RATHENAU’S MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1922, Page 5

RATHENAU’S MURDER.

AN INCRIMINATING LETTER. FURTHER ARRESTS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Berlin, July 2. The police have collected the names of 75 persons connected with the conspiracy to murder the heads of the Republic. They are mostly young ex-officers, and students, with a fair sprinkling of ex-naval officers. Arrests continue in all parts of Germany. Kochemeister, owner of the motor-car from which Dr. Rathenau was shot, has been arrested; also Tyrol, a wealthy Saxon manufacturer, whose house was found to contain a hidden store of mine-throwers, machine-guns, rifles and ammunition. A lover’s letter led to the arrest of Dr. Rathenau’s murderers. It ran: “We all go out to-night, do you get me, dear? We will meet at eight o’clock at the main entrance of Luna Park. Let me know.” The letter was signed Hermann Fischer. This was written by Fischer to the housemaid in a small pension in Berlin. Fischer did not keep the appointment; instead he went drinking with his accomplices in the murder. The housemaid piqued, returned home in disgust. Next morning she read of the murder and thought her unfaithful lover might be one of the men. She communicated with the police, and Fischer’s rooms were searched. Papers revealed his identity, with the result that the police offered a million marks reward for his arrest.