Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-28
LOVE, A DUEL AND SUICIDE.
From the New York Herald.

|
In the early dawn of an August morning
in 1852 two young men crossed swords in
| marital combat in y secluded spot not far
! from ilcidrr rhoIl Castle, on the Rhine. They
haL been rival suitors for the hand of Frau
lein Maria Marx, the daughter Of q wealthy
gentleman who lived in the castle. The
meeting was the outcome Of q quarrel that
had occurred between the young men when
it became known that the young lady had
accepted one and rejected the other. The
duel progressed hotly until, after a feint,
one of the young men fell to the ground a
corpse the sword of his antagonist having
passed almost through his body.
| Richard Won Stcrnbcrger, the son of tho
late Baron Won Sternbcrger, of Bonn, and
the bctrothcd Of Fraulcin Marx, was the
survivor of the fatal encounter. For some
weeks after the duel his name was keI It
from the authorities, but it eventually be-
came known. Non Sternberger's friends
| had c0unselled him to leave the country,
and while search was being made for him
the successful duclst evaded his pur-
sucrs and took passage for this city in dis
suisc Upon his arrival here this fugitive
accepted Il mcnlal position in Brook
| lyn restaurant. AS time wore on the
search was abandoned, but young Won
Steruhcrger although advised, Of every
move that had been made, for safety sake
still concealed his identity. He had become
weary of his occupation, and some mouths
ago accepted what to him was more congo
nial employment in drug store at No.
800 Second avenue, kept by AdOlph Hesse.
| - pt.r plurntcN
clerk, but his employer had offered to tcaci,
him the business, and the agreement was
that during his pupiage he was to receive Il
.iuliar ii week and his expenses. The s;i-
| pend did not support him, but he nVed on
| a monthly remittance OF so which he re-
ce,ved from his guardian, his income from
his fathers estate being Sl25 Il month.
When Won Slcrnbcrger first secured en-
ploymcnt with Mr. licsSe. he seemed rctl-
cent regarding his family or antecedenls,
but when the two became better acquainted
h.. confessed that he was the fugitive son OF
the late Baron Won Sternberger, Il wealthy
man of high connection. He said
that he was graduate Of the
University of Bonn and that he had taken
IL post graduate course in philosophy. Ac.
cording to his story, when his father died the
estate was placed in the hands Of trustees
|
was one of the professors in the university.
He admitted that while II student at the
university and after the close OF his studies
| he had been wild and had accumulated
debts which he was cndeavoring to satisfy
| with the 800 of his monthly income retained
| by his guardian.
Mr.. iIessc soon found that his apprentice
was an exemplary young man and had the
utmost confidence in his integrity. Being
of good education Won Sternberger quickly
| became proficient in business. Ont Of the
many friends that Won Sternberger made
Adolph Nciderstcin, who keeps res
taurant at No ,'93 Second avenue, became
his conidant.
During the many chats the pair had to-
gethcr in the saloon during the past few
months Won Sternberger told Mr. Nelder-
stein the story Of his love affair. He said
that while on IL visit to the Castle of Held
erhoil he had become cnamored of Fraulein
| Marx. His suit was we'll received by tho
Young lady, who he said was both beautiful
and accomplished. They were in time be-
trothed, but being deeply in debt through his
extravaganza Won Sternberger was compell-
ed to set the wedding day far of. The young
ladv's parents having learned of his many
escapades through n rival and of his embar-
rased financial condition decided to separate
the Young couple. Then came the duel
which compelled him to fly from Germany
Young Won Sternberger spoke hopefully Of
returning to Germany in six or seven years
when the duel had been forgotten and his
debts were all settled and making Fraulein
Marx his wife He constantly correspond
ed with his betrothed, and in q letter which
he received from her in September last she
stated that her family persisted in attempts
to induce her to marry wealthy landoWn-
er who lived near the castle. She also said
that she was still faithful to her vow, and
implored him to return to Germany and full
fill his pledge In his answer to the letter
Won Sternberger said that circumstances
were such that it was impossible to so back
home for at least six years, and he begged
her to patiently await his return.
A little over a month ago Won Stern
berger received a letter from his betroth.
ed breaking off the engagement
For several days after the receipt OF this letter
| Won Sternhcrgcr appeared downhearted; but when
he had conIded his troubles to Mr.. Nledersten,
who consocd and advised him, he finally became
cheerful Three weeks ago ho mailed letter to
his bctrohcd and the envelope contained 4 pho
tograph of himself which he had sent tn Miss
Marx as the last souvenir. dc retired to bed rs
usual Monday night About eight o'clock Tues.
| day morning Mr.. HcSe arose and found his ap
prentice still asleep. He tried to rouse him but
| failed aud then noticed that he was i'll stupor
| The druggist summoned Mr. Niederstcn, and
when their united efforts failed to awaken Won
Stcrnhergcr, al ambulance was summoned and
| tho unconscious man was removed To tho Presby-
terian Hospital. There the surgeons found that
| he was suffering from morphine poisoning All
efforts wcr, made ut the hospital to rouse the
young man, but they failed, and in the afternoon
\ he died.