Burning a Wife to Death.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3606, 5 September 1890, Page 2

Burning a Wife to Death.

At Kor&euburg, on the-Danube, says tbo Vienna Correspondent of tho Daily Nows, a trial is proceeding which arouses considerable interest. The captain of the Fireßrigade, Franz ,'■ Mariner, is accused of having burned/# his wife to death in order to obtain her money. The deceased was a rich widow , of 68 when Bhe made Marker, who was only 26, an offer of marriage. This was a twelvemonth ago. Very coon after the marriage Bhe complained to neighbours that unless she gave him " more money than Bhe could afford he treated her cruelly. There are witnesses who state that he made her sit up many nights running, beak her with whips and leather straps, and threw knives at ; her. On the 21st Fobruery ho called up Borne neighbours at midnight, . saying ho had just relumed from Vienna and found his wife dead or dyinj, on the threshold, and that Bhe seemed to bo burned to death.' The neighbors found the poor woman's body naked and oharred in the midst of the debris of/ tbe furniture. As murder was suspected, the woman's pocket book, in which it was known that she carried half of her fortune, was sought for, and not found. The inquest showed that the. woman was murdered, after much, resistance, and that her clolhes had boon set on firo after Bhe had been badly'hurt, but Jf. bofore death. The husband may thus ( . beßaidsohavoroaste'dhis unfortunate victim alive. He is supposed to have left for Vienna after the deed, and returned immediately. After his arrest the pocket: book was found well concealed. The accused, ■ < who , denies tho act, is a; very 'Jfidsome young man, and seems in'm; way . disturbed by the charge against him, . ' ■