DIED OF FEAR.

Grey River Argus, 18 January 1922, Page 5

DIED OF FEAR.

PRISONER’S MISTAKE. [A. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received January 17, 9.5 p.m.) BERLIN, January IG. Needless fear of death killed a prisoner at the Berlin Assizes. Hoppe, a business man, was charged with murdering a woman. The jury gave its verdict in the prisoner’s absence, as is customary in Germany; but Hoppe, listening through his cell wall, thought he heard the foreman say, “GuLty of murder!” When Hoppe was brought into court, he was pale and trimbl’r.g. The judge said: “ You have been found guilty.” Hoppe murmured: “I know,” and fell dead. As a fact, the jury had found him guilty of manslaughter.