A Sensational Trial

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 33, 31 August 1889, Page 3

A Sensational Trial

Berlin has just had a most extraordinary trial curious, indeed almost without parallel, amongst the records of crime. The hangman has beeu accused of assassination and tried for his life. Of course, it was a question of jealousy. The Berlin execu tionor does not lead a very moral life. He is a married man with a family and he deserted both, and the poor wife soon had a rival. But he also deserted the rival in her turn. The dry statistics of the law Courts read like the argument of some ingenious play. The abandoned mistress longed to recover her supremacy. One would not have t iought a hangman capable of so much attraction. She tried every means to gain her object, and at last in despair had recourse to the executioner's assistant and right-hand man whom she knew, and whose influence over him was great. There were interviews between the two hangmen, but nuitters did not advance. Then there was an angry interview at a restaurant, in the course of which the chief kicked his aide-de-camp in the stomach. The injury was more serious than it seemed, and a month afterwards the poor go-between died. All sorts of evidence was given at the trial, and the jury were merciful in their verdict. But the criminal classes of Berlin were greatly disappointed. It would have been interesting, they seem to have thought, if the new hangman had to try his prentice hand on his predecessor.