ORGIES OF DRUGS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1931, Page 3

ORGIES OF DRUGS

AUSTRIAN BARON DEAD

HORROR OF THE PEASANTRY

A strange story of coea : ne and other drug orgies in the romantic castle of Gleiss (near Hoilenstein, in the beautiful valley of the River Tbits, at the foot of fcha .nips) is revealed by the mysterious death of (Baron Rudolf Drasehe. His friend and secretary, Cavalry Major Anton Bildstein, has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of the baron. Baron Drasehe, one of the richest men in Austria, left the country four years ago following a scandal which involved many members of the aristocracy. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the police of Baden-bei-Wien. When the case was dropped a year ago Baron Drasehe returned to Austria, buft vanished from society and lived in seclusion at Gleiss Castle.

According to the story now told, shortly afterwards Major Bildstein became Baron Drasche's secretary.

Recently Gleiss Castle had become an object of horror to the peasantry, who would cross themselves when passing it. All day the castle and its inhabitants were wrapt in slumber behind drawn blindr.. Hut as night appioached bright lights became visible and burned until sunrise. Gradually it became kno vn that the nights were passed by Drasehe, Bildstein and others in orgies of cocaine and other less-known Oriental drugs.

Bildstein iet't early one morning, ordering that the Baron was not 1° be disturbed. When there was no sign of life from the bedroom by nightlall the door was forced and Drasehe was found lying dead across its bed. There were quantities of drugs on the table. Bildstein was arrested, and a search of a neighbouring castle which belonged to him revealed enormous quantities of cocaine, morphia, hashish and diaeetylmorphia, and another mysterious drug from the Orient which has not vet been identified. The papers state that Baron Drasehe, who had made Bildstein heir to one-third of his enormous fortune, had received evidence that Bildstein was never a cavalry major, but only a trooper in the dragoons.