ARMY POISON PLOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14359, 2 May 1910, Page 5

ARMY POISON PLOT .

THE VIENNA CASE. HOFRICHTER'S CONFESSION. By Telegraph.—Press 'Association.— Copyright. (Received May 1, ? p.m.) Vienna, April 30. '■■'Hofrichter has now confessed that he attempted to poison 10 of the Austrian general staff. The confession has caused a profound sensation.: The motive of the crime was a wish to create vacancies, so that he might become a staff officer, thus improving the position of his wife, whom he adored. In consequence of her previous assertions of her husband's innocence Frau Hofrichter, after being minutely cross-examined,, haa been detained- in custody. JEKYLL AND HYDE OUTDONE. Lieutenant Hofrichter is accused of attempting last November to poison some--50 officers of the Austro-Hungarian general staff with the object of clearing the way for his own promotion. One of the victims died. A discovery was recently made which, the prosecution considers, reveals that the lieutenant had for long been leading a Jekyll and Hyde existence, and had done 60 with extraordinary cunning. After * Hofrichter arrest the police exhumed the body of a young Bohemian, girl to whom Hofrichter had been betrothed some years ago. She had died very suddenly, and the suggestion ; of- ; the prosecution was that she hud been poisoned. Another episode in the lieutenant's career, which, when brought to light some weeks ago, was then thought to have little relevance to the poison plot, has now become deeply interesting. It was the evidence of a young Viennese girl who went to Linz to answer an advertisement for a nursery governess required by a Dr. Haller and his wife. The police" rescued the girl from an hotel where "Dr. Haller" had, as she alleged, made advances to her and endeavoured to drug her. . She now recognises in Hofrichter "Dr. Haller." A new and substantial clue now identifies Lieutenant Hofrichter and" "Dr. Haller," as one and the same man. ; The clue is an envelope which a Vienna' firm of ; papermakers received from the dead-letter office some time ago. • ; It had been posted to "Dr. Haller, Post©-Restante,:Lmz,''^lastj September, It proved to contain a small bag of powder labelled "poison sublimate." With this discovery tion believes the proof of the dual personality to :be complete. As Lieutenant Hofrichter the man was respected by hie brother officers and beloved by his wife, who is ready to make any sacrifice for him. His nephews and nieces in Vienna adored their jolly, generous soldier uncle. As Dr. Haller he r exhibits (says the prosecution) amazing ingenuity in the" accomplishment of diabolical, crime.