GERMAN ADOLF BECK.

Mataura Ensign, 25 April 1913, Page 5

GERMAN ADOLF BECK.

FOUR YEARS IN PRISON. ' The 'Berliner Morgenpost' has obtained from tlie prosaic proceedings of the Reichstag details of a case resembling that of Adolf Beck, who received two King's pardons and a grant of £SOOO for two wrongful convictions, under one of which he served the usual proportion of a sentence of seven years' penal servitude. A Thuringian tannery-owner named August Brehm was convicted in 1892 of burning down his factory for the purpose of securing the insurance money and was sentenced to five years' penal servitude. He was roleasea after four years on account of his good behaviour. A year or two later he succeeded in establishing hio innocence. The Petitions Committee of the Reichstag, before whos-r; attention Herr Brehm succeeded after 15 years' effort in bringing his case, has now recommended the Government to revise the laws providing indemnification for persons wrongfully convicted. Herr Brehm at the time of his conviction had an estate of £20,000. As soon as he was arrested his creditors took possession of his properties and he left prison a pauper. Attempts to secure an indemnity from the local authorities resulted in, a judgment in his favor for £ll3. Hear Brehm refused this.amount. In the meantime the authorities seized half of it as the cost of the proceedings against him, and the balance was at- ; tached by his creditors. Herr Brehm is \ now 65 years of age.