Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-07
The CURSE OF THE Rosy CR0SS.
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

Museum, was foully and brutally murdered
within stones throw of the entrance to tn
college quadrangle.
Beside the eminent position of the victim
and his popularity among both students anC
town-folk, there were other circumstance
which excited public interest very strongly
and drew general attention throughout Aus
tria and Hungary 10 this murder. Tht
PeSther Atendblatt of the following day haC
an article giving a succinct account of tn;
circumstances under which the crime wa
committed and the peculiar features in tht
case which puzzled the Hungarian police.
''It appears" said that very excellent
paper, ''that Prof. Won Hopstein left the
university about 4:3O In the afternoon, in
order to meet the train which is due from
Vienna at 5:03. He was accompanied by
mis- old and dear friend, Herr Wilhelm
Schlessinger, sub-Curator of the Museum
and Privat-docent of Chemistry. The object
of these two gentlemen in meeting this par
ticular train was to receive the legacy be.
queathed by Graf Won Schulling to the
University of Buda-Pesth. 1t is well known
that this unfortunate nobleman, whose
tragic fate is still fresh in the recollection OF
the public, left his unique collection OF
medieval weapons, as well as several
priceless black-letter editions, to en-
rich the already celebrated museum
of his Alma Mater. The worthy professor
was too much of an enthusiast in such mat
tiers to entrust the reception or care Of this
valuable legacy to any subordinate, and
with the assistance of Herr Schlessinger, he
succeeded in removing the whole collection
from the train, and slowing it away in a
light cart which had been sent by the uni
versitv authorities. Most of the books and
more fragile articles were packed in cases
OF pine wood, but many OF the weapons
were simply done round with straw, so that
considerable labor was involved
in moving them all. The professor
was so nervous, however, lest
any of them should be injured that he re-
fused to allow any of the railway employees
to assist Every article was carried across
the platform by Herr Schlessinger and
handed to Professor Won Hopstein in the
cart, who packed it away. When every
thing was in, the two gentlemen, still faith
full to their charge, drove back to the uni
versitv, the professor being in excellent
spirits and not little proud of the physical
exertion which he had shown himself capa-
bic Of He made some Joking allusion to it
to Reinmaul, the janitor who, with his
friend Schiller, Bohemian Hebrew, met
the cart on its return and unloaded
the contents. Leaving his curiosities safe
in the storeroom and locking the door, the
professor handed his key to his sub-curator,
and, bidding every one good evening, de-
parted in the direction o. his lodgings.
Schlessinger took a last look to reassure
himself that all was right, and also went of,
leaving ReinmauI and his friend Schiller
smoking in the janitor's lodge.
"At IL o'clock, about an hour and half
after Won Hopstein's departure, a soldier of
the Fourteenth Regiment OF Jager passing
the front OF the university on his way to
barracks, came upon the lifeless body of
the professor lying a little way from
the side Of the road. He had fallen
upon his face with both arms stretched
out. His head was literally split in two
halves by a tremendous blow, which, it is
conjectured, must have been struck from be-
hind, there remaining peaceful smile upon
the olo mans face, as If he had been still
dwelling upon his new archaeological acqui-
sition when death had overtaken him.
There is no other mark of violence upon the
body except q bruise over the left patella,
caused probably by the tall. The most mys-
terious part of the affair is that the pro-
fessor's purse, containing 4S gulden, and
his valuable watch have been untouched.
Robbery cannot, therefore, have been the
incentive to the deed, unless the assassins
were disturbed before they could complete
their work.
''This idea is negatived by the fact that
the body must have lain at least an hour be-
fore anyone discovered it. The whole affair
ie urro in nr
the eminent medico-jurist, has pronounced
that the wound is such as might have been
inflicted by heavy sword-bayonet, welded
BY powerful arm. The police are ex-
tremely reticent upon the subject, and it is
suspected that they are in possession of
clue which may lead to important results"
Thus far the PeSther Abendblott. The
researches of the police failed, however, to
throw the least glimmer of light upon the
matter. There was absolutely no trace of
the murderer, nor could any amount OF
ingenuity invent any reason which could
have induced any one to commit the dread
full deed. The deceased professor was a
man so wrapped IN his own studies and pur-
suits that be lived apart from the world.
and had never raised animosity in auv
human breast. 1t must have been some
hend, some savage, who loved blood for its
own sake, who struck that merciless blow.
Though the officials were unable to come
to any conclusions upon the matter, popular
was not long in pitching upon a
scapegoat In the first published accounts
Of the murder the name of one Schiller had
been mentioned as having remained with
the janitor after the professors departure.
This man was a Hebrew, and Hebrews have
never been popular in Hungary. A crv was at
once raised for Schiffer's arrest; but as there
was not the slightest grain of evidence
against him, the authorizes very properly
refused to consent to so arbitrary proceed |
ing. Reinmaul, who was an old and most
citizen, declared solemnly that
Schiller was with him until the startled cry
OF the soldier had caused them both to run |
out TO the scene OF the tragedy. No one ever |
dreamed of duplicating Reinmaul In such a |
matter; but still, it was rumored that his |
ancient and well-known friendship for |
Schiller might have induced him to tell a |
ialsehood in order to screen him. Popular |
feeling ran very high upon the subject. and |
there seemed a danger of Schiller being |
mobbed, when an incident occurred which |
threw a different light upon the matter.
On the morning of the 18th of December
Just nine days after the mysterious murder |
Of the professor, Schiller, the Bohemian He
brew, was found in the northwestern corner
If the Grand Platz stone dead, and SO mutt
ated that he was hardly recognizable. His
lead was cloven open in very much the same
way as that of Won Hopstein, and mis- BODY
exhibited numerous deep gashes, as if the
murderer had been so carried away and
transported with fury that he had con-
inued 70 hack the lifeless body. Snow
1ad fallen heavily the day before,
md was lying at least a foot deep all over
he square; some had fallen during the
night too, as was evidenced by thin LAYER
ying like winding sheet over the muir
iered man. 1t was hoped at first that this
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