The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-09
CRIME.
Remarkable Cases in Germany.

| late number of the Criminal Zeit,tnq con
talns the following singular items of crime:-
A gentleman IN Augsburg a man OF highly
noble family, htty-6ye years, distinguished by
the public purity and dignity of his life was
| some years ago, to the amazement of every one,
| detected IN stealing silver Investigation re-
| Vealeu that he had been afflicted with ctept0
| mania Tor stealing and secreting slverware of
| every description. The scandal was hushed up,
| but 1t has been revived by the sale at auction of
an immense number of small objects in silver by
| the family OF the gentleman. 1t comprised
thimbles, pencils, teaspoons, silver jewelry such
| as the South German peasantry wear, old coin
| buttons, scutcheons, wrenched iron ladies' work,
poXes, crosses, cups, and was, in short, real
clergyman Of Pomerania, who had become
| somewhat noted by his accession TO an immense
| estate, has been made the subject OF church
| investigation, charged with the extraordinary
crime of maintaining illicit relations with his
| SIX sisters aud two daughters for many years
| past. lie did not pretend to deny the accuse
| uon, but, on the contrary, defended his acts
| with an energy which was even fanatical, citing
Scripture and urging his argument with great
boldness and ingenuity. lie had as it appeared
actually founded sect and induced several
respectable families 10 join ii, all of whom an.
peared to be inspired with the same bewildering
ttnnineeiSm as himself. They had privately
printed book entitled Light which con-
tanned % their doctrines, and which is being care
fully suppressed by the police.
A, young lady of Munich, named Erminia
Schlug, was recently detected in a singular
CRIME. For some weeks the families inhabiting
the hotel in which Miss Schlug lived had been
subject to frequent alarming, but exceedingly
varied attacks of illness. After q long police
investigation 1T was discovered that the young
LADY had lover, student named Won Beck,
who was so enthusiastically devo ted to physio.
logy, toXicology, and similar branches of study,
that he spared no one as subject for his expert
ments. Much Of his time was spent in devising
or investigating the most subtle poisons and
those most difficult of detection, and his mis-
tress aided him in these studies by administering
his drugs to her felow-tenants.
The trial revealed the fact that Won Beck and
Ermlnla had spared themselves as little as
other people, their bodies being marked with
the scars of experiments which had involved
terrible amount of long-continued pain, while
the young lady boasted with triumph of the
poisons and antidotes whish she had sWalo Wed
The pair escaped with nominal punishment
and received decided eulogy in the columns of
the IGgbtdu Tor their ''heroic, though mistaken,
devotion to the cause of science"
AT Heilbronn, in Swabia, little boy noted for
his honesty and goodness, the son of miller,
was detected in stealing money from his father,
and on being questioned, declared that Black
John, Well.kneWn rascal and outlaw of the
nelghborhood, had threatened to cut off all his
fingers unless he would bring him, Black John,
every day a certain sum. He was let off with a
reprlmand but was in terrible alarm lest John
should carry out his threat The next day he
came running into the mill in extreme agony,
declaring that Black John had chased him with
a knife, and being seized with convulsions
The father of the boy being man of great
strength and impetuous passions, at once seized
a knife and rushing forth, encountered Black
John with the irresistible fury of q madman aud
having beat him TO helplessness and bound him,
deliberately cut off all his fingers and thumbs,
needless of the screams of his victim. The editor
of the Criminal Zeitotng observes that while
every detail OF this case Is reported with fidelity
it resembles in a striking degree an event which
occurred near Altottng In 1884, the only differ
ence beng that the child in the former case was
a little girl, and that the criminal actually did
cut one Of her fingers Off.