Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-28
The Vehm Court.


OF that 50 called Nehm Court, in the
thirteenth century, had struck into the
hearts of the arrogant nobility of North
western Germany, ana especially Of
the rich districts now constituting the
Prussian province OF Westphalia. had
long died s.way, when i'll the year l4l7
it Was suddenly revived, and speedily
became so intense and widespread that
many noblemen He'd TO Austria, and
that even such powerful Princes as the
Bishops of Munster and Pederborn, who
ruled over large districts of Westphalia
were trembling in their strongholds,
which had been frequently but vainly
besieged by ncighboring Princes.
1t was a fine July evening in the
aforementioned year that horseman
covered with dust galloped up to the
door of the Red Earth Tavern in the
village of Bergen, near Munster.
He Jumped from his horse, threw the
bride TO a hostler, and rushed into the
bar-room, where some twenty villagers
were seated at the long Oaken tables.
Bad news! bad news"' he gasped,
breathlessly.
What is it Berthold Mynen?'' asked
the fat landlord, while the others rose
from their seats.
First give me large glass of your
red wine" said the new conner, throw
ing himseIfinto an armchair andwiping
the perspiration from his forehead. Il
left Castle Freyenburg but two
hours ago. You may imagine what
ride that was. lam utterly exhausted.
The landlord brought him a goblet
nlled with wine, which he quickly
gulped down.
Now, tell us the news, Berthold
Meynen,'' cried the villagers, who had
crowded around him with pale, excited
faces.
Our noble lord the Count of Freyen-
burg, was murdered last night
These words produced a profound
sensation among the hearers.
What - they cried, ''Our good, kind
landlord murdered: Why, he had no
eLemies
He was found this morning" said
BerthOld Meynen, with his throat cut
from ear to ear, near the grotto OF Had
den. The corpse was lying under a
tree, TO which, by means of Il small
dagger, there had been fastened piece
of parchment containing the words:
He has been judged y"
The villagers looked puzzled.
The landlords expression of counte-
nance was one of intense horror.
Good friends" he whispered, Say
no more about this. The Count had
been condemned by a Vehm Court. The
parchment and the dagger show ii.
Baron Eistenstein, near Hereford, was
killed by them last week. They are
terrible Judges, tell you, those mem
bers OF the so-called sacred Nehm.
Many years ago they sat in sacredjudge-
ment in Westphaiia for long months,
and 200 nohlemen and thousands OF
burghers were executed by their
orders"
But" said one of the villagers,
"why do not our Princes stop these
murderous villains?'
Hush. hush, If you love your life
say nothing about the Nehm Courts ; or
You will pay dearly for your evil
tongue" interrupted the landlord.
AT this moment middle-aged man,
in well-worn uniform of the Hessian
infantry, entered the room
"A pint of wine," he said, sitting
near one OF the open windows.
He was evidently a stranger to the
villagers, for they looked curiously at
him while the landlord was getting the
wine for him.
While he was drinking it the landlord
motioned to the villagers TO keep silence,
but he did not see that the stranger had
noticed the sigma he had made.
The villagers then speedily left the
bar-room.
Only Berthold Meynen, the stranger
and the landlord remained ia the room.
Ii was about dusk.
Il suppose you have already heard
the news about Count tFreyenburg's eX-
ecurion by the Vehm Court?" -'r1
"Ye-ye-yes, stammered the landlord
turning very pale.
They say the Count was bad man, y
continued the stranger, with lurking
expression of countenance.
"No, he was not, stranger.' cried
Berthold Meynen, Indignantly. "He
was the kindest and hest of all landed
noblemen in Westphalia, He was
murdered by some scoun-"
For Gods sake Berthold ~ cried the
landlord, imploringly.
"You will rue those words this very