FEROCIOUS MURDERS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 655, 7 May 1870, Page 2

FEROCIOUS MURDERS.

The Offenburg (Baden) Court of Assizes has been engaged for some days in the trial of two shoemakers, named Steidel and Dosbieh, for the murder of M. Mathiss, a banker. The deceased went out for a short walk one day before dinner, and never returned. His body was found a week later concealed in the cleft of a rock in a neighboring wood, death having been caused by a pistol shot, and by several wounds in the breast inflicted with a knife. The murderers were shortly afterwards discovered by a mere accident. Dcebich made a full confession. He and Steidel agreed to murder some one in order to plunder the body, and they decided to commence with an experiment on Madame Steidel, whose husband wanted to get rid of her. They, however, changed their intention on that head, but adhered to their former decision. After purchasing a brace of pistols, they started by rail for Appenweir, Steidel taking with him a rope, saying that they might hang a man to a tree and rob him, and he would be supposed to have committed suicide. They walked to Oberkirch, meeting on the way a butcher driving a calf. Steidel wished to kill this man, saying that he perhaps had money on him, but they allowed him to depart unhurt. A diligence then passed with the mail bags fastened behind, and Dcebich proposed to Steidel to cut the leather thongs and obtain possession of the letters. The latter followed the vehicle by running for a time, but returned without doing anything, and his companion reproached him with a want of courage. They next met successively a woman and a priest, each of whom Steidel wished to murder; in the latter case, that accused had actually cocked his pistol, but Dcebich remarked to him that some cattle were near, and probably some men were minding them. At length they perceived M. Mathiss, went up to him, and Steidel shot him; he fell on his face, and Doabich turned over the body and plunged his knife several times in the breast. They th,en divided the money, Doebich keeping the watch and jewellery, and also taking off the boots of the murdered man. The accused were condemned to death.