New-York tribune., 1921-04-21
German Mob
Beats CHICAGO
Man and Wife
Pelted With Sticks, Stones
and Umbrellas Until Res.
cued by Police; Women
and Children Join Attack
Accused ofTalkingFrench
Mrs. Tobinsou's Nose Bruis.
ed, Hair Pulled; Assault
Murderous, Says Husband

BERLIN, April 20 (By The Associ-
ated Press s).-James E. Tobinson and
his wife, residents of Chicago, were
attacked by a crowd of German men.
women and children Tuesday as they
sat on the terrace of Sans Souci Park,
following the funeral of former En-
press Augusta Victoria.
The Americans were rescued by a
security policeman and two German
civilians, who locked arms and sur
rounded them, accepting pelting of
sticks, stones and umbrellas in defense
of the couple until they we're able to
escort them to the police station in
Potsdam. Here a patrol of extra
policemen was summoned and dis
persed the crowd.
During the attack the policeman and
the two German civilians we're unable
to quiet the crowd, members of which
were shouting, Foreigners" French
people," nor could they entirely shield
the Americans. Mr.. Tobinson was
beaten about the head and shoulders
and his wife received bruised nose.
Her hat was torn from her head, her
hair was pulled and she was struck
on her arms and body by umbrellas.
Potsdam Police Headquarters, in its
report concerning the case, said: "The
Americans were not to blame, and they
desire that there be no further men
tion of the affair"
Incited BY Old Woman
"The mob" said Mr.. Tobinson to-
day, "was melted by an old woman,
who thought we were French. The
crowd attacked US and chased us from
Sans Souci Park to Potsdam. 1t is
my opinion that we would have been
killed except for one policeman and
two German civilians. The police,
however, did all that was possible.
cannot complain of their conduct and
desire to make no representations to
the German government"
Mrs. Tobinson. who is a graduate of
a college in Valparaiso, Ind, which
her husband, civil engineer, also at
tended, said:
eve were sitting on the terrace in
Sans Souci Park, speaking English.
There were three women sitting in the
turned to her companions and de-
clared we were French. They began
abusing foreigners. l could not under
stand what they said, but 1 realized
that the women were very angry.
"a crowd gathered. Among it were
a number of children. To the chill
dren the old woman declared we had
spoken in French words derogatory to
the former Empress. Neither of us
understands French. One of the old
woman's companions tried to explain
that We had not spoken at all. about
the dead former Empress. but that we
were discussing the beauty of the park
and regretting that we had no films
for our camera.
Children Throw Stones
"The crowd, however, drew nearer,
shouting that we were French, and the
children began to throw stones. / was
so frightened 1 thought l was choking
The crowd struck my husband with
canes and umbrellas. He tried to pro-
ians and the policeman came to our
aid. There were several hundred per-
sons following us before we reached
the police station"
Mr.. Tobinson, who said he resided at
2748 West Washburn Avenue, Chicago,
when questioned at the police station
declared he and his wife were born in
Russia. Mrs. Tobinson, he asserted, is
the daughter of American parents and
he is naturalized citizen. He said
he could speak neither Russian nor
French. He has been in China for
Thomas w. Simmons & Co., but now is
in business for himself
The police later took Mr.. and Mrs
Tobinson in an automobile to Wansee
and put them on = train bound for
Berlin. The Americans were greatly
agitated by the notice taken of them
by the crowds in the train, and stopped
off at the first station and took a later
train for Weisbaden.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tobinson have been
married for five months. They have
visited China, Japan and Italy, and Mr..
Tobinson also has made . trip 20 ST.
IBERIA.