Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-05-23
ashes, and driven out the Poles, who, in
heir retreat, encountered large body OF
Austrlans, and defeated them
CASPER HAUSER,

CASPER HAUSER.
A work has lately appeared in Germa-
ny which processes to Gear up the mystic
ry that hangs around Casper, the young
man found in Nuremburg some years
since, who had been kept in dark cellar
for seventeen years, and whose history
has hitherto been wrapped in profound
obscurty. The volume is entitled "Cas-
per Hauser, the Heir ofthe Grand Duchy
of Baden bears the imprint "Paris,
l845," and boldly designates the murder
er as Major Won Hennenholr, formerly
Prime Minister Of Baden, who is yet Iiy-
ing in honorable exile at Mahberg. The
author says that first edition Of the boo;
appeared in 1910, but was suppressed by
the government through the treachery Of
the publisher. This fact adds grea. force
TO the clrcumstantal evidence adduced by
the author in support Of his charge that
Casper Hauser was the real heir to the
Grand Duchy OF Baden, and that he was
removed out of the way, by confinement
from infancy in the horrible dungeon Of
which we presume our readers have
heard, in order TO make room for the sue
.cesslon ofThe present possessors of the
grand ducal throne. When it was found
impossible to keep the victims imprLson-
ment any longer secret, he was trans
lerred 10 Nuremberg and abandoned,
where he was found, almost an idiot, and
quite brute, from long confinement and
neglect OF all culture, moral and intel
Iectual.
The history Of this foul transaction is
told in few words. Towards the close
of the last century, the then reigning
Duke married a second wife, having al
that time three Children living by his first
marriage. The new wife in 1890 gave
birth TO a son. She was an ambitious
and designing woman; but before her own
progeny could succeed to the throne it
was necessary to cut off all the children of
The first marriage as we'll as their descend
.ants.-Strange to say, these immediate
heirs all died, one after another, in rapid
succession, some by accident, some by
sudden illness, and all in suspicious
manner. The last scion of this line, the
great grandson of the Duke, was child
born Sept. 29th 1919. He was strong
and healthy infant, but in three weeks
time his sudden death was announced
The mother had no idea Of the danger of
her child, and begged to see him; but this
boon was denied her, and he was hastily
buried. So lar the author follows histo-
ry. What ensues, rests chiefly on his
assertion, but supported, we must confess,
by strong circumstantial evidence.
says that another infant was substituted
for the prince and that the royal child,
secretly carried of, was confined in loath-
some cell, and finally became known as
Casper Hauser. The author names the
various parties who were cognizant Of
this great crime, and shows that all con-
cerned IN 1t have risen from comparative
obscurlty to rank and power.
One thing is certain. A scroll enclosed
in an empty bottle was picked up on the
Rhine in 1916, and It's contents to the
!ollwing effect, published in Berlin jeur.
1al at that time:
WYNN biIiS iCllCl may dui
n dungeon near Lau1enburg on the
Rhine; my subteraneous dungeon is
Known TO him who now sits on my throne,
cannot write more. am severely and
;rpeliy watched"
IhIs scroll is said to have been written
'y one Of the humber agents in the oft
'age-a priest named Dietz, who stung
~ remorse, yet afraid to speak out in his
'wn person, sought thus anonymously to
nd the poor prisoner. 1t is certainly re-
and adds greatly to the strength
II the charge, that the contents of this
scroll were published to the world years
before Casper Hauser was heard Of
When the unfortunate youth was
ound in Nuremberg, this scroll was re-
rendered, and the King Of Bavaria Tin
whose domlnioDs Nuremberg isl appoint
ID commission to examine into The
flair. The celebrated Feuerbach OF
whose criminal cases we speak in another
oumn, was at the head of this commits
ion. His long experience in Analysing
he causes of crimes gives his opinion
aeat force, and he came to the conclusion
lat Casper Hauser was victim 10 Eu
opean diplomacy, but unfortunately he
ad scarcely expressed this conviction
hen he suddenly died and the matter has
ept until now.
The whole affair is curious and sus-
cious. The writer makes out a very
rong case, and in the absence Of any
atements from the other side, We incline
believe him right.-Phit. Sal. Posi-,
M pyphannn al