PRINCESS ON TRIAL

Evening Star, Issue 18336, 25 July 1923, Page 5

PRINCESS ON TRIAL

CHARGED WITH SHELTERING ERHARDT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, July 24. _ Tho trial has been commenced at Leipzig of Princess Alargareta HohenloheOerhingen, aged twenty-nine, on a charge of sheltering Captain Erhardt after tho Kapp coup and perjury in. swearing that ho was unknown to her. Tho evidence showed that the princess became acquainted with Captain Erhardt when his regiment was quartered on her father’s estate in Upper Silesia. Erhardt, who was then a popular idol, easily captured her affections. After tho Kapp coup Erhardt took refuge in Alunich, where the princess, who was visiting her relatives, met him.

The princess gave evidence that Erhardt produced naturalisation papers in the name of Eschwege, and said : “ Erhardt is dead. I am Eschwege. Anyone questioned about me can truthfully say ‘ I don't know Erhardt.’ ” The princess sobbingly described how, as a Catholic, she struggled with her conscience before agreeing to shelter Erhardt in a villa outside Alunich which she had bought, subletting part to Herr Hugo Eschwege. The princess admitted swearing before tho examination by the magistrate that she did not know that Eschwege was Erhardt. She broke her oath to Erhardt only when he was arrested and admitted his identity. The president of the court remarked: “ Princess, you are to be pitied. You were shamefully treated bv this man.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.