Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1908)
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, , SUNDAY: HORNING, NOVEMBER " J, 1908 ' SeMlN OF JD5Tiei RUINED 13,000 FAMILIES AND. SWINDLED HIS KING WHILE PLAYING A DOUBLE PART , 1 BIOmv A Jwfo A.JiS u of partly build, dressed in the t height of fashion, wearing a silk hat m and carrying a Cane, walked through the doors of the police headquarters in Co penhagen. . , llf passed leisurely up the broad hall-. jvay and stopped at the door of the chief de tective inspector. He entered without knock ing. As he appeared a number of police offi-, tials and detectives bowed profoundly. '' "Good morning" said former Minister if Justice Alberti, cordially extending his hand. A visit from the former cabinet min ister, who on his retirement from office some weeks before had beenecdraied ByKtng Frederick with the highest honor in Den mark, was unprecedented. The officials were almost dazed. ' . -;f "I wish to speak to you, blandly de. dared the impressive former minister gra ciously. "By all means'." The' officer led the tcay. into an inner office. Seating himself comfortably in a leather tovered chair, removing his hat and slowly feeling oft his gloves, the former, dignitary Spoke slowly, calmly, gently: "Listen. Vve come tdgive myself up. I am ruilty of fraudand forgery," he smiled cheerfullyj,f "See.He produced a receipt from a bank for bonds worth $2,500,000, , and added: "Those signatures are forged. I'm caught like a gentleman.' The official was daed. Mechanically he i iummoned an officer and former Minister of ." Justice Alberti, once the most powerful man tn Denmark, the friend of King Frederick and the trusted confidant of the Danish Premier :, Christesen, was placed under arrest. ' And before that evening there thunder . jrif to atoms in Denmark the reputation of the revered politician and banker; the people .learned that he who. should have protected the public, who of all men should have been honest, had embezzled and robbed to an ex tent of from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000, had ruined 15,000 families, and that of the 40,- i)00 persons who had suffered through his crooked deals, his king had lost a half mill- . ton dollars. N ALL history few men who stood so high in power and public opinion have o grossly abused their opportunities and the trust reposed tn them ,. Peter Adler Alberti, member for seven years tf the Danish cabinet and the especial favorite of - King Frederick VIII. Few men In a single lifetime -have enjoyed such a tremendous popularity and later been overwhelmed '.. with such abuse and public execration. . . No than In Denmark is today more reviled tharr the former minister. No man is so hated because Alberti robbed the poor. Most of the depositors in the Peasants' Savings Bank, of which Alberti was president, were peasants and farmers. There is no hope of restitution, because the' money was irre trievably leL X few days before hit arrest Alberti was the hon ored guest at the banquet board of his king. There : be enjoyed the royal smiles and royal favor and all the while knew his reputation was atjfiut . to .crash Into frightful ruin about him. For seven years a member of the DAnish cabinet, Alberti became the chief political powey in his coun try. A man of tremendous ingenuity arid great Intel-' leet, he conducted movements, won the support of both radicals end conservatives, and introduced laws f benefit to the nation. People honored him, the -poor loved hint. In some quarter however, Ms doom was not unexpected, for certala -of the newspapers had attacked htm for years. Their attacks were not popular, however, and were retarded as mere"elambr."l - Te show his disbelief In the reports of Albertl s wrongdoing, several weeks before hie disgrace, be fore a great assemblage- and amid great pomp and acclaim, the king conferred upon him the highest tenet-at the disposal t -the throivs, - -L.', " . When Alberti walked into the office of the police Mtdauartere eod blandly announced hlsr wronrdotnc ' polio were stunned. When th nuhiin h... of his confession t flrn they could not believe it tfrap It comprehend It! And then when It dawned upon them, and when his confession was verified, they were staggered and bewildered. It was learned that for fourteen years the most honored man in Denmark had led a veritable Jekyll and Hyde existence; that he had used his position for the most daring, most unscrupulous forgeries; that bis position as minister of Justice was used for pri vate gaita, and that contraots for materials to be used for public Improvements had been purchased at exorbitant prices from his own firms. What , his oVefalcatlons actually amount to has as yet not been determined. Alberti himself estimates them as from $2,750,000 to $4,150,000. There is a wide "spread belief in Denmark that even the latter figure will be exceeded. As It now appears, Alberti was an opportunist. Without any definite political opinions or any out lined policy, he seized every opportunity for self-advancement, falling in line now with one party and then with the other,' acting aa moderator between the opposing factions, and thereby winning a reputation for level-headedness and sound business ability. Alberti, now notorious as tfie meat daring and un scrupulous forger of Europe, Is the Son of Krlstlan Karl Alberti, a well-known and honored lawyer and founder of the Peasants' Savings Bank. In politics his father championed the interests of th-e farmers and won their confidence. They became