DEATH SENTENCES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 14

DEATH SENTENCES

MURDER OF NAZI HERO

A second trial arising out of the murder in 1930 of Horst Wessel, the "hero" of the new Germany, and writer of the Nazi marching song, has resulted in two men, Samuel Epstein and Hans Zeigler, being condemned to death. A third, Peter Stoll, was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment, says ' the "Daily Telegraph. '' Tho men had admittedly taken no part in the actual killing, but wcro condemned for "joint murder." They wero stated to have kept watch while others did tho deed.

Horst Wessel, a student and a Storm Troop Commander, is held to have boon a martyr to Communist vengeance. He was shot down in his lodgings in tho slums of Berlin on January 14, 1930, and died six weeks later. The case was originally tried in the same year, and a man named Hoehler, who fired tho shot, was sentenced to sixyears' imprisonment for manslaughter. That sentence is now regarded as typical of; the leniency of the "bad old days." In quarters opposed to. tho present regime it is declared to be a travesty of justice that two men should bo condemned to death for ,i crime which has already been the subject of a trial. The murder is now officially regarded as the result of a Communist plot to remove a troublesome Nazi. The background of tho case was outlined recently as follows by Hoehler's former defending counsel, who is now in exile.

Wesscl, and tho woman friend with whom he shared his lodgings had for snmo time not paid their rent. In consequenco their landlady, a widow, approached some friends of her late husband and begged for their assistance in turning out Horst Wesscl or compelling him to pay. Hoehler, a professional burglar and a man of great physical strength,' who had reason to regard Wessel as a rival in a love affair, was asked to help. His visit with companions was followed by Horst Wesse] 's death.