The Woodville Republican., 1852-06-15
The story Of Casper Hauser

Our readers will remember some fifteen
or twenty years since the mysterious tale
Of the strange youth found in Leipsic.-
The mystery was never explained Like
the man in the iron mask, il excited endless
speculation, but with no determined result.
The recent death OF the Grand Duke OF
Baden. with whose family the tale was as.
sociated, has revived public interest in it.
The following are the facts. SO far as they
are at present known: f...
In III eyear SOC, Emperor Napoleon CON.
PEELED the then Grand Duke of Baden, Duke
Charles Frederick, TO marry his son, Duke
Charles to Stephanie Tascher de In Page
rie, a neice of the Empress josephine
The fruits OF that marriage We're two sons
and three daughters. All Of the latter are
now !iv!ng-one is married TO the Marquis
of Douglas. The first son died very sud
dc MY, aud then the second sou disappear
ed or died very suddenly, no records OF
either ale to be found, Duke Ludwig, tue
younger brother of Duke Charles. was ex-
lied from { ourt for very considerable Pc
riod by his father the then relgning Grand
| Duke. A fate seemed to attend the male
children brought into the world by Siepha.
ME
Suspicious of foul play were very gener
nj ut the time, and were directed slowly
against Duke Ludwig, who was known to
| 4 .,g NJ
who hated the Duchess Stephanie and her
children. Duke Charles died, and on the
death of his father Duke Ludwig ascendpd
the ducal throne. Duke Ludwig remained
unmarried, leading life of the widest aud
most criminal character, Some years pre-
vions to his succession, his father, the
Grand Duke Charles Frederick, having lost
his first wife, contracted leit-haldcd or
Inorganic marriage with Madame Geyer
yon Geyersberg, a lady of had reputation
about the Court After their marriage
Madame Geyer was created Countess of
Hochberg.
While married to the Grand Dnkc Charles
Frederick the Countess Hochberg gave
birth to four children, the oldest OF whom
was the Grand Duke Charles Leopold,
whose demise is now recorded. Rnmor
was mysterious about the parentagc OF
ithese 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 Lud-
wig, it happened that wild, idotic youth
was found one morning sitting in the streets
of Leipsic, and unable TO give an account
of himself. His tongue gave forth only
uniutelgible aud indistinct sounds. Taken
care Of aud 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 cell underground, in
which he had only one person that he had
never seen the daylight until few days
before his recovery in Liepsic. when his
keeper carried him out Of the cell, and
transported him TO the place in Leipsic
where he was found.
Inquiries, public and private, were made
in all directions without any fesnlt. Sus.
picions of various kinds arose. apaper war
ensued, some authors treated Casper Hau.
ser as an ingenious imposter, others enun-
ciating coldIy 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
Casper Hauser was suddenly murdered in
Numberg. The wanting facts have never
been supplied, though the chain OF circum.
stantial evidence has been increased aud
strengthened. II was known at the time
of the paper war alluded To-, that pamph-
let on the subject, announced for pubica~
ton, as containing some Of the wanting
proof, had been bought off by some un'
known person.
The unknown person was subsequently
proved in a conr Of justice 10 have been
, Major Hennenhofer, the creature and con
fidant Of Ludwig, the minister 10 and par.
; l;cipator IN all his designations. Major
Heunenhofer was also seen in Nnrnberg on
) the evening when Casper Haser was mur'
} dered Were an inquiry to be made, il Is
possible that more evidence on the subject
| would be fonhcomniing, and the identity o
Casper Hauser with the missing sou o
, Duchess Stephanie be clearly established
The duchess has preserved on this ST biec
the strictest silence. Her present position
and influence in Paris might, perhaps
If the suspicious which prevailed are wei
founded, induce her 10 break that resolution
and visit with vengeance the family 70
: whose advantage her own sous were mad
!, away with.
4
Before and after marriage.--Here !
J before and after marriage anecdot
J, that we commend 10 the attention o