NOT A JEWISH SACRIFICE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4259, 19 January 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOT A JEWISH SACRIFICE

’ . , VIENNA. N ov. 11. .One of the most remarkable murder trials recorded in Austria-Hungary has just concluded at Pisek. Bohemia, where a wandering Jew, Leopold Tluclsner, was to-day sentenced to death. Huelsner, who is only a poor wandering pedlar, has for two years been the central figure in a bitter conflict between- the Anti-Semite party and the Jews. Tfvo hundred and eighty witnesses had been called, and during the progress of the case a hotel has been built in Pisek for the accommodation of over 300 newspaper correspondents, whose labours have also involved, the establishment of a new telegraph office. The conflict arose over the murder of a country girl in. July, 1888, in the Berezina forests. Huelsner, as the last per. son seen with, her, was arrested. A political campaign was on at the time, and the Anti-Semites seized Hueltfucr as a weapon with which to belabour the rest of the Jews. They alleged that the murder- was done for Jewish ritual purposes, as the Pisek synagogue needed Christian blood. Huelsner, having been found guilty of murder, made a “confession” on these lines, involving two other Jews. The buhbab was not stilled when thes© two men proved their innocence.

On the contrary, the murder of an. other girl was charged against Hacklier, and once again the battle of -AntiSemitism raged. Dr Baxa, an AntiSemite leader, assisted, the prosecution, while for the defence medical experts from Prague aud Vienna were called to prove that the crime was of the “psychopathological” order. ■ Huelsner has been condemned, bat tbe : Anti-Semites have lost their case. The jury adopted the “psycho-paljc.og-ical” iwiew of the crime.