The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-02-13 00:00:00

A STRANGE TALE OF A LIFE.

A young man, who gave the name of Robert Fuchea, by
birth a German, was charged at the Worship-street police.
court, in London, with having attempted to commit self.
murder by stabbing himself it, the arm ,ith a knife.

In answer to the charge, prisoner said he was tired
of his life, and handed up a letter to the magistrate,
which he wished might be read.
The letter, which is very long, contained a stste-
ment of the birth, parentage, and life of the prisoner,
written by himself. He states that be was born in
Berlin, March, 1844, where his father carried on
business as a confectioner to the Royal Court of
Prussia, after a time retiring to live as a private gen-
tleman. Prisoner was always treated very harshly by
his father, who eventually sent him to Geneva, as ap-
prentice in a mercantile house, but soon after wrote
to him to meet him at Leipzic, which he did, and soon
found himself shipped from Hamburgh on board of a
Hull steamer, with only one shirt and a pair of trou-
sers, to go all the way to Australia. On arriving at
Liverpool from Hull, he was met by a gentleman who
took him to his house, and after keeping him locked
up in a small back room for five days, put him aboard
of the ship Lightning, which immediately got under
weign, and proceeded to Melbourne, Australia. On
the voyage he received much kindness from the captain.
Arrived at Melbourne, Australia, he (prisoner) com-
plained to the Prussian Consul, who treated him us an
impostor. After working about Australia for two
years, he worked his passage back to Liverpool in
the Water Nymph, and arrived in London during
the time of the Exhibition. To earn Ins bread
in London he became a shoeblack, And while
so employed, he learnt that his parents were
living in lodgings in Bedford-street, Strand, London.
At last, he contrived an interview with his father, who,
however, was cold to his entreaties, and soon after his
parents suddenly returned to Berlin. Shortly after,
he (prisoner) accepted the offer of a man named
Lammers, acting for his father, to be sent to New
York. There, for want of food, he was compelled to
join the army, and served in South America; in 1865
he was discharged, and returned to Liverpool from
New Orleans. Thence he shipped as cook on board a •
Portuguese steamer, trading on the Conga river, but
falling ill was sent to London by the English Consul,
afterwards he applied to the Prussian Consul and the
German Aid Society for help, but in vain, and now
being ill he had determined to end his life and wretched-
ness, laying his blood on the head of his father. The
letter closed with a wish that his statement might be
made public. Throughout it was written in a neat
and steady hand, and showed a good education, but
how true it may be is another matter.
The magistrate said he thought it would be as well
to remand the prisoner for a week to the House of
Detention, which was accordingly done.

SAURIN v. STAR.
AIR- I won't be
Though a amain' ambition it mayn't appear to be
To sweep floors and empty duat-bins for a lady born like
; . . . . .

Yet, if such work must be done,
do 't, to be a nun,
Yes—though kicked, cuffed, trod, and spit upon—l will be a
nun.

I'm sure I cannot tell what's the mischief I have done,
That dear reverend mother says I'm not lit to be a nun—
But I will be a nun,
Yes, I will be a nun,
Though she whip me, starve and strip me, yet I will be a

Though_rn.s kept for hours en debhabille at reverend

mother's door,
Made to sleep on the bare boards, and to sit on the bare
fl.r.
Yet I will he a nun!
Yes, I will he a OM !
Though 'm.g sisters of no mercy, I will he a nun.
I'll stand until I drop, I'll eat mutton 'galnst the grain,
Year a duster on nip head, scrub my hands to chap and
Main,
.„

,
But I wi// be a nun,
Yea, I will be a nun,
And the more that they don't want me the more I'll 1w a
nun.

So take care, dear reverend mother, and let your daughter
be,
For I mean to bring my action for assault and batterii‘ :
Though I want be a nun,
s, ,

Yes, and mean to be a nun,
If they give me swingeing damages, my STARR won't you be
stone! —Punch.