A GERMAN JACK SHEPPARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 18 October 1911, Page 8

A GERMAN JACK SHEPPARD.

Considerable sensation has' been .caused in Germany (says the “Standard's” correspondent) by the exploits cf a modern Jack Sheppard, who has twice within a short peiicd succeeded ia breaking out of the local gad at Hoilbronn, in the kingdom of Wurtomberg. This individual, whose real name is Schiomangk, and who is possessed of a cultivated exterior and charming manners, has succeeded during the past twelve months in swindling many people in society circles of large sums of money and valuables. He passed under the aliases of “Count Marcel 1 do Passy” and “General” Schiomangk, and was a particular favwith the ladies cf those circles to which he obtained an entry. “Count de Passey,” however, had many connections in quite another stratum of society, and was the head of a. hand of desperadoes and swindlers of the lowest type, who accorded their chief unquestioning obedience and loyalty. Homo few months ago, “Count do Passy” overreached himself, and in .endeavouring, by means of an ingenious swindle, to obtain possession of an estate and castle near Hcilbronu belonging to a member of the local gentry, brought himself within the clutches of tiie law. He was arrested and lodged in the remand prison at Hoilbronn to await prosecution. This was just before the Easter holidays. On Easter Monday morning, when fj’e warder entered jJs cell, “Count do Passy” was missing. On the table lay a sarcastic letter addressed to the Public Prosecutor, in which the “Count - ’ expressed his regret for giving the authorities so much unnecessary trouble, hut said that he had “important business” which compelled him regretfully to decline the further hospitality of the Government. It was afterwards discovered that by some .means Schiomaugk’s confederates had managed to smuggle a file into the prisoner’s cell, Avitli’which lie had cut his way out through the iron bars of his window. “Count do .Pussy’s” liberty was not cf very long duration. Tie was again arrested shortly afterwards while enjoying himself at a village dance in the neighbourhood of Berlin. Ho was taken back to Hoilbronn, lodged in tiie same prison, and us a precaution against any second attempt at escape was chained to the wall by the ankle every night. As a further precautionary measure his clothes were removed from his coll every evening and only returned to him at daybreak. A few days ago, wiien a warder of the night' patrol glanced through the small grating of the small door of the prisoner’s cell, lie found that the redoubtable prisoner was again absent. 'The chain which fettered him to Ilia wall had been filed through and hung empty on its staple. On the floor of the corridor uitlnnit lay a “jemmy” of the finest workmanship, with which the lack of the i-. II door had been forced. In\estimations showed that the criminal's confederates had again succeeded i i breaking their way into tiie prison from a neighbouring building and carr, ing off their chief, ciad merely in ( is nightshirt and a pair of slippers. Despite the utmost efforts of tea au•thoriiicr, to trace tin ir prisoner, “Count de Passy” still remains at liberty, and up to the present the poli; o have no clue as to Ids whereabouts.