FATAL DUEL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9403, 25 March 1909, Page 2

FATAL DUEL.

A deadly encounter took place in the Stadtwald Forest, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, between two German officers of noble birth, each ' animated with feelings of the deadliest hatred towards the other. The officers in question were Baron Rudolf von Oertzen, a captain in the 81st Infantry, and Lieut, von Stuckrad, of the Landwehr. The latter was the betrayer of the .baron’s wife in exceptionally base oircumstances. The two young men. had been close friends from childhood, and eventually when they entered the army were quartered together at Neu-Ruppin. Baron von Oertzen courted and eventually married Rosalie Mahn, the beautiful daughter of a Wealthy manufacturer. The tsro were apparently very happy together, and the friend 'of the house was Lieutenant von Stuckrad, who had left the 81st Regiment, to which he had formerly belonged, for the Landwehr. Last summer the baron was obliged to leave home to attend the manoeuvres with his regiment, and when he returned he discovered that his false friend had persuaded.his wife to el6pe with him to America. The resolutely refused to leave Stuckrad or return to her husband. Baron von [Oertzen thereupon initiated divorce proceedings on the ground of desertion, and obtained a decree last December. Then Stuckrad quarrelled with the baroness, left her in a very heartless fashion penniless In New York, { and returned to the house of his father, a retired, general at Krenznaoh. The baron, on bearing that his false friend was once again in Germany, challenged him to a duel to the death. This took place, the weapons being pistols. Both men fired together, the bardn being untouched, while Stuckrad fell with a bullet in the abdomen. He expired ten minutes later in dreadful agony, cursing the baron with his last breath. The baron then drove, to Frankfort, [and there gave himself up to the military authorities. The latter hold that the baron could take no other course than the one he did, and his punishment will be a nominal one.