The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-01-02
EXTRAORDINARY DECEPTION.

EA AlnA0NOA4NAHA IDSDA
The Berlin and Vienna journals give the
particulars Of an extraordinary and success
fu case Of deception practiced upon the
public authorities by young priest named
Conrad Specht, eighteen yenrs Of age, who
was arrested al the village Of Hegelshelm,
district Of Upper Danube, in Bavaria. on
the 22d Of July. lS4O, on a charge OF hav-
ing violated and murdered the daughter Of
Franz Pralt. who lived near the same VII
lage. The body Of the unfortunate girl,
who at the time Of her death had no, quite
renc ched her seventh year, was found shock
ingly mn,iiated in the grounds OF her Ia
iher. The back Of her head was nearly
blown off BY gun-shot, which must have
been fred within few feet Of her her h"-
dy also gave conclusive proof Of nn"ther
and equally horrible offence having been
committed upon her.
Specht succeeded, for time. in directing
suspicion against person who had, ON that
very dav, left Hegelsheim. who was pnrsu-
ed and brough, buck; bat upon his first ex-
animation the accused gave such conciu
sive evidence of his absence from the place
or murder iha, he was Immediately dis
charged. Suspicion Immediately rested ~
Specht alone, and soon the authorities or
dered his arrest.
On tho day after his arrest Specht was
conve, ed TO Augsburg for trial. During
the night, however, most oxtraord'nary
change had taken place in him. lie, who
had heretofore DISPLAYED uncommon vivaci-
" aud rare intelligence, seemed 70 have
altogether lost his mental and physical lac
nities. He could hardly move. aud after
great effort he raised himself. his knees
trcmbled violently nnd the turnkeys had 70
support him. The muscles Of bis neck
even seemed To have lost their strength,
for his head either rested on his chest, or
fell backwards, sometimes also falling IN
his shoulders. lie spoke only in broken,
incnherent sentences. and did not Know
anv body, not even his mother. with whom
he had always lived. In consequence Of
his change. the authorities ordered two en-
inent physicians TO attend upon him. md
inouirc int, the state Of his mind. Their
examination lasted several months. and re
suited in their decided opinion that The
mental and physical state Of the prisoner
was onlv feigned fnr the purpose Of esca.
ping punishment. The physicians express.
ed no doubt nf the stnte hring fe'gnen
one. vet The authorities decided upon pia-
cling Srecht under other observation TO test
the correctness Of the decision. tie was
therefore conveyed to different part of the
prison. where, unknown to himself, the
strictes, watch was kept upon him. Bn,
from morning till night did he Law still and
dea,hike upon his bed, an occasional moan
onlv brenking the silence which surround
ed him. This trial lassed for two months.
hut even then the authorities were not sat-
isf;ed. and resolved TO subject him to more
powerful Influences, to see il any violent
sc nsations would be exhibited BY him. For
this purpose cannon was placed against
the exterior wall Of Specht's cell and dis
charged during the stiffness of the night.
The murderer gnve vent 10 some inari'cu-
late sounds, but did not move in b.s bed
Strong Jets of water were next thrown up
on him, without even attracting his aiten-
ton. and after submitting him I" several
kinds of torture without calling forth The
least show OF pain or fear, the last attempt
10 rouse his faculties was agreed upon
This was 10 place him in wooden she'd
the roof Of which was fired during the night.
The guards Of Specht standing round the
burning shanty, ready to ex'ricate him the
moment when be gave signs OF returning
energy. During The awful trial, one which
requires the strongest nerve and nDdaun'-
ed courage TO withstand, the murderer ia'd
on the ground, apparently unconscious Of
the horrible danger. although his face was
turned upwards. The FIRE was gradually
burning down the sides Of the shan'y.
whilst burning fragments were CONSTANT,
falling round and even on the tortured
man. Yet he stirred not. and had j. not
been f,r the assistance Of his guards, who
pulled him ont in horrible condition, he
would certainly have been burned TO death.
This trial satisfied the authorities OF the
stn.e of Spech,'s mind, but the physicians
were by no means convinced; on the con-
trarv, the last attempt confirmed their oplh-
ion. rs a lunaiic or idiot had never been
known to be calm at the sight Of fire. Sew.
eral other men Of high standing endorsed
the opinion, and public opinion was much
apainst the discharge Of the prisoner. u
was therefore deemed advisable to submit
his case TO jury. and on the lO'h septem
her his trial was called on in the Supreme
Judicial Court of Bavaria, then IN session
at Augsburg. The turnkeys we're obliged
to carry specht to the court house. when
placed at The dock, he ran his eyes with
vacant .tnre over the audience, aud then
fell once more into the iethnrgv, put ms
arm over the balustrade, bent bis head down
on il. and fell fast asleep. They tried 10
raIly him, bu, all effort TO awake him were
frui,less, and his interr"g.tory hsd 'nere-
fore 10 be dispensed With. The crimes
which were imputed to him he had comics