THE ERHARDT CASE

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1923, Page 5

THE ERHARDT CASE

PRINCESS ON TRIAL. now SHE WAS DUPED. (Received July 24 at 10.30 p.m.) BERLIN, July 23. At Leipzig the trial has begun of Princess Marguerite Hohenlohe Erhinger (who arrest was calbel on July 17) on a charge of sheltering Captain Erhardt after the Kapp coup, and of perjury in swearing that he was unknown to her. The evidence showed the Princess became acquainted with Erhardt when his regiment was quartered on her father’s estate in Upper Silesia. Erhardt was then a popular idol. He easily captured her affections. After the Kapp coup, Erhardt took refuge in Munich. The Princess, visiting relatives, met him there. The Princess gave evidence that Erhardt produced naturalisation papers in the name of Eschwege, and saiN: “Erhardt is dead. I am Eschwege. Anyone questioned about me can truthfully say: I don’t know Erhardt!” The Princess, sobbing, described how as a Catholic, she had struggled with her conscience before agreeing to shelter Erhardt in a villa outside Munich, which she bought, subletting a part to Herr Hugo Eschwege. The Princess admitted swearing before an examining magistrate that she did not know Esehwege was Erhardt. She only broke her oath to Erhardt when he was arrested, and had admitted his identity. The president of the Court remarked: ‘‘Princess, you are to be pitied! You were shamefully treated by this man!”