AMAZING DRAMA

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1922, Page 7

AMAZING DRAMA

HYPNOTISM AND MURDER. One of the most dramatic murder trial in German history was brought to a con elusion at Harschberg, Silesia, when Pete Grupen, the modern Svengali and Dot Juan combined, was found guilty an< sentenced to death for the double murde: of his. niece, Dorothy Rohrbeck, and hi; stepdaughter, Ursula Schade. The conviction of Grupen ends ai amazing drama in which a young man o 26, who began life as a bricklayer, find; himself in possession of magnetic eyes and truly remarkable hypnotic powers which he uses effectively to fascinatt women in connection with his multitudin ous love affairs. Eventualy Grupen finds himself installed at Kleppelsdorf Castle where his stepdaughter, Ursula Schade aged 12, is favourite companion t( Dorothy Rohrbeck, aged 16, possessor o: the castle, a vast fortune, and considerable ■ property in the district. The girls were two of three lives which stood betweei Grupen’s possession of the millions. Dorothy lived with her grandmother. On February 14, of last year, the girl heiress was found in the castle dining room shot dead, and by her side lay hei companion, Ursula Schade, with a bullet ! through her head. She died later. In Ursula’s pocket was found a letter intimat ing that she was about to shoot Dorothy ■ and then commit suicide. Evidence was given that Grupen was upstairs and away : from the scene of the tragedy at the time ■ of the terrible act, and in company with the governess and housekeeper. Suspicion, however, fastened on Grupen. and it was suggested that he had hypnotised Ursula to write the letter, and other alibi witnesses into the belief that he was actually with them when he was not. A further possible tragedy lies behind the remarkable and unaccountable disappearance of Frau Grupen, who disappeared shortly before the crime. The accused stated that his wife had eloped to America with an actor, but the opinion is held that Grupen is responsible for her disappearance. FASCINATION FOR WOMEN, The trial has proved remarkable for the amazing number o fwoinen who have given evidence of Grupen’s fatal fascination for women, and revolting stories were told of the use to which he had put those powers. There was tense silence at the final scenes when the jury filed back into Court to deliver their verdict. Grupen turned his

- eyes to the foreman of the jury, who rose and faced the president. I“Do you find the prisoner guilty or not , guilty?” The question echoed round the 1 court. There was a- pause, and then the 3 answer, in an even, unemotional voice:—■ i “Guilty!” Weird incidents marked the closing ' stages of the trial. Owing to the failure of the electric light, the speeches of the opposing counsel were delivered in semidarkness, relieved only by the flickeiring light of a few candles. Though the Court sat continuously for seventeen hours, the public fought like wild beasts to obtain admission. During the opposing advocate's speech Grupen sat with his head bent forward, cupping his hand on his ear to catch every syllable. 1 “When men are silent, then stones speak,’ ’exclaimed the prosecuting counsel, ’ stabbing a finger at the prisoner, who kept the same smile of contempt curling I, round his sensual lips. “Grupen is the archr murderer and arch-betrayer of helpless t women,” thundered counsel. r “He believed that the thick walks of the ancient castle of Klennelsdorf would hide for ever his murderous crime.” One by one the prosecuting counsel drove home the damning points against Grupen. “How do you account for his nervousness oil the day of the crime?” asked counsel. “Why did he refuse to help Fraulein Zahn, Dorothy’s governess, to carry the millionairess to bed as she lav dying? Because he was afraid to touch his victim !” i- The prosecutor, with relentless logic, L - urged his case. “There in front of you, l ’ is the murderer of these two girls!” were the final words of his seven-hour speech. A storm of applause rang round the Court. “Silence!” thundered the president. “This is not a theatre. A man is ’ fighting for his life.” It was past midnight when the defence was opened. Despite the late hour, the interest in the Court remained unabated. “The prosecution lias not brought one shred of definite evidence that the pris’i oner committed a double murder,” said Grupen’s counsel. “Grupen admits freely his Don Juan exploits. Will you hang a man for his gallant loves?” During the hearing of the prosecution’s case it became increasingly evident that 8 this aniazzing character, who throughout ” r the earlier stages had preserved his de- } bonnair and nonchalant appearance, was d losing his ilei-ve. a At first the evidence of the handwrit- ° ing experts gave him some grounds for hope, and he cheered visibly. Then followed dramatic and terrible evidence by expert authorities on fireamis and gunshot wounds. AN EERIE PICTURE. t Herr Walter, the firearms expert, drew e a vivid and eerie picture of what the 0 terrible scene may have been like when Z the crime was committed. “After most g careful investigations,” he said, “I have - come to the definite conclusion that . Ursula did not commit suicide. The shot 1 which killed Dorothy—(three shots in all Y were fired at the two girls)—must have been fired from some distance. It was j fired upwards, which suggests that the 1 murderer was stooping so as not to be Y seen. Ursula then apparently Red from 3 Dorothy’s side to take refuge behind the 0 trunk. She was shot by a directly-fired a bullet, which suggests that the person who fired was standing by them. - “Tho third shot,” which was fired at Ursula., was from a shorter distance, which still excludes tho idea of suicide, J and must bo in tho nature of a coup de n grace. The empty; cartridges were found - at the other side of the room, where r Ursula lay, and if she had committed suicide the revolver could not Have been 9 found where it was. AU tho shots must 4 have been fired by a third person. Yet another expert declared that all tho shots must have been fired fro m a distance which would have been impossible in tho case of suicide. The Court was then darkened to allow . thia witness to show lantern sUdes of the wounds. He used a 'doll to demonstrate

how Dorothy must have been attacked. .Slowly and relentlessly the case against Grupen was built up, until the most optimistic person in the Court could have little doubt of the verdict. Remarkable scenes were witnessed after the sentence had been passed, and relief had been given to the flood of pent-up emotions. The question of whether or not the death penalty will be enforced is engaging attention. It is the function of the Prussian Ministry of Justice, after studying the case thoroughly, to decide on a reprieve, a step which is highly probable in view of the civcummstantial nature of the evidence.