The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-08-21 00:00:00

A HUSBAND'S THIRST FOR REVENGE.

Before Mr. H. Mansfield, the Deputy Stipendiary
magistrate of Liverpool, on Saturday, a case arising
out of that of "Casey v. Imlach," tried at the late
Liverpool Assizes, in which Dr. Imlach was prose-
cuted for having performed on Mrs. Casey in the
local hospital for womer. the operation of ovariotomy,
was heard. Franz Hoeffner was charged with having
threatened to assault Dr. John Earp Burton, one of the
honorary surgeons of the above hospital. Mr. A. T.
Squarey, who conducted the prosecution, said that the
prisoner's wife was admitted to the hospital on the
13th of August last year, suffering from an internal
disease. With, her full consent an operation was per-
formed on the 17th, and she was discharged cured on
the 2nd of September. This year the prisoner wrote
a letter thanking the doctor, but on the 12th inst. Dr.
Burton received the following letter from the pri-
soner: "123, Islington, August 12th.—Dr. Burton,
the Woman's Hospital, Shaw-street.—Sir,—By your
instructions my wife has told me a li24°ll99.rnipa her
state of health after olieration.--That letter,which I
send you, is just the reverse of my opinion on the
subject to-day. You are condemned by the laws of
this realm to the gallows for perpetrating such hellish
outrages on women without even hinting to their hus-
bands of what you are going to do to them nor even
acquaint the unfortunate Woman herself of the conse-
quences. You are a fiend which sacrifices the happi-
ness of hundreds of people to an Insane Idea, which
can only originate from Satan himself. As you
have putt cold steel in my wife and Ruined her for life.
You shall not be taken unaware and Shot dead as you
deserve, but if you have the spirits of a man You will
give me satifaction ; although you deserve to be exe-
cuted in that underhanded way as you kill your
victims. I give you timely warning. Meet me on Sunday
morning. You shall know on Saturday night all
particulars. You will be there with your friend, and
we will settle matters with a few sword trusts Re-
member not to fail. My friend shall witt on you on
Saturday.—FßANZ Ho EFFNER. Di. Burton, Shaw-
street Hospital. p.s.—You shall have the particulars
by registered letter, so I think it will be better, as you
may be coward enough to have my friend arrested.
So you will see it will be better to settle matters
quickly, as I don't wish publicity." When Dr. Burton
received the letter he took it to the prisoner, who ad-
mitted having written it. Dr. Burton and another
witness corroborated Mr. Squarey's statement, and a
remand was asked for. In reply to the magistrate,
' the prisoner, with much emotion, said: I do admit
writing that letter. I suffered unspeakable misery
for 12 months. The doctor said it was only a little
operation. Sho is ruined, and nothing can be done.
I am excited, but I cannot help it, for I often found
my wife crying when she ought to have been sleeping.
Mr. Mansfield: I am afraid you must go for trial.
You must be aware that the reasonable interpretation
of your letter is that you wished Dr. Burton to fight
a duel with you. The prisoner: lam quite willing.
He can make his own terms. Mr. Mansfield: You
ought to know that to induce a person to fight
a duel with you is a crime according to the laws of
England. The prisoner: But his crime was greater.
Mr. Mansfield: By your own showing you are guilty
of this offence against the laws of this country. Tha
prisoner : The laws of my heart make me. I would
like to have a separation. I cannot see my wife
ruined like that. I will go out of the country. I
will pledge my word I will go and never return. It
is atrocious; it is not English. The Ifarliament shall
interfere, the Queen shall interfere, every man and
everybody will interfere for me. I am here in the
interest of those poor mortals who are deluded. Mr.
Mansfield: I think I had better remand the prisoner
for seven days under the peculiar circumstances. The
prisoner was accordingly remanded.