KILLED FOR JOKING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 52, 1 March 1879, Page 4

KILLED FOR JOKING.

A sad story comes frora Wursburg. A young sfudent was arrested a fewdays aao for "snapping bis fingers " at a military picket. For this offence be was being conducted to the central police station, when in au unlucky moment he thought fit to run away. Tbia escapade proved a much more rash and ill-timed exploit than the other f for the uoc-eommiseioned officer who waa ia charge of the picket fired upon the unlucky fugitive, and brought : him to the ground *t the first shot. It ' was found that the bull had gone in at the back and come out at the breast, and the student died of his wound dur■itxg f bo night. The excitement caused by this afelanchoty incident has not yet subsided. The Cologne Gazette men- ■; tioos that tha victim formed part of a C»lhot|c society, nnd both he and the author of his death were Prussians, bo (bat no political animosity was mixed up with the affair. The funeral was held with great pomp, all the professors ' and btu'lents following, and in ihe evet> ing a torchlight procession was formed by the students ia honor of their late Comrade. Throughout the day the solitary we're ordered to remain within the bat racks to avoid any conflicts. A local paper soys the noo-cemmiseioned officer has te?n declared by the •otb riiifg blsmeleßS. The Frankfurter Zeitung h surprised at eolidiers ■ carrying 1 based guoß in a time of profound tranquil ity. The Cologne Gazette quotes the Bavarian law on the subject, according to which soldiers on, duty may use aDy weapon with • which they, are provided in preventing the esc&pa of a prisoner. The story recalls a still more dramatic ' incident of a similar kind, which happened at < the ■ beginning of this : century in the streets of London. A ' gentleman of hijjh position passing along a much-frfquented thoroughfore either was, or supposed himself to be, obstructed and insulted by a 1 youn? private soldier standing an' guard outside one of the public offices. He assaulted the latter, knoakiEjf hiindowD, ; and then walked away. The soldier, however, taunted by the laughter of the crowd, reflected for a moment, and then, running after his assailant, thrust him through and through from behind with his fixed bayonet. The gentleman died, and the soldier wbs arrested with a view of being brought up on a charge of murder. Bat the man was acquitted, upon the principle — which is in theory essentially a Rood one — that it is legitimate for a soldier od doty to repel any hostile attack by a free use of the best weapon in his . hands. j