THE BERLIN SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 311, 8 January 1908, Page 4

THE BERLIN SCANDAL.

A HANDKERCHIEF INCIDENT, Frau von Elbe, who divorced Count Kuao von Moltke (her first husband), gave evidence at the first trial about a certain "handkerchief incident/' the gist of which seem* to be that Count Kttno von Moltke found Prince Philip Eulenberg's handkerchief, and pressed it to his lips, crying: "Philli, my Philli." Von Moltke, she added, neglected her, abused her before her friends, and made her miserable by deliberate cruelty. He frequently denounced the institution of marriage, and proclaimed his regret that be had burdened himself with a wife. Oa one occasion he actually advised her to run away with another man whom she should choose as her lover.

Nearly two hours were occupied in listening to an analytical exposition by Dr Magnus Hirschfield, the medical expert, who paid he had come to the conclusion from the evidence given during the trial that Count Maltke had abnonmal inclinations, undoubtedly through hereditary causes over which he had no control and of which he might not even hare knowledge. "In the testimony of Frau von Elbe," continued the expert, "indications of Count Moltke's inclinations came clearly to light." Not satisfied with these pointed allusions Herr Harden then asked the expert to look at Count Moltke and tell the court if he had not the appearance of a man of abnormal proclivities. "He probably has not his usual mask of cos- ! metics on," added Hen Harden scornfully. The count rose and pounded the table violently in protest against "this insinuation to convict me of effeminacy." "Call my three men-servants, who are waiting outside, and ask them what cosmetics I use," the distracted and broken aristocrat pleaded. Herr Harden's retort was that the expert should say ii Count Moltke looked like a "normal Prussian general." The expert replied that he did not know Count von Moltke sufficiently to answer the question. Count Moltke described the handkerchief incident as a harmless joke. Herr Harden, at an early stage of the trial, told the Judge that he had only mentioned von Moltke's abnormal inclinations in the public interest, to dissolve the camarilla. The Judge suggested that as Harden did not accuse von Moltke of criminal practices, and had no desire to libel him, the case might be settled by a formal statement to this effect. Herr Harden: "i would rather suffer penal servitude than come to a compromise with von Moltke. Such a compromise would be contrary to the public interest, because it is necessary that the truth of the 'camarilla' should be made known." Herr Harden attributes the following words to the Kaiser himself: '"Away with Kulenberg, away with Hohenau, for ever. There is nothing definite against Moltke, but we must put him on half-pay. Let him prove his integrity! Puiilied or atoned!" He also declared at the trial that the camarilla generally spoke of von Moltke as "der Suesse" (the sweet one), and of the Kaiser an "das Liebchen" (the darling). According to Frau von Kibe, von Moltke once said: "We have forged a ring round his Majesty. . . . The Emperor will only hear my version of what has happened. No other version can reach his ears. Even if he hears other accounts he will believe only mine."