Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-02-25
Space, W. l m. m. 6m. lyr.
"A Nurderer's stratagenl Fooled.

most dangerous crimos of the naue Of
Wilka, who fortunately is safe 10 tie hands
of tho police. Ga Thursdsy last two men,
eonscerco stricken, presented themselves be
tore the au'horlliee, accusing themselves of
having oorspired with lJcksmilh 1.-THE moo
Wllke) to hire furnished roous in different
parts of The town for the purpose of ex.or;irg
money In the following manner. On, OF
them Was to g to bed. preteld ldog to b.
Ill. atd ssrd .tor a docscr. As soon as the
physician arrived and bent o:er lhs bed nn
lroa collar Of special cJnrivalc., hid bt-
meath the oounterpane, was to be spplied
70 bis neck Until he had signed bill
OF exchange; thtn be wes to be sttsu-
glad ard thrown iuto canal whion
Sas close st hard. Wilke had devoted nu,b
Ingenuity 10 the oors:ru ion of this instrument,
which they d. sribed as something hks a pair
OF tonRs OF rircers fixed on the end IF long
lube, with wioch at tho bottom, ty mesns OF
Ghich the topgs could be made to coso as liRh,
as ono liked. The peculiar virtue of ths
oefarlo1s ltvsntiou was TO consist 10 prevent
log the Vlc.ln from cryiog fer help b, i'm
mtdlste'y d. t'lViog him OF the power IF utter
auoe. Nilks h,d also Constructed lRo steel
traps Tor the Vlc.in.' feet. The couspirators hsd
v
U'er, whore the Sc1lffsbrts skanal has 40 Ut
u.u.l width. and Noold facilitate the disposal Of
dead bodies That very tvsnioc. the ,c,ou
Dices olsred, bad bsen agreed upon for ON
mltlDR the first murder, aud DR. Lahrs, llvisp
close by on the kalsei-Fral z Great d.el- ola z,
vas seleo.' d IS lh. victim.
As soon ss this confession bad beea made
policemen We're sent to the hcuso mentiantd,
ahsre they were told that . man who Be
tended to be employed at the GoveIum.n nr
OHlce for Weights aod Measures hsd, q f "
dSys sgo. hired room spd paid O fortpiph,'.
rent In ad7suce, but that be hsd not shtwo
himself sioce He had. however. sent ,ruok
toto bis room the Cay bsiore. The d,ree CRY
having BAN referred IN. and showing that 20
person Of the name Of Wiks was employed q,
The ot1ce 10 question, tie coos,sbles Uroce,d
70 op.n the trunk. 10 E1nloh they fJuod ,gv
m 'utrsDs and all the Component paris of the
g.rto.iog msohioe. The uuuk Was car.folls
reclosed, and the land ady xsrued not to-
word abOu. the visit. Az agreement was then
come to between The police and Wilks's Two
accomDces ths. the latter should At f st assist
tnelr c)mrads 10 osrrSiog out bis dlabolc
p'sn, and only taru round upon him when ,be
victims lie vas 10 dsrg=r. Several constable.
were oJbcsaled 10 neIg nbcring room. and at
WiIke appeared, entered bis bedroom With Ii,
c'tfaderates, went 10 bed, and SAINT for DR.
L,hrs. IIstead cf the Litter . pouemsu came
10 disguise, and Inquired after Wilkes health.
Zoe rutia1 at once sD.ang up. and ul-
piled lis piaehcrs to the pseudo ptys.-
cau'd peck. The latter, having managed
TO mako Wl'ks understand that he hsd
vo'y little mvDey sbSut him, te wes ro1es,-
I'd TO ill up Oh ck Ga bis refusal viii
tLrled tie winch. uatil tho vicim begao to be
straid ior bis life, and beg: n stamping on the
ground. This Was slgtal for the sec m pic q
70 let the corstable's hands loose, snd Tor the
pollcs TO enter ord ST Y th: crimioa in The very
act.
Thus arrested the ecouudrel has sros o,nf,ss-
ed that be intended prt curing hiase 81 % Of
monty, + which be wss 10 great need, ty ga-
rottlug but doni"s having had sry inteo,iou CT
'akiug his victims lite. He prs,ends that be
purpossd to abscond with bi, accom- pic.s afi er
oJm hitting the deed and c,sbiog tho obe cks,
ls.vog The doctor to The ciacos of being TT
Iessad from bis iron collar in oturse IF lime.
Wi K, tuInss out to bo 2S gears OLD, a nstivs Of
Kus ria, and posse ssiug wife aud obilireu,
sno live separated from him. lie has been
for TWO years constructing bis gnrrolirg ins.ru-
ment. and ever sioos December bas bsen bent
% ex Gu ,irg bis plan. The ipsrume NJ is desoib.
I'd as being c'eV r'y constructed stler principle
derived from modi8 7al instrument of torture
o,ntsiued iu the M.rkische Museum. Dr.
L ugerhaus. msmber of The PruseiaD Psrlir-
meut, was seleoled 10 b the second vic isn a,
mrnhor IF lie F.; ;iohseg So tha lh.d. LON.
don Talk.