YON FOERSTNER TRIED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1938, 22 December 1913, Page 5

YON FOERSTNER TRIED.

THE ZABERN INCIDENT.

SENTENCED TO 43 DAYS' ■ IMPRISONMENT; By Teleffrauh—Proes Association—Copyright Berlin, December 19. Before the court-martial at Strasburg Lieutenant von Foerstner tried to excuse himself for slashing at a shoemaker on the ground that the man had made insulting remarks, and Jiad endeavoured to strike him and another oflber. He asserted that it was a soldier's duty to act vigorously against any civilian who used insults, and that ho had a right to arrcst.civilians when they beraine violent. Lieutenant von Foerstner was sentenced to forty-thrco days' imprisonment. The evidenco showed that whilo the shoemaker was struggling witli four soldiers, and being pounded by an ensign with a rifle butt, -Von Foerstner stabbed him.

Von Foerstner declared that he was obliged to assume that tho shoemaker would esc ape and assault him. The sensation of the day was Colonel von Renter's evidenco comparing their civilian assailants to "gamo that must bo brought down" in caso of emergency. He testified that at tho outsot of the trouble lie had told Von Foerstner to ■carry his pistol and use it, or his sabre caso, if need he.

(Rec. December 21, 5.5 p.m.)

Berlin, December 20. Lieutenant von Foerstner was found guilty of inflictine bodily injury only, and therefore a milder sentence was imposcd. .... He has appealed .against his imprisonment, which will moan his retirement from the Army.