A SENSATIONAL TRIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4457, 26 August 1889, Page 4

A SENSATIONAL TRIAL.

Berlin baa jast had a moat extraordinary sensational trial—carious, indeed almost without parallel amongst the records of crime. The hangman has been accused of assassination and tried for his life. Of ' course, it was a question of jealousy. The Berlin executioner doe 3 not lead a very moral life. He is a married man with a family, and he deserted both, and the poor wife soon had a rival. Bat he also deserted the rival in her tarn. The dry statistics of the law Courtß read like the argument of aome ingenious play. The abandoned mistrees longed to recover her supremacy. One would not have thought a hangman capable of so much attraction. She tried every means to gain her object, and at last in despair had recourse to the executioner's assistant and right-hand man, whom she knew, and whoße influence over him was great. There were interviews between the two hangmen, but matters did not advance. Then there was an angry interview at a restaurant, in the course of which the chief kicked his aide-de-camp In the stomach. The injury was more serious than it eeemed, and a month afterwards the poor go-between died. Ail sorts of evidence was given at the trial, and the jury were merciful in their verdict. But the criminal classes of Berlin were greatly disappointed. It would have been interesting, they seem to have thought, if the new hangman had to try bis 'prentice hand on bis predecessor.