MAN HUNT IN GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 25342, 22 July 1935, Page 8

MAN HUNT IN GERMANY

“OGRE OF MECKLENBURG.” One of the most highly-organized man-hunts in Germany in recent years caused by a series of revolting murders, has led to the arrest of a 56-year-old watchmaker, Adolf Seefeld. Seefeld is charged with the murder of a nine-year-old schoolboy named Thomas, but he is suspected of having killed at least six other boys. During the past five years the districts of Mecklenburg and Bradenburg have been terrorised by a series of crimes in which a number of small boys from about eight to 12 years of age have been found dead and terribly mutilated. All the circumstances pointed to the culprit being a maniac, who was called the “Ogre of Mecklenburg.” The provincial police called in the aid of Berlin detectives, and when the boy Thomas was slain the investigation was intensified. Seefeld came under suspicion. His photographs were widely circulated, and witnesses came forward and swore that he was the man they had seen with the murdered boy. A conference was held in Schwerin, attended by the Berlin detectives, provincial police, and Department of Justice officials, as a result of which a wide net was spread and Seefeld was arrested.