The New York herald., 1921-04-21
GERMANS ATTACK
CHICAGO COUPLE
Mob Of Women and Children
Beats Man and Wife at
Sans Souci Park.
? CIVILIANS HELP RESCUE
Assault Follows Funeral Of
x-Empress-Accused Of
Being French.
su the Associated Press.


BERLIN, April 20.-James Z. Tobin-
son 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
Empress 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 de-
fence OF the couple until they were
able to escort them to the police sta
ton in Potsdam. Here a patrol Of ex-
ira policemen dispersed the crowd.
During the attack the policeman and
the two German civilians were unable
TO quiet the crowd. members OF which
were shouting. Foreigners J! "French
people." Nor could they entirely shield
the Americans. Mr. Tobinson was beaten
about the head and shoulders, and his
wife received bruised nose. Also 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 It's
\ report concerning the case said: "The
| Americans were not to blame. and they
desire that there be no further mention
of the affair"
THE mob" said Mr.. TobinBon 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. II Is my opin'
ion we would have been killed except
for one policeman and two German
civilians. The police, however, did al
that was possible. | cannot complain OF
their conduct. and desire to make nc
representations to the German Govern
ment,"
Mrs. Tobinson, who is a graduate OF
a college in Valparaiso, Ind. which her
husband, a civil engineer. also attended.
said:
I'VE were sitting on the terrace speak
| ing English. There were three women
sitting in the same seat The one near
est US turned TO her companions and DC
clared we were French. Tney began aous'
! ing foreigners could not understand
what they said. but ] realized that the
women were very angry.
"a crowd gathered. Among Il were =
| number or children. To the children the
old woman declared we had spoken II
| French words derogatory TO the forine;
Empress Neither OF us understand,
French. One OF the old woman's com.
panions tried TO explain that we had not
| spoken at all about the dead former EN-
press.
/ "T-he crowd, however. drew nearer
shouting tha. we were French. and the
children began TO throw stones. l was 50
frightened | thought was choking. The
crowd struck my husband with cane,
and umbrellas. He tried 10 protect me
az we ran, and then two civilians and
| the policeman came 10 our aid There
we're several hundred persons following
us before We reached the police station
Mr.. Tobnson, who said he lived al
4 274s West Washburn avenue. Chicago
declared he and ais wife were born ir
/ Russia. Mrs. Tobinson, he asserted. i
/ the daughter or American parents, but
that he is a naturalizcd citizen. He said
he could speak neither Russian MOI
French. lie has been in China FOR
Thomas W. simmons & CO.
\ The police later took Mr. and Mrs
\ Tobinson in an automobile TO Wanses
and put them on a train bound for Ber-
/ lin The Americans were greatly upse'
/ BY the notice taken OF them by tbs
crowds In the train and stopped or al
the first alton and took later trair
! FOR Wiesbaden NJ. Toblnson has made
a trip to Siberia