"Things will work out with my newspaper, and even on a very solid basis. Now it is up to me to work and to show that I have the stuff it takes to be a real man etc. etc. Best regards to your wife
"Yours truly
Rudolf Lebius."
I did not answer. I was of the opinion that a man with honour could not proceed after such a silence, especially since I had totally rejected Lebius concerning the booklet. But on August the 8th, he nevertheless wrote again:
"On the 4th of this month, I have become the sole proprietor of the "Sachsenstimme" at favourable conditions. I can now act as I please. To gain some independence from the printer, I would like to take a loan of a few thousand marks (3 to 6) for half a year. There is no risk involved. The Jewish interested businesses are behind me, who have, as the past season has shown, supported me to a large extent. The Christmas sales will give me the money to pay you back. Would you grant me this loan? I am very willing do something for you in return. The large number of academic employees allows my paper to rise above the majority the of Saxonian newspapers. We are furthermore able to send those articles, you might have an interest in, to 300 or more German and Austrian newspapers and highlight the article concerned in blue. Something like this will infallibly have its effect. In Dresden, I am sending my paper to all public bars (1760). Most sincerely
Rudolf Lebius."
At the same time, I found out that Lebius owned nothing at all, but had taken the oath of manifestation [a], that he had not payed the printer of his paper, that he quite generally had nothing but debts, and that he even owed royalties. That his newspaper had a solid basis, was untrue, the same thing goes for the "large number of academic employees" and other things. Intentional deceptions like this ought to brought before the public prosecutor. Let me draw your attention to how he starts and ends his letters: "Dear Sir ... With outstanding admiration!" "With great respect and admiration!" "Dear doctor ... With admiration and gratitude." When he saw that this flattery failed to do its effect, he did not write to me any more, but to Dittrich. He did so on August the 15th, 1904:
[a] This oath forces a debtor to disclose all of his possessions. A debtor who refuses to take this oath can be sent to prison.
"Dear Mr. Dittrich!
"I will give you one percent for negotiating the loan. I do not need more than 10.000 marks. But I would also make do with less. I will sent you your fee on the 20th of this month as agreed.