Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-21
BARES
$4,000 THEFT
BOSTON FUNDS
GERMANS BEAT UP
AMERICANS THOUGHT
TO Be FRENCH PEOPLE

Berlin. April 20. (By The Associat-
ed Press)-Mr. and Mrs. James E. To-
binson of Chicago, were attacked by
crowd of German men, women and
children, Tuesday as they sat on the
terrace of Sans Souci Park after the
funeral of Former Empress Augusta
Victoria
The Americans were rescued by
security police man and two German
civilians, who locked arms and sur
rounded them. receiving a pelting of
sticks, stones and umbrellas in de-
Tense of the couple. until they were
able to escort them to the police sta
ton in Potsdam. Here a patrol of
extra 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"
French people," Nor could they en-
tirely shield the Americans. Mr. To-
binson was beaten about the head
and shoulders and his wife received q
bruised nose. Her hat was tom 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 said: THE Americans were not
to blame and they desire THAI there
be no further mention of the affair"
'The mob" said Mr.. Tobinson, "was
melted by an old woman who thought
we were French. Thecrowd attacked
US and chased us from Sans Souci
Park to Potsdam. 1t is my opinion
that we would have been killed ex-
cept for one policeman and two Ger
man 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 said:
1--WE were sitting on the terrace
in Sans Souci Park speaking English.
There were three women sitting in
the seat. The one nearest us turned
to her companions and declared we
We're French. They began abusing
foreigners. | could not understand
what they said but 1 realized that
the women were very angry.
"A crowd gathered. In it was a
number of children. To the children
the old women declared we had
spoken in French words derogatory
to the former princess. Neither Of
us understands French. One of the
old women's companions tried to ex-
plain 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.
"The crowd however drew nearer
| the children began to throw stones
/ was so frightened l thought l was
, choking. The crowd struck my hus-
band with canes and umbrellas. He
tried to protect me as we ran, and
then two civilians and the policeman
came to our aid. There were several
| hundred persons following US before
| we reached the police station"
Mr.. Tobinson when questioned al
the police station, declared he and
his wife were born in Russia. Mrs
! Tobinson he said. is the daughter OF
American parents, but that he is nat
| uralized citizen. He said he could
speak neither Russian nor French
He has been in China for Thomas w
Simons and Company, but now is
in business for himself. He is 4 civil
! engineer
The police later took Mr.. and Mrs
Tobinson in an automobile to Wansee
and put them on a train bound fol-
Berlin. The americans were greatly
agitated by the notice taken of them
by the crowds in the train and stop
ped off at the first station and took a
later train for Wiesbaden.
Mr.. and Mrs. johnson have been
married five months. They have Wis
tied China, Japan and Italy and Mr.
Tobinson also has made q trip to ST.