SENSATION IN BERLIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 11

SENSATION IN BERLIN

BOY CHARGED WITH MURDER. LEOPOLD-LOEB CASE RECALLED. (Pres* Association—By Telegraph-Copyright.) BERLIN, February fi. , (Received Feb. 10, at 11 p.m.) The case of Kranz, a schoolboy, who is charged with murdering a boy friend, recalling the Leopold-Loeb case in Chicago, has caused a sensation in Berlin. It will form a standard document for the historian of social life since the war in Germany, particularly as regards the consequences of the precocity of a youth playing on passions which he is unable- to control. Leading sociologists, doctors, authors, lawyers, and professors were present at the trial, analysing the psychology of the drama. Kranz, who is 18 years of age, was a scholarship winner, hia chief reading since being arrested having been Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Dostoievaky. Kranz was visiting the house of a schoolboy friend, Scheller, on the night of the tragedy, others present being a third schoolboy, Stephan, and Scheller s sister, Hildegard. aged 16. The girl’s parents being absent, the boys sat up the mght drinking liqueuers, and talking of love. The discussion finally turned on death, and Scheller proposed that all four shou.a die. He wrote a letter to the universe, beginning, “ Dear Universe,—A single portion of your organism perishes. Don t worry. Time will roll on.” The letter ended with the intimation that Stephan and Hildegard would be killed, and the others would commit suicide with a smile. Kranz states that Scheller shot Stephan and committed suicide, and he was about to commit suicide himself when the girl snatched the revolver. . Some of the evidence suggested that Stephan, being found in Hildegard s bedroom, precipitated the tragedy. There is also evidence that some of the boys belonged to a juvenile club, the statutes ot which strictly enjoined that all members who were deceived by men or women friends must avenge themselves upon their rivals.—A. and N-Z. Cable.