The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-06-02
THE STORY OF CASPER HAUsER.

NL IS 49, ~
or twenty years since the mysterious tai.
Of The strange youth found in Leipsic
The mystery was never explained. Like
the man in the iron mask it excited end,
less speculation, but with no determined
xresult. The recent death Of the Grand
Duke Of Baden, with whose family the
tale was associated. has revived public in
tsrest in it. The following are the facts
so far as they are at present known:
In the year 1906, the Emperor Napoleon
compelled the then Grand Duke Of Baden,
Duke Charles Frederick, to marry his son
Duke Charles, TO Stephanie Tascher de
Ia Pagerie, a niece of the Empress Joseph
inc. The fruits of that marriage were two
sons and three daughters. All of the lat
ter are now living-one is marquis OF
Douglas. The first son died very sudden
ly, and when the second son disappeared
or died very suddenly, no records Of either
are to be found. Duke Ludwig, the young
or brother Of Duke Charles, was exiled
fom Court for a very considerable period
by his father, the then reigning Grand
Duke. A fate seemed to attend the male
children brought into the world by Ste
phanie.
Suspicious Of foul play were very gen.
eral at the time, and were directed solely
against Duke Ludwig, who was known TO
be ambitious Of succeeding his father, and
who hated the Duchesse Stephanie, and
her children. Duke Charles died, and on
the death Of his father, Duke Ludwig as
cended the ducal throne. Duke Ludwig
remained unmarried, leading a life Of the
widest and most criminal character.
Some years previous to his succession, his
father, the Grand Duke Charles Freder-
lick, having lost his first wife, contracted
a lef.handed or morganatic marriage
with Madame Geyer Won Geyersberg, a
lady Of bad reputation about the Court.
After their marriage Madame Geyer was
created Countess Of Hochberg.
While married to the Grand Duke
Charles Frederick the Countess Hochberg
gave birth to four children the eldest Of
whom was the Grand Duke Charles Leo
pold, whose demise is now recorded. Ru-
NOR was mysterious about the parentage
Of these children, and dark hints were
thrown out as to their relationship, Duke
Ludwig's name being much complicated
in these statements. During the reign of
this Ludwig it happened that a wild idiotic
youth was found n morning sitting in
the streets of Leipsic. and unable TO give
any account of himself. His tongue gave
forth only unintelligible and indistinct
sounds. Taken care of and instructed
by kind Samaritans, this youth, who had
given to him the name OF Casper Hauser,
gradually made known to his friends that
his previous existence had been passed in
a cell under ground, in which he had only
seen one person; that he had never seen
the daylight until a few days before his
discovery in Leipsic, when his keeper car
ried him out of the cell, and transported
him to the place in Leipsic where he was
found.
Inquiries, public and private, we're made
in all directions without any result. Sus-
picions Of various kinds arose, a paper
war ensued, some authors treating Casper
Hauser as an ingenious imposter, others
%enunciating boldly the suspicion that he
was the heir to the Baden throne. Facts,
however, were wanting to prove the con-
~nection, and while the inquiries were still
penning, poor Casper Hauser was sudden
iy murdered in Nurnberg. The wanting
facts have never been supplied though
the chain OF circumstantial evidence has
been increased and strengthened. 1t was
known at the time of the paper wal allud-
ed to, that a pamphlet OIL the subject an
nounced for publication, as containing
some Of the wanting proofs, had been
bought off by some unknown person..
This unknown person was subsequently
proved in a court of justice to have been
Major Hennenhofer, the creature and con-
fdant of Ludwig, the minister to, and par
ticipator in all his designations. MAJOR
Hennenhofer was also seen in Nurnberg
on the evening when Casper Hauser was
murdered. Were an inquiry TO be- made.
it is possible that more evidence on the
subject would be forthcoming, and the
identity Of Caspar Hsusar with the miss
ing son Of the Duchess S;ephanie be
clearly established. The Duchess has
preserved on this subject the s%trictest ST.
lence. Her present position and influence
in Paris might, perhaps, if the suspicious
which have prevailed are well founded,
induce her TO break that resolution, and
visit with vengeance the family for whose
advantage her own som were made away
with.
sa A TEMPERANCE JOKE.
Joe Harris was a wllole.souled, merry
fellow, and very fond Of a glass. After
living in New Orleans for many years, he
came to the conclusion Of visiting ar old
uncla AWAY In in Ma~ssachnsetfa- whom