, 1859-04-22

the oven, an iron box with green stripes the top
/ painted with flowers, the lock ornamcnted with
four painted oak leaves, which he now perfectly
well remembered, and could describe. Lie never
saw that box afterwards.
Kirchmeier was so hondred citizen, and his
statement was so explicit aud SO firmly insisted
on by him, that inasmuch as he seemed free from
all possible motive In the matter, not bearing any
malice towards the Maunerts, but, on the con-
trary, testiing to their being as far as he knew,
honest, truthful people, the idea Of doubling his
declaration never entlred the heads Of the Nurn.
bcrgers, assuredly not of the executive, which at
once cast Maunert into dark solitary cell, and
his wife into q cell with condemned women.
| Maunert's lodgings were searched Neither
cash-box, nor trace Of any burglarious instru.
nent, could be found, but-and this was thought
important-in lumber-room one Of the planks
showed traces Of having been lately raised, and
with inexperienced hands restored to its place.
After this, nothing was needed but the full con-
lession Of the crime. .1 sar.
Schonlebcn firmly denied any knowledge Of the
crime or the criminals; nor could he name any
one on whom his suspicious fell, although he
would say that Beutner, on the occasion Of help
ing him with the load of wood, did ask where
the counting-house was, and whether all the peo-
pie in the house slept above lie knew nothing
Of BeOtners having stood looking into the count
ing-housc, as had been asserted. lie denied
everything that was alleged against him, or ex-
planned it'away There is one point in his evi.
dence which Is noticeabls, and was much noticed
namely, that he described the cash-box in pre-
cisely the same terms as those employed bY
Kirchmeier in reference to the box seen in Maun-
eits room. This gave additional weight to the
BARRIERS testimony; for il was argued, how could
Kirchmeier, who had never been in Sterbenk's 5
house, and consequently had n.ver seen the cash
box there, accurately describe it, unless he had
actually seen Il? He described It precisely as
the messenger who saw it daily; and what he
described was, he ayerred, under the table in
Maunert's ROOM Now Maunert and his wife
distinctly denied ever having had any eash-box
whatever in their rooms.
Bcutncr, tho spangle-makcr, on being ques-
toned respecting his dialogue with Schonleben,
admitted its truth, but said he was in liquor at
the time, and knew not much what he had talked
about. Of the crime, or the criminals, he knew
absolutely nothing; and as proof that be was not
concerned in the robbery, either as principal or
as i.tmt, hc offered 10 prove IN ali6i Unhap-
PLY for him, this proof was far from satisfactory,
and tho suspicion deepened against him. The
witnesses he called did not admit that he was
with them drinking ill two in the morning; but
on the contrary, declared they had accompanied
him home at eleven. Now il he reached homo
1
to have committed the robbery. 20.
Tie examination Of tho Maunerts now occu-
pied the court 1t was determined TO put in
fnrce the rigor Of the law 10 extort q confession
Kirchmeicr reiterated, and even added to his
former statements, and declared himself ready,
if necessary, to affirm them on oath. In those
days the criminal law did not absolutely require
witnesses to be sworn; only in extreme cases
was the oath administered; and the punishment
OF perjury was very severe. The oath was last
step, when the evidence was otherwise imperfect.
Now as the two Maunert boys, on being interro-
gated, and solemnly warned to speak the truth,
persisted in unwavering denial Of having ever
seen such box; and suggested that what the
barber saw must have been painted box Oiled
with plaster cast medallons, which indeed was
under tho table, but not behind or near the door
this steady denial forced tho court to administer
| the OATH ah $50 f
Ki.chmeier again declared his readiness to take
the oath, which he could do with clear con-
science He was soicmnly warned to consider
what lac said, to be quito clear with himself as to
whether the box seen by him was really such a
box as the one stolen; tho severe punishment Of
perjury was rcheaIscd to him; aud the oath was
slowly read aloud to him. Heremained mistaken.
Tue despairing Maunerts on their knees iInplored
him to have pity; adjurei him by all that he held
sacrcd not to ruin them; pointed to their chill
drea in hopes Of moving him. Kirchmeicr was
imnoyable. In calm aud sol mn tones he took
the oath. Nothing that was said made him sweIvo
in his statement that he had seen the box.
That which | saw, | saw; tho green painted
cash box with green wooden legs ! saw in the
rooms Of tho man who Is nov kneeling implor.
ingly before me. | cannot help IL lam quite
convinced that in this am not mistaken lis
blood be on my hcadl"
Il was done. The oath had been taken. God
had heard II, and would avengo Il il false. The
excitement was not confined to Nurnberg and
Franc0na; all Germany shared init Pamphlets,
pictures, and discussions made it the talk Of the
day. The court, alter Kirchmeier's solemn testi-
mony, saw in the accused nothing but hardened
and OBSTINATE sinners; the public shared this con-
viction. So high ran the feeling against all the
accused on account Of their obstinacy, that the
mob smashed Schonlebcn's windows, and his
youngest child was killed in its mothers arms
Oy stone. .s1al l.
Kischmeier, the demon Of this story, after his
damnatory oath, communicated fresh Indications
OF Maunerts Grim nality, which, Of course, helped
70 confirm the prejudice against tho unhappy
man. He stated that some days after he had
seen the box in Maunert's rooms, he had called
on him and narrated how he had Just seen Schon.
lebsn's wife carried through the crowd by the
police, accused Of having with her husband stolen
Sterbenk's cash box; whereupon Maunert said,
And what compensation will these poor people
gcr if they are innocenty" Surely very nat.
ural and humane question; too humane appar.
emily for general appreciation then, since il was
interpreted as sign Of guilt by logical process
not unexampled in public reasonings
A week later, the barber again called on Mau'
merit, and showed him the newspaper IN which q
reward was offered for the detection Of the Grim
inals. Maunert remarked" How could Ster'