“BLACK ARMY” CRIME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 November 1926, Page 5

“BLACK ARMY” CRIME.

MURDER OF A MEMBER. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT. BERLIN, Nov. 3. At thf Black .Reiehswehr trial, four of those accused of the murder of Grochke, including, Lieutenant Schulz, were acquitted. Klapproth was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment., Rafail to eight, Glaser to three, Schiburr to one year, and others to shorter terms. The verdict, especially, the acquittal of Lieutenant Schulz, caused considerable surprise. Lieutenant Schulz was alleged to have ordered the “execution” of Groschke, a member of the “Black Army,” who was suspected of being a Communist, and of intending to betray his colleagues to the inter-Allied Commission, but Schulz denied all knowledge of the crime. * The evidence showed that Groschke, in a cell in a lonely fortress, was flogged eight days in succession. He was then dragged out half dead at midnight and shot through the head while being driven in a motor car. The body was buried in a wood, where it was found by peasants. SergeantMajor Klapproth was regarded as the actual murderer and the willing tool of Schulz. Among the others who were sentenced is included the driver of the motor car in which Groschke was murdered.