The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-08-19
The Assassination Of Kotzebue.

Augustus Won Kotzebue, a lamous
dramatic writer, author, among a num-
Der of other plays, of The, Stranger"
and "Pizarro," lived life full of strange
vicissitudes. and expired in the following
tragic manner The Emperor Of Russia
was extremely anxious to influence or
forestal opinion in Germany. For this
purpose Kotzebue was EN- ployed. He
established q journal, in which he OPP
posed all progress and the liberty OF
the press A paper intended only for
the eye Of the Emperor Alexander, in
which Kotzebue described one of his
opponents in journalism as "the most
detestable instrument of hell, "at length,
III 1919, revealed the full treachery of this
literary hireling, and raised cry Of in
dignation against him throughout
Germany. The exposure compelled him
to quit Weimar He next took up his
abode ct Mannheiin, where he resumed
his perfdiOus work and, at q time when
all Germany was ringing with echoes of
the French revolution, proclaimed HIM
self the enemy of liberty and the friend
OF desPotism. This alone would have
been sufficient TO have brought down
upon him the indignation Of the en-
thusiasts; but when to this was added
the knowledge that he was the mouth
piece OF foreign despot, who was de-
sirous OF establishing an authority over
the country. indignation rose to ui-
governable hatred. He had made him
self particularly conspicuous in applaud
ing the dismissal of 200 students from
Gottingen, on account of a brawl between
them and the citizens, and q morbid
young student, named Charles Louis
Sand, took upon himself to avenge, a Ia
Charlotte Corday, the cause OF liberty
and the Futherland.
On the 9th OF March, 1919, he left
Jena on foot for MANNHEIM , and arrived
there on the Odd. Dressed in old Ger
man costume, and assuming the name
OF Henricks, he presented himself at
Kotzebue's house, on the pretense that
he had brought letters from Weimar.
After two Intellectual a. tempts, he ut
length gained admission, and was shown
into a private room, scarcely had the
victim crossed the threshold when Sand
plunged long poniard into his breast,
and when he had fallen, to make his
work sure, inflicted three more wounds
upon the body. The noise of the scuffle
speedily brought servants and family to
the tragic scene, and the assassin was
found, dagger in hand, quietly contem-
plating the dying man. Yet no one
attempted to arrest him, and he descended
the staircase, and presented himself be-
fore the throng of people, whom the
cries of Murder had already gathered
about the spot, and, still fourishing the
poniard in one hand and written paper
in the other, exclaimed, 81 am the
murderer, and it is thus that all traitors
should die Then he fell upon his
knees, and clasping his hands raised
them to heaven, exclaiming. 81 thank
Thee, Oh, God, for having permitted
me successfully to fulfill this at Of
Justice" Upont the paper were inscribed
the words, "Deathblow for Augustus
Won Kotzebue in the name of virtue.
No sooner had he spoken the last
words than, tearing open his waistcoat,
he repeatedly plunged the weapon into
his own bosom, and fell to the ground.
He was now, IN a swooning condition,
conveyed to prison, but rs soon as he
recovered he tore off his bandages and
made the most desperate efforts to put
an end to his life. At the trial his hand
some person and his calm exaltation
excited the utmost sympathy,
and he went to the scaffold devoutly
believing that he had performed an act
of noble self-devotion, and far more
pltied by the populace than was his
miserable victim.