BOGUS PRINCESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOGUS PRINCESS.

RECEIVES REGAL HONOURS FROM

GERMAN GUARD

RIDICULOUS INCIDENT.

Berlin', October 25. —To Koepeiiick succeeds Koenigsberg. The extravagant story of the captain is followed by the story of the widow.

Yesterday an elderly lady, plainly dressed, appeared before the guardhouse in front of the castle of Koenigsherg. Two sentries were posted at the gates, and inside the guardhouse were a score of soldiers on the watch. She informed the sentries that she was Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, aunt of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, who at present occupies the Schloss. The. sentinels at once presented; and the. full guard of twenty men turned out. stood to arms, the drums rattled, and trumpets were blown. ■.. . The lady then explained to the noncommissioned officer in charge of the watch that she. hud business with her "nephew," but as the Prince was out the old lady was accommodated with a chair in front of the castle gate. Meanwhile a crowd was gathering, and # finally grew to such dimensions that the' officer had to send for the police to keep the crowd from pressing on the watch-house. Before the police arrived a troop of cuirassiers rattled along the street, turned into Schloss courtyard, their officers not forgetting to salute the; Princess of Mecklenburg, and then the police hurried on to the scene. At their head was an officer who at once recognised the old lady as a sort of harmless lunatic well - known in Koenigsberg. The crowd were pushed back, a droshky fetched, and she was removed to the ' local lunatic asylum. ...

NOT THE UNIFORM THIS TIME. It is stated that this adventurous old lady was not even elegantly dressed. But the name of Princess Charlotte sufficed. Nor had the Koenigsberg Guard the excuse that the heroes of KoepeuicK. had. There was not even a uniform to dazzle them. People are speculating as to what grotesque lengths the guard would have gone had not the police arrived on the scene.' _ An amusing incident occurred* vesterday in the Rathaus, at Dirschau. " While the* Mayor and Town Council were in session a soldier suddenly appeared on the floor of the council-room, drew himself up and saluted Homeric laughter from councillors and ' public! They at once thought of Koepemck. When the merriment had somewhat subsided the .Mayor asked the soldier if they were, under arrest. (More laughter.) The unfortunate soldier finally explained that he only wished to speak with one of the councillors; a relative of his.