The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-07-22
.K-KAISER'S SON
COMMITS SUICIDE
Prince Joachim, Only Member of the
Royal Family to Suffer Wound
in World War, Ended
Life by Shooting.

Berlin, July 18.--Prince Joachim,
ex-Kaiser W'ilhelm's youngest son,
committed suicide by shooting last
night at his residence at Leignitz. He
died later in hospital at Potsdam.
The authorities have endeavored to
hush up the tragedy.
Details were successfully held from
the public for many hours, but it
finally became known that he died
several hours after he had fired the
shot, in the arms of his personal ply
stefan.
To all inquirers, even those connect
ed either by royal ties of blood or by
friendship to the former reigning
family of Germany, those who were
present at the time denied the truth,
declaring that the prince had met with
motor car accident.
Wife Had Sought Divorce.
There, is no doubt, however, that
Joachim's wound was self-inflicted.
His life of twenty-nine years had been
full of misfortune. Family troubles
which did not eliminate with the
flight of his father to Holland, but
pursued him ever since, are believed
to have unsettled his mind.
Recently his wife, Princess Marie
Augustine of Anhalt, whom he mar
ried March IL, 1916, left him, and a
divorce suit was instituted Their
married life was far from happy.
His latest publicity was gained over
his suit against publisher, who had
printed volume entitled "The Mar
ried Life of Prince Joachim" which
was replete with the scandal of the
court and sensational incidents at
tributed to the young princes life.
The arguments made in this case
aroused no particular public interest,
but the Judge sitting in the suit. had
set a time for trial in the near future
Only One of Sons Wounded.
1t is believed that his wife's deser-
ton led to his possible mental break
down and was, at any rate, respon-
sible for his suicide.
The prince was the only member of
the royal family to get near enough
to battle to suffer a wound. While
visiting the Western front he received
a slight wound in the thigh, and there
after he limped to slight degree.
For this he was decorated with the
iron cross of the first class.
The prince resembled the kaiser's
eldest son in appearance, but was bet
ter looking. During the war he gained
some i'll repute by dashing through
the country in a motor car burning
up tires" while there was a crying
need for rubber in that country.
A Popular Hero in the War.
Prince Joachim was born December
II, 1890, in Berlin. He served in the
late war on both the Western and
Eastern fronts. 1t was in the first
year Of the war that he was wounded
in the fighting in France, and for a
long time it was feared he would not
recover. When he did recover he was
transferred to the Russian front,
where he had several narrow es-
capes from capture and afterwards a
serious illness.
After the defeat of the Germans
there were rumors that Emperor Will
liam would abdicate in favor of
Joachim.
The prince, during the war, ranked
as popular hero in Germany. Since
the end of the war little had been
heard of him. One report was to the
effect that he hoped to come to the
United States after the peace treaty
was signed.
The only member Of the former inn
perial family in Potsdam is Eitel
Friedrich. the ex-emperor's second
son, Eitel Friedrich confirmed the
story of Joachim's suicide, but refused
to add to the details already known.