customers of his bank, as did their sons after them. Young Alberti took up the study and practice of law f?T? H AVE you noticed something missing this fall the usual crop of slang? That is, real pood, striking, catchy slang words and phrases. ot for a number of years has the slang pro duction been at such a low ebb. How little really new and good lias been devisr.d by' phra.se or word makers since last winter? Of course, one hears on every side the "fine and dandy" miniature imi tation of good slang, but how little else? N1 EW slang terms are the life of new slang come dies, as they enliven the streets. In a vay they keep things going and preserve us from mental indigestion. There's something delightfully unconventional, a suggestion of a freedom from the trite and hide bound, in the use of slang. In the course of time many slang words become invested with a certain literary repute and become recognized as good Eng llalu . . For what "gets 'em going" so much as a happy wprd. such as "rubber-neck" to the rubbers In a theater! What delights the sentimentally Inclined as a "soft" song wth lots of "gush" -words in It! What becomes ao popular as a slang word, and who doubts hat "on the bumy" as a term of description ."tickled" more gentle folk, than Mr. Cleveland's correct "Innocuous desuetude"? But what is the matter with this season's sjang-. makers? Have their brains . "petered out'?. Or. are they taking a Aaoation? There have been almoVt So. new and striking slang "wurruds" this fall. The slang crop Is poor. Are you interested In slang? Have yoi never real ized that "four-flushing" Is a more contemptuous ex- ' pression for the "mutt" who cheats at cards than the correct English adjective "unfair"! Or that to call a man a "tight wad" Is more eloquent than to call him "extremely economical"! And would you not like better to "smash", a gentle enemy than merely to -punch" him? . . . - To tell some one that a friend Is "pinched Is to rive a more comprehensive Idea of his plight than to ay" he wasy merely 'placed .under arrest. " Slang is usually terse and expressive. - - Almost ejvery season new;sbrng words and phrases . Ik. ..i.-.i X - , t I JT M I; : 'Ik- W :., '-csrl I ' ' M f 'O' ill and when a young man organized a .fire insur ance company. A desire for wealth filled' him. The fever of gam Ming got into his veins. He wished to become the greatest power, financial and political, of Denmark. His life was directed toward this goal; every oppor tunity that might further his ambitions was utilized. His attention to business was absolute; he labored In defatlgably. He won the honor and 1 confidence of people and success. In the Interests of his lire " Insurance company Tl)T tF Woo To IT ,.ASl ' LK AT STRAW - rAkTcHtp MAYO lj DAT S PooR cpme Into favor. But how It seems the supply la exhausted. Many of the words so popular a few years ago are already lost in the mists of the past. One does not hear the expression. "O slush." nearly so much as one did four years ago. Even, "O piffle," is losing favor. "Set the hook" arave way to "twenty three, skldoo," and even now this eloquent term la .losing ground. Many old slang terms .have become recognized by the dictionary authorities. In the sixteenth cenuiry a "blackguard" was i a menial who traveled with a lord and carried smoky utensils. Once a person who talked grandiloquently was said to use "bom bast." which meant literally cotton waddingtusen to pad hosiery of that early period. It Is now a rec ognised term in English. Other old slang words which by usage have been made proper are "cockney," "top.'V "grit," "dude",. and "sand. Slang has always been favored hy the "loldles snd "gents" of the "dramatic profeah." Once the term "greenroom'' -was slang, because in early days this Albert! was compelled to make frequent trips to Lon don, and there. It Is said, began to play the stock market. About the time' he hegan to speculate in the Lon don stock market he developed political aspirations. "This was about 1892. The reform party was then gathering force and Alberti saw his opportunity. He became the leader. Opponent after opponent lie vanquished, and he was swept Into office years ago. He was appointed a deputy and advocate In the 'Supreme Court. He pur chased a newspaper and became the most powerful onlitician In Denmark. To his credit it must be said miinv beneficial laws were trutiua uiiuuiu agency, and when. In 1901, he was appointed to the cabinet and made minister of justice he carried out many reforms. Meanwhile, as he rose to power and won the ab solute confidence of the king, he had been unscrupu lously gambling with the people's money. Wild plunges were made In the Paris and London markets, and. almost invariably, he lost. His method, according to his confession, was to take bonds from the safe of fils savings bank and deposit them In other banks, thereby getting ad vances on them. Loans were made on this basis In London and Paris; only a few weeks before his dis grace Alberti tried to raise a large sum of money In London. Big sums were advanced to Alberti by m.any man- waiting-room was painted green. A theatrical failure was called a "fiasco" a slang term which originated in the Italian phrase "far fiasco." meaning te make flask, for glassNowers would make flasks. Instead of flowers, of faulty glass. An "angel" came to mean the kind gentleman backing a play, and the "heavy," the actor wh played villainous parts. An actress who "turned down" a suitor might also be said to "give him the cold shoul der," or "the Icy stare." Or he may