Lomboroso's Diagnosis

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1911, Page 4

Lomboroso's Diagnosis

HOW HE IDENTIFIED LATENT INSTINCTS. RECORD OF AN ADHOIT THIEF. Ileinrich Wyler, son of a Swiss merchant, who has just been sentenced to four and a hal* years' imprisonment for thef'ts ui St. Petersburg, has behind him one of tine most remarkable records for adroit iswind* ling that has ever come before a Russian court. Variety has not been lacking, and the tale of Iris past life, as unfolded by the police, rends more, like part of a sensational novel than real life. .As a. boy of 17 lie was publicly whipped by bis father for having insulted a young girl, and in a fit of rage and desperation loft bis ihome. After some few weeks of ihonest existence as a clerk in France, .hie wont to Monte Carlo, where she was successful enough to win 15,000 frames, with which be travelled through Italy and afterwards Spain, gaining considerable fluency in the language, of both, countries. Tiring of this existence, he journeyed to Africa, where lie made more money iby trading in ivory, and also—'.a more remunerative department—in slaves. On ibis return voyage to .Italy, with some 50,000 frames capital, be met the Duke «f the Abruzzi, who took an interest in the intelligent young man who could speak five languages, and ho was eventually appointed the duke's interpreter. Through- the medium of tihe duke Wyler was introduced to the famous Professor Lom.broso, who, after knowing him a short time, declared that Wylor was not a fit person to be at large, as he had an intensely criminal disposition. So furious was Wyler on hearing the professor's statement that his behaviour did actually lead to his being sent to a lunatic asylum in Milan for a time; but ibe succeeded in escaping, with the result that 'bis life from that time onward has borne out Professor Lombroso's diagnosis with remarkable precision. A scries of hotel"thefts led to his fligth to Bucharest, where a wellknown theatrical beauty fell in love with 'him. He lived at her expense for a time, and then, tiring of her, made off with her jewels. Assuming the title of Count Halwyl, ihio (next succeeded in carrying out a series of remarkable daring robberies—the most sensational of which put him in •possession of a magnificent diamond bracelet belonging to the wife of the ': Russian Einbassador at Rome. This was quiite a. recent 'affair. The lady was seated in lier 'box at the Royal Opera, when an adjutant of the King of Italy entered and told her that the Queen, witoo was in the Royal box opposite, had greatly admired her diamond bracelet, and would .take it as a. favour if she might be allowed to inspect it more closely. The ambassadress entrusted the bracelet to the care of the suposed adjutant, who was Wyler in disguise, and "who was not seen again in Rome. Since that time the Russian police ibave been hunting everywhere for the thief. Ho appeared in Murieh as tlve Marquis Rosetta, and', becoming engaged to a Russian lady whoso acquaintance he made at a fashionable ball there, subsequently disappeared with jewellery valued at forty thousand roubles. Then, sinking .lower and lower as the result of mucli ihlard drinking, Wyler was eventually caught in the 'act of stealing an overcoat from a restaurant. It is stated that this extraordinary man has still a sum of about two million francs deposited in a Swiss bank—the product of his life of swindling.