The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-03-07
scHENK's MuRDERERs.
Austria Intensely Excited by Series Of
Terrible Crimes.

3exxtble Crimes.
From Vienna Letter to the Daily News
Before being delivered up to justice
Hugo Schenk confessed to the police
that he had planned five murders for
last week, which were to provide him
with 3O, 600 fiorins. With this sum he
intended to escape to America with
Emily Hochsmann. Two of his in
tended victims are daughters of respect
able families. One is servant to the
Baroness Malfatti, whose chambermaid
he had induced to steal pearls worth
~. 900 fiorins, which the imperial fami-
ly had presented to DIR. Malfatti for at
tending Napoleon's son, the duke OF
Reichstatlt, during his last illness.
This maid. who had lived in the
family for twelve years, was
so thoroughly trusted that the pearls
were not missed until Schenks arrest
gave the clue to the robbery. She had
prepared everything for Schcnk and
his accomplice's reception in the house
on the very night he was .arrested.
Schenk said to her he would give all
the inmates. herself included, dose of
morphia; hut he has confessed that his
real intent was to murder them all. If
he had not been arrested on the 10th
that crime would have been added to
the others. She Baroness Nlalfatti had
about 1000 horins' worth of plate and
jewels besides much cash in the house,
a solitary villa in all outlying suburb.
She is most generous old lady who
founded and keeps mp an asylum for
old women. Her pearls were pawned
in Linz. The maids deposition con-
tirmed Schenk's confession.
/. Every step that the police take serves
to reveal fresh crimes Of the brothers
Schenk and their accOmplice, Schlossa-
REX. Schenk acted by minutcly pre-
pared plans, and several times lie plot
ted against one girl even before lie had
disposed of another, who seemed ready
to give up all to him. He is tall, hand
some, well-mannered. speaks fiuently
several languages, and has the bearing
of a gentleman. His brother has con-
fessed to having helped him to murder
the cook ketterl, whom they shot dead
and threw into the danube early in Au-
gust 1883. This is the fifth murder
which seems, so far as we may say so be-
fore actual convictions, to be established
but three others are probable. Hugo
Schenk's wife and his child have disap-
peared altogether. A man answering
his description was seen from a railway
train near Lundenburg ,on the Northern
railway, wrestling with woman whom
he seemed to stab. This affair was not
cleared up, because the police sent from
the station where the train stopped could
find no trace of murderer or victim.
Schenk confesscs to having murdered a
woman near Lundenburg, hut refuses to
give details. The principal witness
against Huge Schenk will I've his sweet
heart, Emily Hochsmann, whom he first
enticed, like his other victims, but find
ing her poor, yet attractive, spared her
life, and even spent upon her much of
the money obtained by his terrible
crimes. She offered herself as wit
ness when she heard who her lover real
ly was. His acquaintances were all
made by means of advertisements in the
local papers. Schenk made the women
believe that he was q nihilist agent,
Polish count with untold gold, that he
had uncles in America, and noble rela.
tions who would not hear of q marriage
with servant. Clandestine marriage
was always the excuse for leaving Wien.
ma, and once en- route with the girl mon;
/ 81. safe, iq her bag, he4 got out Of somt