CRIME IN BERLIN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2789, 28 May 1921, Page 7

CRIME IN BERLIN.

HOW MURDER WAS PLANNED. A Berlin merchant named Henschke was recently found dead i.i Lis flat w ith a. handkerchief which had been soaked in ether- crammed into his mouth. The absence of valuables showed that ho had been murdered u ith the object of theft. With the help of a. '.single clue the police succeeded in arresting the murderers, who have made a full coniession. At th© seen© of tlic crime was found, a hat the lining of which had' been filled out with a sheet of newspaper (wrote the Paris correspondent, of London. Daily Telegraph on Jarniai v 11). On this was written the somewhat uncommon name "llathe.” lie sea reliefs among owners of this name led finally to a young, ma n who, after much reflection, remembered that in August last, ho ’had writto** his s gnature on- a newspaper at the house of one Erich Bloess, a chauffeur. Tliis man proved to have been the organiser of the murder, though he did uot participate in the act itself. He. refrained from doing so because his sister wap employed in Henschke's office and lie feared that this circumstance might bring suspicion on him. Consequently he arranged for an unassailable alibi for the night of the crime, but lie very imprudently lent the hat to one of the actual nuirder-

Tlio. confessions of Illoess and his accomplices are interesting as illustrating the callouts indifference with which life is taken here now. Their plans were made long in advance and unsuccessful negotiations, were carried on with ' several men with the idea of inducing them to join in. At last they hit upon a herculean furniture mover, Abendrodt by name, whose first response to their overtures wais “What am I to make out o% it?” He was was offered 1000 marks but refused disdainfully, remark? ng that for such a paltry sum he would not move a finger. Eventually he agreed to join for 2000. His particular task was to soizc Henschke, overpower him, and force the drugged 1 >andkerchief into his mouth. Abendrodt’ s confession was absolutely callous, and closed with the words “Business is business. One doeysiTt get a chance of earning 2000 marks every dnv.”