have been "cut out" by a deadly rivaU Or the .fair lady may have "put her foot" on his aspirations. Aqd when he was told to "cheese it," in sheer despair he may have gone to a "Joy shop" and got "tight," after which probably he "went on the water wagon." Where and how some of these slang terms originate must and will remain a mystery. That they have an humble origin among clever denlsens of a vvorld un used to dictionary learning cannot be doubted. Big boy may "kick over the traces," "work a bunco game" on ah "easy mark" and get "caught with the goods," and sent to "college." After a financial, panlo a broker may be "cleaned" out," and will be spoken "of as being "on his uppers" or a "dead one." He may- have "cold feet" and "keep out of the game," or he may again "butt In," "take a plunger" and "make . good." . ' ' A "fly" hubby may find that hla better half Intends to "make It hot for him" if he doent turn over a ntw leaf, and ever thereafter may ""walk the chalk m line." His friends will tear you' that the Vmlssas" has! him "under her thumb." TJle son may go .to college and "sow his wild oats," and after havlnaj a "hot ' time" at school return home "all broken up, and learning by experience, may "cut out" the fellows and -"buckle do.wn" to work. . But few of these terms of description are new. Flnce the ""twenty-three, skldoo," what has really- coma In the delectable woria or sisngc been "nothing doing." Ths slang-makers seem to be fon the blink." Ther better -"spruce up ana out few." , . I! ' "hand t ' kid? ufacturlng enterprise and from friends, even from i King Frederick himself. , Charges were first made against Alberti many years ago In the "Polltiken." the leading journal of Co . penhagen. These attacks were long continued and ' bitter,' but people paid little attention to Vlggo Hoerup, the editor. For was not Alberti a minister, the confidant and adviser of the king? When Hoerup died Henrfic Cavllng took the editorship and con tinued the opposition to the minister. Still the public-did not believe. Then somehow the editor got some one in sym Dathy with him Into Albertl'a bank as director. The v 1 k"" - ner editor, ana nnaiiy revelations leanea uui urn something was wrong with the bank. There were accusations, too, that Alberti used his position for private gain. Charges were made thdt materials for public Improvements were pur chased from hla own companies, that because of his policies real esHate speculators were able to make money, which was shared with Alberti, and that, fur- thermore, he was behind lottery companies operating In defiance of the laws of the country. Formal charges were framed against him, but be cause of the.frlendshlp and confidence of J. C. Chrla tensen, Danish premier. Investigations were deterred. Last June Alberti resigned his portfolio on the pre text of 111 health. It was accepted, and the king, to show his confidence in his favorite. In the face of changes, conferred spon him an honor never given to any but retiring premiers and made him a mem ber of the board of the Great Northern Telegraph Company. ...... In the face of such confidence what could the peo ple do? What could they believe? Alberti was a hero, a man grossly calumnied, and his accusers found themselves more unpopular than ever. Alberti -himself, alone In his palatial home, saw" the structures of bis ambitions tottering down about him. He foresaw the inevitable disclosures that must come when the officials of the hank made their in vestigations. Here was a man who had reached an apex of pow er. His wprd with his party had been taken without fjuestlon. Laws were passed at his dictation. To htm the king confided his secrets and plans, as the king's father, Christian, had done .before-him. He had been the sponsor of reforms. He had become the idol of the people". Now ha was about to lose their respect and love, and become the most vilely execrated man In the' country. , , " HONORED IN OTHER LANDS The day before he left the ministerial buildings honors were conferred upon him by Oreece, Norway and Germany.' His name shone before men, yea, be fore the nations! That he would soon be branded as a scoundrel, an embezzler, one of the most notorious and despicable of the age did this cause him an guish during the long nights? Whfi can tell? - . He stood high in the church; his charities were many. He was soon to bear the ignominy, pf a man who robs iha poor of their savings. His friends still ral lied to his defense; the king had Invited him a few days before to a meeting of the Royal Shooting Club, where he eat next yie monarch.' What was to be .done? During all the time when charges were made ' against him he had preserved a calm demeanor, his eloquent defense of himself had disarmed all-suspicion. But now. the fatal day had come, '. . ' Morning dawned and Albert!, dressed in his best, entered an automoBlle and drove to the police build ing. That afternoon the Inspector of savings banks closed' his Institution. Before the Stock Exchange of Copenhagen closed the news of the appalling con fession of defalcation was' known. That night while the streets of the capital were thronged with people while frenzied men and Women who had lost their all wandered the streets, howling curses upon the man: they had trusted, Alberti sat in his cell, the cab inet held, a meeting and. later resigned a cloud of dishonor upon It. ' - About thirty years ago Albertl's only brother left U6niir umuK si wa. impircaiea in irauas. Alber tls divorced Tin i s now the wife of Peter Corneous, .-the Danish tenor. V:
