ORGANISED MURDER

Evening Star, Issue 19519, 29 March 1927, Page 5

ORGANISED MURDER

THE '■ BLACK REICHSWEIIR.”

RETRIAL OF SCHULZ

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

BERLIN, March 28. Lieutenant Schulz was retried and sentenced to death with three other officers and a sergeant. They were found guilty of organising murder commandoes on behalf of tho Black Army The verdict was accompanied by a recommendation to mercy on the ground that tho prisoners believed they were serving a good cause.

[At tho “Black Reichswehr ” trial in November last four persons accused of tho murder of a man named Groschke, including Lieutenant Schulz, were acquitted. Sergeant-major Klapproth was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment, Rafael to eight, Glasser to three, Schiburr to one year, and others to shorter terms. Tho verdict, especially the acquittal _of Schulz, caused considerable surprise. Schulz was alleged to have ordered the “ execution” of Groschke, a, member of the “ Black Army,” who was suspected of being a Communist and intending to betray Ins colleagues to the Interallied Commission, but he denied all knowledge. Tho evidence showed that Groschke was placed in a cell in a lonely fortress, and flogged on eight days in succession. Ho was then.dragged out half dead at midnight and shot through the head while being driven in a motor car. His body, which was burned in a wood, was found by peasants. Klapproth was regarded as the actual murderer and -willing tool of Schulz. The others sentenced included the driver of the motor car.]