms that
evening Schunke rang me up on the
telephone with the news that my
friends the Breitenbachs had closed
their house and left early that morn
ing for Brussels.
"Where is Seeliger" inquired.
an Brussels. The Breitenbachs
have gone there to Join him, now that
the truth is out, and his father Is
under arrest"
The emperor's fury knew no bounds.
His mind poisoned against the poor
old general, he had fixed upon him as
the person responsible for that dis
graceful correspondence which for so
many weeks had kept the court in con-
slant turmoil and anxiety. Though HIS |
majesty was aware of the actual |
writer Of the letters, he would not |
listen to reason, and openly declared |
that he would make an example of the |
silver-haired old captain general Of the
guard, who, after all, was perfectly |
innocent Of the deeds committed by his
vagabond son.
A prosecution was ordered, and
three weeks later it took place in
camera, the baron, Schanke and
of detectives being ordered to
give evidence So damning indeed,
was their testimony that the Judge
passed the extreme sentence of twenty
years. Imprisonment.
And I, who knew and held proofs Of
the truth, dared not protest.
- Elise Breltenhach
Where was the generals son-1~ths
real culprit and author of the letters?
[ made inquiry of Schunke, Of the
baron, and of others who had. at the
order OF the all-highest, conspired TO
.riin poor Won Trautmann. All, how
sver. declared ignorance, and yet. GU
-iously enough, the fine house Of the
in the Alsenstrasse still
empty. I
About six months after the secret ,
rial of the unfortunate general had ,
accompanied the crown prince on
'isit to the Quirinal, and one after
loon while strclling along the Corso,
4 Rome. suddenly came face to face
With F'rauiein Elise Breitenbach.
IN delight took her into Ronzi's,
be noted confectioner's at the corner
the Piazza Colonna, and there, at
ne Of the little tables, she explained
) me how she and her mother. having '
ecome acquainted with Franz Sell 4
knowing him to be the gen Z
rails son-they suddenly fell under )
le suspicfon OF the Berlin secret 30 :