P-KAISER'S LIBEL SUIT

Otaki Mail, 21 December 1923, Page 3

P-KAISER'S LIBEL SUIT

NAVAL OFFICER'S SUICIDE RECALLED. EDITOR FINED. LONDON", Dec. IS. Sensational evidence was given in a case at Dortmund where the Court is hearing the ex-Kaiser's charge of : be! against Von Der Heytft, editor oi the Dortmund General Anzeiger, which published in 1022 sensational articles entitled "from the life of \ the Crown lunatic,'' attacking ex-' Kaiser and Crown Prince. Halm, the ex-Kaiser's counsel, said the case had been instituted to finally contradict t ; ie allegations concerning the death oi Von Hahnke, a young naval officer during the Kaiser's tour in Norway, in 1807, in the yacht Hohenzollem Pauli, a German* ex-officer gave evi-

dence that his brother who is now dead told him that Von Hahnke's fate was common talk among naval men during the Norwegian cruise. The ex-Kaiser one day the worse for drink was behaving most freely and appeared to be tickling Von Hahnke with whom hie was most intimate. Von Hahnke playfully retaliated by slapping the ex-Kaiser's lace, injuring his eye. The ex-Kaiser's attitude instantly changed. He sprang to his feet "left the room and the stme

afternoon a Court of Hon«ur ordered Von Hahnke to atone with his life tor the insult to the Emperor. Von Hahnke iniedintely left the Hohen--oliern and took his''cycle to the top of a Cliff and allowed the machine to carry him oyer the edge. He was dashed to pieces. Count Kk-iUmgall Aimundj formerly of the ex-Ktnsw s personal staff, gave a denial oi t%e InU-ition? and that a falling spar injured the ex-Kaiser's eye lit added that Von Hahnkes death "as accidental and the ec-Kaiser had erected a memorial on the scene of 1 11 tragedy and attended *e unveil--1 making a speech which was an oxDHoXafv mark of favour to the officers of ijhe Hohenzollem. He also S «v§dflS?e thai to* ?,** Cental The •Court fln<4 'on ae default a xa«w«i'» immtmutM^'