The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-26


Our readers will remember some ff-
teen or twenty years since the mysteri-
GUS tale of the strange youth found in
Leipsic. The mystery was never ex-
planned Like the man in the iron mask.
it excited endless speculation, but with
no determined result. The recent death
of the Grand Duke of Baden, with whose
family the tale was associated, has reviv-
ed public interest in it The following
are the facts so far as they are at pres
ent known:
In the year 1906, the Emperor Napo-
leon compelled the then Grand Duke of
Baden, Duke Charles Frederick, to mar
ry his son, Duke Charles, to Stephanie
Tascher de la Pagerie a niece of the
Empress Josephine. The fruits of that
marriage were two sons and three daugh-
ters. All of the latter are now living
one is married to the Marquis of Doug
las. The first son died very suddenly,
and when the second son disappeared or
died very suddenly, no records of either
are to be found. Duke Ludwig, the
younger brother of Duke Charles, was
cxilcd from Court for very considera-
BILE period by his father, the then reign
ing Grand Duke \ fate seemed to at
tend the male children brought into the
world by Stephanie
Suspicious of foul play were very gen
cral at the time, and were directed sole
ly against Duke Ludwig. who was known
to be ambitious of succeeding his father
and who hated the Duchesse Stephanie
and her father. Duke Ludwig assembled
the ducal throne Duke Ludwig re-
mained unmarried, leading a life of the
widest and most criminal character
Some years previous to his succession.
his father, the Grand Duke Charles Fred
crick, having lost his first wife, contrac-
ted left-handed or morgantic marriage
with Madame Geyer Won Geyersburg,a la
dy of bad reputation about the Court
After their marriage, Madame Geyer
was created Countess Of lochberg.
While married to the Grand Duke
Charles Frederick, the Countess Hoch-
berg gave birth to four children, the ell
dest of whom was the Grand Duke
Charles Leopold, whose demise is now
recorded Rumor was mysterious about
the parentage of these children, and dark
hints were thrown out as to their relation
ship, Duke Ludwig's name being much
complicated in these statement During
the reign of this Ludwig it happened that
wild idiotic youth was found one morn
ing sitting in the streets of leipsic, and
unable to give any account of himself
His tongue gave forth onl ly unintelligi-
BILE and indistinct sounds Taken care
of and instructed by kind Samaritans,
this youth, who had given to him the
| name of Casnar Hauser. gradually made
derground, in which he had only seen one
person: that he had never seen the day
light until few days before his discove-
ry in Lcipsic, when his keeper carried
him out of the cell, and transported him
to the place in Lcipsic where he was
found.
Inquiries, public and private, were
made in all directions without any result
Suspicious of various kinds arose, paper
war ensued, some authors treating Gas
par Hauser as an ingenious imposter, 9th
ers enunciating boldly the suspicion that
he was the heir to the Baden throne
Facts. however, were wanting to prove
the connection. and while the inquiries
were still pending poor Caspar Hausel
was suddenly murdered in Nurnberg
The wanting facts have never been sup
piled. though the chain of circumstan TIA
evidence has been increased and strength
ened. 1t was known at the time OF thu
, paper war alluded to. that pamphlet OIL
the subject announced for publication,
containing some of the wanting proof
! had been bought off BY some unknown
person
The unknown person was subsequent
= ly proved in court of justice to hav
been Major Hcnnenhofer, the crcatur
? and confdant of Ludwig, the minister
, and participant in all his dissipation'
+ Major IIennenhofcr was also seen
Nurnberg on the evening when Caspa
c IIauser was murdered. Were an inqu
: ry to be made, it is possible that NOR
evidence on the subject would be fortl
+ coming, and the'identity of Caspar Han
T. ser with the missing son of Duche'
Stephanic be clearly established. Th
Duchess has preserved on this subjc'
the strictest silence Her present pos
S tion and influence in Paris might ,nerhap
Il if the suspicious which have preyaile
If are well founded induce her to brea
it that resolution, and visit with vengeauC
C the family for whose advantage her ow
s sons were made away with.