STOLEN ARCHIVES

Southland Times, Issue 19501, 16 March 1925, Page 5

STOLEN ARCHIVES

A “HISTORIAN’S” HOARD. THIRTY YEARS OF PILFERING. A strange gift of self-hypnotisatiun, under the influence of which he believed himself to be other people, but by preference King Edward VII., is given by the historian Karl Hauck, as an excuse for plundering half the State archives of Europe. It was his custom to sit in rapt contemplation in the privacy of his study before the autograph of one of the eminent historical characters whom he loved to personate until the lines of the signature had fixed themselves in his brain. Then he would try to imitate it, and as he did so he felt that his own personality was gradually being transfused into that: of the great man whose name he was writing. VARIED COLLECTION. Unfortunately for Herr Hauck he did not confine the use of the documents he had stolen to this fantastic diversion. Some of them he also sold to dealers, and when the head of the Prussian State archives at Charlotenburg saw advertised for sale a famous historical manuscript which he knew should be in the custody of his colleague at Vienna he made inquiries, and learned that it had been stolen. This discovery’ eventually took-the police to Hauck’s flat 'n Berlin, where a room was found “filled to the ceiling” with similar pilferings. This extraordinary collection is still being sorted, but already it is known to contain letters of King Edward, Frederick the Great, William of Orange, and Prince Gortchakoff, for all of whom the learned thief seems to have had a special weakness; many signed photographs, numerous impressions of historical seals, quantities of manuscript, and the texts and scores of famous poets and musicians. To many >f these spoils Hauck had added monographs and commentaries of his own composition. Hauck is now 57 years of age, and said that he had been engaged in his depredations for 30 years. Under the pretence —which seems to have been not altogether false —that he was writing a comprehensive "History’ of German Culture," he obtained admission to many of the most famous collections of historical manuscripts. He Is known to have been allowed to work in the State archives at London, Vienna, Brussels, The Hague, Madrid and the Vatican. His visit to London, however, took place some years before the war. FRIEND DOES SELLING. For 15 years Hauck had been living with a much younger man, who calls himself Karl von Hohenlohe, and claims to belong to one of the oldest families of the Austrian aristocracy, but ‘about whom all that is known positively is that he used to be a tailor’s cutter. Their acquaintance was a chance one and was made in a cafe of evil reputation. Hauck admits that their relations contained an exceedingly unedifying element, and it Is suggested as possible that it was Hohenlohe who sold the stolen manuscripts without knowledge of his patron. Early in the war Hohenlohe was made a prisoner, but Hauck’s influence at. Rome was sufficient to secure his release. During his visit to the Vatican Hauck found an opportunity to appropriate a valuable golden bell, which was also found in his flat. Although the thief appears to have published nothing worthy of notice, he was known among collectors, and claims to have been on terms of friendship with Hugo Stinnes.