69. _An Insult to an Ambassador._
The following appeared in the papers, dated St Petersburg, Feb. 4th,
1908:
"M. Bompard, the French Ambassador, regarding a recent paragraph in the
_Grazhdanin_ as insulting, has addressed himself to M. Isvolsky,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, complaining that the statement in
question was directed against himself in his capacity of representative
of the French Republic in Russia. He therefore asks for the protection
of the Imperial Government. Since the Press laws contain no provision
for the criminal prosecution of newspapers for insults offered to
representatives of friendly Powers, a decree has been issued whereby
the Prefect of St Petersburg, in virtue of the powers conferred upon
him under the law on 'extraordinary protection,' has inflicted upon the
editor of the _Grazhdanin_ a fine of 1,000 roubles (L100)."
70. _A Question of Legitimacy._
Edward Wolff, a German subject, domiciled in England since 1860, goes
to Germany in 1870 for the purpose of there marrying his niece. He at
once returns to England with his bride, and becomes naturalized in
1871. His wife dies in 1873 in giving birth to a son. In 1875 he
marries an Englishwoman in London. As the result of this marriage a
second son is born in 1876. In 1900 Wolff dies without leaving a will,
six months after the death of his second wife. The son of the second
wife claims the whole of his father's estate, maintaining that the
first marriage of his father was invalid and that therefore his
step-brother, being illegitimate, could not inherit.
71. _The Coachman of an Envoy._
In 1827 a coachman of Mr. Gallatin, the American minister in London,
committed an assault outside the embassy. He was arrested in the stable
of the embassy and charged before a local magistrate. The British
Foreign Office refused to recognise the exemption of the coachman from
the local jurisdiction.
72. _The Case of Schnaebele._
On April 21st, 1887, Schnaebele, the Commissionary of Police of
Pagny-sur-Moselle, crossed the German frontier on official business,
for the settlement of which he was invited to a meeting by the local
German functionaries. He was, however, at once arrested on a warrant
for being concerned with the organization of espionage.