THE DEATH DICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 5

THE DEATH DICE.

t The German Emperor has! presented to the Hohenzollern museum, the "death dice" with which one of his ancestors decided a difficult case in the seventeenth century. This is their history told by the "Tatler": A young girl had been murdered. Suspicion fell upon two soldiers, Ralph and Alfred, who were suitors for her hand. Both the accused men denied their guilt, and even torture failed to extract a confession from either of them. Then Elector Frederick William decided to cut the knot by means of the dicebox. The two soldiers should throw for their lives, and the loser should be executed as the murderer. The event was celebrated with great pomp and solemnity. Ralph had the first chance, and threw sixes, the highest possible number. The dice-box was then given to Alfred. He fell on his knees, and prayed aloud: "Almighty God, Thou knowest I am innocent. Protect mc, I beseech Thee." Then he rose to his feet, and threw the dice with such force that one of them broke. The whole one showed six, the broken one also gave six on the larger portion, and the fragment split off showed one. There, was a total of thirteen one beyond Ralph's throw. The audience held its breath in amazement. "God has spoken!" cried the prince. Ralph appalled by what he regarded as a sign from heaven, confessed his guilt, and was sentenced to death. _ \