Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-04
CASPER HAUSER IDENTIFIED.
SOLUTION OF "A MYSTERY THAT
AT ONE TIME PUZZLED
ALI EUROPE.
An IdiOtic Youth the R 6 In II
Duke Of Raden-A daughter of the
G na n Emperor Married a
SO IN Extra aordinary Develop
New York Sunday Murcury.l

y
throughout Europe than any event of
the present century. Although his true
parentage and the names of those
through whose instrumentality he was
consigned to his bloody grave have
been established almost beyond a
doubt. dread of the consequences OF
displeasing so many illustrious person
ages has hitherto prevented the affair
being sifted with that regard for facts
which alone could eiicit the complete
truth. In a strange manner the mys-
terry has heen solved, and the Mercury
solution before it's readers.
CASPER HAUsER.
On the evening of the Goth of May,
1928, q casual passenger through the
streets of Nuremberg met a youth
about fifteen or sixteen years of age,
whose singular appearance at once ar
rested his attention. Although stroBg-
ly built, he seemed scarcely able to
use his limbs, while his eyes were
hardly strong enough to bear the dim
twilight of the late summer eve. In
his hand he held letter addressed to
we'll known citizen, which be pre-
sented to every passer by with an IN
meanig stare. When conducted to the
house of the person to whom he APP
peared to be directed he was offered
food, but refused with disgust
all except plain bread and water,
and, throwing himself down on heap
of straw, went into q sound sleep. The
persons in whose charge he was left
did not know what to make of him,
for, on the one hand he displayed the
mingled curiosity and stupid insensi-
bility of some being to whom all is
new, but who has no perceptible ap-
preciative faculty, while he could re-
peat certain words with distlnctness
and in distinct hand wrote down the
lame of Casper Hauser. As an idiot
or clever impostor, they finally deter
mined to send him to prison, where a
close examination showed him to be
incapable of any attempt at fraud, but
on the contrary, to be a victim himself
of crime. The soles of his feet were
perfectly soft and white, proving that
he never had been permitted to take
exercise. It was clear that he had
never seen and never learned anything;
he was a complete stranger to the
commonest ties and duties which bind
mankind together, and utterly igno-
rant of nature or even existence OF So
ciety or morality; in short, he had ey-
identity vegetated in complete isoIa-
tion, and literally in obscurity, for he
could not bear the effect of light upon
his eyes, and neither knew at first the
difference between night and day, nOI
could he measure time. Professor
Danlner charged himself with his edu-
cation. By gentle degrees, armed
with the utmost patience he attempted
| to awaken the dormant faculties of this
extraordinary being. He learned with
rapidity, and vague misty recollectlons
| of the long, dreary purgatory IN which
| the years of his childhood had been
| spent rose before his mind. He would
often talk about his jailer, for whom,
however, he did not entertain any feel.
| ings of ill-will, but rather wondered.
in his simplicity, how he could have
offended him. The Professor, who
had entirely discontinued his research
| es as to the birth of his unfortunate
pupil, encouraged him to trace bach
the depths of his memory, and hoped
| eventually to collect the scattered facts
| he from time to time obtained into
some tangible shape. Thus three OF
four years rolled peaceably along. The
| world, tired of its nine days wonder
| had forgotten all about Casper, anG
he might fondly hope that bis enemies
had done the same thing; but it wal
not so. They had not let any of hi
movements escape them, and probabl,
the professor hopes hadbeen too loud
ly expressed, for an attempt was made t.
| AssAsSINATE THE POOR YOUTH,
| oh +aI
ing for him q more powerful protec
ton than that of the worthy scientist
that of the earl of Stanhope, an En-
glish nobleman, who at that time wa
residing in Germany. On the 14th o
December, 1888, Hauser, who had bee
left alone, was enticed to a sOlltar.
grotto by an unknown man, WIZ
plunged a dagger into his heart
Every effort was made by the author
tiles to discover the assassin, and LOr'
Stanhope offered large reward 70
his arrest, but all in vain. Anon!
those we'll acquainted with such partI
culars of the case as it was not practl
cable for the strong arm OF despotlsn
to suppress, but little doubt will b
found to exist that poor, friendless
murdered Casper Hauser was by birth
A SOVEREIGN PRINCE.
New developments prove beyond
doubt that Hauser was the son OF tn
Grand Duke Charles, of Baden, ali
his wife Stephania, consequently Tia
legitimate heir to the throne. Charles
who had married Stephqnia, the neic
of Napoleon the First, in 1906, was
man of reckless character. Not lon
after marriage he became enamored {
the Baroness Geyer Won Geyerbere
whom he raised to the rank of C0ur
tess Won Hotchberg. This woman q
tempted to poison he Grand Duches'
} and when the latter was delivered {
an heir to the crown of Baden, sh
caused that child to be stolen. 1t VIZ
the unfortunate creature afterwar
known under the name of Casper Hal
: ser. The Grand Duchess was assure
by the physicians, all of whom We're
. the pay of the Countess that her Chi
had died. She believed it until h'
husband died, when she secret
caused the
INFANTS COFFIN TO BE OPENED.
1t was empty. Some time afterwar,
she gave birth to another son, but Il
mother seemed to believe that h
child lRQ D60u ldhSH ILOlu AOI al
g another substituted. This was real
% the case, the substituted baby BEN
/ an illegitimate son 70 whom the Cou
tess Hochberg had given birth abo
the same time. The bastard W
Dc christened Leopold, and became he
, apparent of Baden. The grand due
. ess never spoke to him, even after
, had become grand duke. She liv
% in seclusion, and died few years ae
7 Whether her husband Charles ey
- discovered the fraud, certain it is Il
J. she finally poisoned him, where1P
her son Leopold became Grand Du
:, of Baden. He had no right whateV
. to the position; for the real he
sss Casper Hauser, was then alive. VIII
Id inquiries began to be made into Cast
Ut Hausers fate, the Countess Hochbt
caused him to be murdered. I
d. Grand Duke Leopold died in Is
when his son Frederick Louis,
present Grand Duke, assembled
throne. He married in 1857 Loul
az | %ba oDlv dauohter of the present i