A TRAGIC QUARREL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12500, 29 March 1909, Page 4

A TRAGIC QUARREL.

The Berlin correspondent of the London "Standard" tells the following .tragic story : — : ■ . ■ ~ „-■*-. Baron. Rudolf von . Oertzen _ and Herr von Stuckrad were close friends .when- in. garrison together at NeuRuppin, and their parents and both their families, were also bound together in ties of 'warmest friendship. Baron von 'Oertzen was married to the? beautiful daughter of Herr Mahn, the great manufacturer 'of Rostock. Herr voh Stuckrad was a frequent guest -at the house, and, while maintaining outward appearances of • friendship -for Baron Ton Oertzen, he also made love to the baroness. Last.:summer the baron ; .was obliged to leave Home to attend the manoeuvres with -his regiment. Herr von Stuckrad, who hadj . meanwhile, quitted military service for private reasons, remained at When Baron von Oertzen returned from" the -manoeuvres he discovered that his false friend had persuaded his wife -to elope with him to America. Herr Won .Stuckrad and the baroness were, traced to Bremen, and thence to New "York.. • ... "■■.-.,. ,■-,.-, .;.'-," Baron von Oertzen thereupon initiated divorce proceedings on the ground -of desertion., The case was' fciied in December, and terminated in his favour, a divorce decree being pro-' nounced. ' Scarcely had the . divorce decree been announced- when. Stuck-, fad "quarrelled with the Baroness von, Oertzen, left her j and returned, to his; hjonie- at Kreuznach, where his ' father, % retired general, is now burgomaster. Baron von Oertzen,; O'i hearing of his return, sent' liis seconds with a challenge to a duel, which StuckraS immediately accepted, the conditions being pistols at twenty-five paces distance _ and three rounds. A secluded spot in the Stadtwald Forest was selected as the place. Both took careful aim and both shots seemed to crack, out simultaneously. Baron von Oertzen's bullet lodged in ■Stuckrad's body, inflicting terrible injuries to the internal organs. After witnessing his opponent s death, the baron, accompanied by one witness, drove to Frankfort-on-the .Main to report himself to the military authorities, while-4he other witnesses of the fatal duel removed Stuckrad's body to the nearest mortuary. .