THE KRANTZ CASE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 8

THE KRANTZ CASE

* CHARGE ALTERED MANSLAUGHTER INSTEAD OF MURDER Berlin, February 15. A surprise on the resumption of the Krantz case was created when the prosecutor declared that he would withdraw the murder charge and substitute that of manslaughter. The Bench granted the withdrawal, which meant liberation from custody during the hearing of the lesser charge. . The decision transformed Krantz, who apparently did not understand, and had been hanging limply over the dock in a pose ot exhaustion and dejection. He straightened up and smiled, and made a bolt for the door The Judge had to remind him that the lesser charge was not finished. When it became known a great crowd collected on Krantz’s reappearance for the afternoon session, accompanied by his parents, and surrounded by cheering people, endeavouring to shake hands. Women wept, and even scattered flowers on his head. To-day’s evidence was directed to show that Krantz was impressionable, and more likely to be dominated by the actual murderer and suicider, Scheller. ACCUSED BREAKS DOWN (Rec. February 16, 8.15 p.m.) Berlin, February 15. The final sensation of the Kranz trial is that the boy has broken down and been sent to hospital under doctors’ orders, and the trial indefinitely postponed. The accused’s pose of indifference completely disappeared when the murder charge was withdrawn, and he is now in a state of complete nervous collapse.