Page 6 Advertisements Column 2

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1917, Page 6

A SENSATIONAL TRJAL WOMA'tf ATTEMPTS FOURTEEN MURDERS. One of the most sensational murder trials in the history of the Austrian capital occupied the Criminal Court of the Fifth district four days, and ended with the conviction of the defendant, Mrs. Leopoldine Kasperek. who will have to die on the gallows, if Emperor Charles does not save her by an act of grace. Although only 23 years old, the convicted woman is one of the most desperate and heartless criminals in the annals of the police. iShe comes from a respectable family, and is the wife of a soldier who has been fighting on the Russian front since the first months of the war. ARRESTED MANY TIMES, After her husband was called to the colors she started on her criminal caTeer by committing numerous thefts, robberies and extortions. In 1915 and 1916 she was arrested repeatedly, but always escaped with short terms of imprisonment because she pleaded that she 'had been driven to her crimes by want. | Since she left the workhouse the last time the woman attempted at least fourteen murders and robberies, and in four or five cases she was successful. All of her victims were wealthy elderly women, whose confidence she won in some way. STRANGLED OLD WOMEN. Her method was simple enough. After gaining admittance to the apartments of the old women she strangled them into insensibility and then ransacked the houses. Ten of her victims recovered but three were found dead, and one died in a hospital. In every case the murderess managed to escape unnoticed, and her crimes remained mysteries for many .months until «be was finally caught in the act when _!.- _j. 1-J .•»*-» -M—:« TXr.iwikt.) a I seventy •rett'Old widow, and applied, th