THE VELTHEIM CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9075, 15 February 1908, Page 5

THE VELTHEIM CASE.

Per Press Association.—Copyright. Received February 14, 11.35 p.m. London, February 14. The warders of Wormwood Scrubs Prison describe Yeltheim as a broken man, in a dazed aud semi-collapsed condition. VON YELTHEIM. A recently-puWished story of this man’s career contains the following particulars:—You Yeltheim is fortynine years of age, and has had an ex. traordinarily adventurous life. He entered the German Navy as a youth, subsequently left it for the Army, and afterwards travelled in Russia. In 1885 he fought for Bulgaria against Servia, and was twice wounded. After the peace he came to London, sailing thence to West Australia, where he made a hazardous exploring excursion in the NeverNever Land. He went next to Sydney, after marrying " a Miss Yearsley at Perth. Subsequently he attempted to join one of Stanley’s expeditions at Zanzibar, but was too late, aud went to Capetown. Thence he travelled to New Orleans , ! ,was sent to the Argentine as a shipping agent,"and finally returned to England by way .of’Java and Japan. He sailed for Plymouth for Capetown in April, 1887. The Johannesburg tragedy occurred in March of the following year. Mr Woolf Joel, who, with his brother, Mr Sol Joel, succeeded to the great mining business of the late Mr Barney Baruato, was seated in his office with Mr Harold Strange on the morning of March 14th, when Yon Yeltheim called. Blackmailing letters, signed “Kismet,” had been received, and the meeting had been arranged in the hope of discovering their authorship. According to Mr Strauge, Mr Yeltheim made proposals in connection with a plan for upsetting the Kruger Government. Mr Joel and Mr 'Strange refused to listen to any such proposals, and then Yon Yeltheim, declaring that both of them knew too much to leave the room alive, drew a pistol and fired. Mr Joel was shot three times and killed. Mr Strange escaped. Von Veltheim’s story was different. He said lie had come to the Transvaal at the request of the Barnarto firm in connection with a plot against the ruling Boer powers. While he was conversing with Mr Joel aud Mr Strange, the last-named fired at him with a derringer. Von Yeltheim (an expert shot) fired at Strange, who ducked behind a desk, and then turned his weapon on Mr Joel. At all events,* after a trial lasting eight days aud creating the most intense excitement. Von Yeitheim was acquitted of the charge of murder, and given an immense ovation. He was, however, banished from * the Transvaal, and went to Delagoa Bay, where, it is said, he received an infernal machine through the post, and escaped death only by good fortune. One of the mysteries connected with Yon Yeltheim —a man of gigantic figure and handsome mien—was the finding in the Thames in September, 1897, of a naked body which was formally identified as her husband’s by Von Yeltheim’s wife. At the time of the discovery the supposed dead man was serving with the Bechuanaland police. Divorce proceedings were brought in London in 1902 by Mrs Paula Yon Yeltheim against her husband. The petitioner was married at the registry office in St. Giles in 1896. Before for South Africa Von Yeltheim” signed this document: “I, Carl (Ludwig Fran Yon Yeltheim, hereby formally renounce all my matrimonial rights to the position and fortune of my wife, Paula Schiffer. ’ He had been married, it appeared from the divorce proceedings, to two other women. His wife obtained the freedom she sought. ..