CONTINENTAL CRIMES AND SENSATIONS.

Observer, 24 July 1909, Page 18

CONTINENTAL CRIMES AND SENSATIONS.

Wholesale Decapitation.

The small village of Sponduhks, near Vienna, was thrown into a condition of excitement on June 31, when a villager named Hans Stickmtbemud, having procured an axe from the local ironmonger for 3s 9d, proceeded to decapitate his wife, his ten sisters, his three daughters, his mother, his mother-in-law, his nve maiden aunts, and other female relations too numeroul to mention. The axe, being of German manufacture, was somewhat blunt ; but nevertheless, under the circumstances, 'the job was done with neatness and despatch. It is understood that the murderer's mind became unhinged owing to the murdered women, through their constant attendance at bargain sales, failing to get his meals ready at the proper hours. He was subsequently acquitted by the jury, which was composed entirely of married men, although two of them, who were drapers, held out for a long time in favour of a convictioni. (In reference to the above, we have much pleasure in stating that we have made arrangements, at enormous expense, for the exclusive rights to publish Mr Max Stickinthemud's own account of his little pleasantries in the decapitation line. This will be found redolent of gore, and will, we confidently expect, prove most suitable reading for the home circle. In spite of the huge outlay in securing the serial rights, the price of the paper will remain the same. This proves our enterprise).