MOLTKE AND HARDEN

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 78, 26 December 1907, Page 5

MOLTKE AND HARDEN

. SECOND TRIAL ATTITUDE OF THE KAISER. by isr.EGHArii—ritESS association—corYitionT, Berlin, December 23. TLo rc-trial 'of Horr Harden on the charge .of criminal libel, brought to Count Kumo von Moltko —en account of' articles in tho, " Zukunft" alleging immorality and intrigue against members of:the camarilla—will bo heard in camera. ■ ■ Efforts to effect a reconciliation between Hcrr Hardon and Count von Moltko failed, owing to tho Kaiser's insistence that Moltko must ontirely rehabilitate himself. IMPORTANT WITNESS WEAKENS. MOLTKE'S FORMER WIFE. EXPERT WITHDRAWS—PUBLIC MIND CHANGING. (Rec. Dec. 25., 9.18 p.m.) Berlin, December 2-1. At the re-trial, owing to Frau von Elbe (who divorced Count Kuna von Moltko, her first husband) modifying her former evidence against von Moltke\ the medical expert withdrew his opinion that von Moltke is abnormal, which opinion ho based on Frau von Elbe's accusations. - / ■ .■ Public opinion is veering in Moltko's favour.

WHAT PRINCESS CHARLOTTE KNEW. THE COUNT'S HABITS. (Rec. Dec 25, 10.13 a.m.) Berlin; December 2-1. Herr Harden stated that the Kaiser's sister, Princess Charlotte — born July 24, 1860, married Prince Bornhard, eldest son of Duke George 11. of Saxe-Meiningen—told him that she know that Count Kuno von Moltko was a man.of depraved habits. Counsel proposo to ask tho Princess to ropoat the statement on oath. : FORMER EVIDENCE. FRAU VON ELBE AND THE EXPEET. As is shown licreunder, the expert's evidence was based on Fran von Elbe's. But should tho case now go in favour of Count von Moltko, tho fact would not necessarily rehabilitate tho other members of the" camarilla. According to reports in English papers of the first trial (at.which Herr Harden was acquitted), no defenco was forthcoming to. tho'qyiclenco'brought forward as to unspeakable orgios at tho villa nt Potsdam of Count L'ynar. But tho witness, an ox-cnvah-yman, who gave this ovidonco, could not positively.identify Count Kuno von Moltke as being present).-though.he sworothat Prince Eulenborg and oilier 'members of the camarilla woro thero,- also two Princes of tho Prussian Royal Family, both coufsins of the Kaiser. When Count jfuno von'Moltke's. representative, ' Dr. ' von' Gordon, addressed tho court, ho denounced tlio Potsdam orgios in unmeasured tonus, but •' 'declared cmphulically that nothing had been introduced to prove that Count Mqltkc participated in them, or to show that his intimacy with Prince Eulenburg had been anything but "pure and Ideal." " ■ A HANDKERCHIEF. INCIDENT. 1 Frau von Elbe,'/who divorced Count Kuno von Moltko (her first husband), pave evidence at the first trial about a certain "handkerchief incident," tho gist of which; seems to bo that Count K uno von Moltko found Prince Philip Eulonburg's handkerchief,' and pressed it to his lip's,' crying • "Phili, my Phili." Von Moltko, she added, neglected her, abused hor boforo his friends, and mado her miserable) by deliberate cruelty , { He frequently denounced the institution of'marriage,'-and proclaimed his regret that he had burdened him-; solf w.iHi a wife. On ono, occasion he actually, advised her to run'away with ■ another inau who'nv she Gnould choose as her lover. .

■Nearly two hours wore occupied in listening to an analytical exposition'by* Dr. ilngnus Ilirsciifcld, the medical expert, who said he 'had como to the conclusion from llio evidence fiven during the trial Unit Count Moltlce had nbuormal inclinations, undoubtedly through hereditary causes over which he had- no control and oC which' he wight not even havo knowledge. "In tho 'testimony of I'nvu yon Elbe," continued the expert, "indications 1 of Count MoltkoV abnormalities came clearly to light. , ' . ' - '*S Not satisfied with these pointed alluslonn Ilorr llardeii then asked the expert to look at Count Moltko and tell the court if ho had not tho apnonranco of a man of abnormal proclivities. Ho probably has not his usual mask of cosmetics on," added Ilerr Harden scornfully. Tho count rose nnd pounded,the table violently in protest against " this insinuation to convict'mo of cfleniinany." "Call my three, men-sorvants, who aro Waiting outside, and ask 'them what cosmetics I use," the distracted and broken arissiiiKirat pleaded. ; Harr. Hardcn's retort was to /insist that the expert should'say if Count Moltke looked like a " normal Prussian Kcner.il." The expert replied that , he did not know Count Moltko sniliconlly' to answer tho question. Count Moltko described tho handkerchief incident as a harmless joke; . "NO'COMPROMISE." , Herr Harden, at aii early stage of the trial, told tho Judge that he had only mentioned von Moltkc's abnorinnl inclinations in the yublic interest, to dissolve the camarilla. The udgc suggested that'as Harden did not accuse von Mollke of criminal practices, and , had no desire to libel him, the case might be bettled by a ■ formal statement to this effect. " Ilorr Harden: " I would rather sulTor penal servitudo than como to a compromise with von Moltke. Such .1 compromise would bo contrary to tho public interest, because it is , necessary that tho truth of tho 'camarilla' should be made known." Hcrr Harden attributes tho following words to tho Kaiser hiiiiself: "Away with Eulcnburg, away with Hohcnau, for ever. There is nothing definite against Itfoltke, but wo must put him on half-pay. Let him prove his integrity! Purified or atoned!" Ho also,declared i\t tho trial that tho camarilla Renerally spoke of von Moltko aR "dor Suesso" (the sweet one'), and of the Kaiser as "das Liobchen" (the darling). . ~..■. According to I'raa von Elbe, yon Moltke once said: "Wo havo forged a ring round His Majesty. . . . Tho Emperor will only hear my version of what has happened. No other version can reach his oars. Even if he hears other accounts he will believo only mine."