Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-19
THE LOVERS SECRET,
Why Handsome Lieutenant
Wernert Fought the DueIS
That Made Him an Exile.
THE LADY HE AD0RED
Was Courted by an Italian Prince,
Who Won Her Affections.
CHALLENGED BY THE SOLDIER
The Dusky Rival Falls Pierced Through by
Sword Thrust.
THE LADY HE AD0RED
CHALLENGED BY THE SOLDIER
The Dusky Rival Falls Pierced Through by
Sword Thrust.
ANOTHER MIDNIGHT FIGHT TO DEATH
rBY DUNLAP's CABLE coMPANY.l


PARIS, October 1S-The brief paragraphs
that appeared in this mornings papers
giving the fact that Lieutenant Wernert
had been tried and acquitted on the charge
OF desertion, gave no intimatiCn of the
romantic and sensational circumstances that
lie back o. the duels and other offenses that
prompted the arrest Of the Lieutenant.
1t will be remembered tina: Wernert
fought two dueIs and then disappeared.
When he returned he claimed that his dis
appearance came from fear that the death of
ore OF his opponents might cause him
trouble, and was in no sense Influenced by
any desire to leave the army or shirk its
duties. He declared upon his honor as an
officer and 2 gentleman that the reason for
his duels was a family one of the gravest
importance, and should never be made
public.
A reporter has succeeded in learning the
true inwaroness of the whole affair, and 1t
turns out to be a story better suited to the
settings Of the middle ages rather than this
prac ical century, Tor it is made up Of love,
hate, Gueis and death.
vERNERT'S DISAPPEARANCE.
Lieutenant Wernert is an Alsatian, aged
81 He is considered brave officer. and
served with marked distinction in Tonquin.
He is handsome, and has always been
iavorite among his comrades. In MAY last
he dis reared, and for three months there
was Nv trace OF him and no message came
from him to indicate mis- whereabouts. AT
the end of that time it was learned that
Werner was then and had been at the home
of his parents at Schleststadt, in Alsace.
When this discovery was made the
French papers almost unanimously con-
GemEed him as deserter TO Germany, and
went so far as to say that he had sold charts
OF the de;enses OF Toulon to the enemy.
His friends were naturally aghast at the
charge, since death alone would be the
punishment if be we've caught.
As soon as Wer -ert saw the attacks on
his honor be mads up his mind not to de-
lay. but to return at once and face the
music, with the result already told. Now
comes the love part of the story which lets
IN the light upon the whole affair.
AN ITALIAN RIVAL.
Some time ago Wernert loved beautiful
girl, who returned his affection and mar
riage was arranged between them. But the
villain of the drama made his appearance in
the usual style. This one was an Italian
Prince, and he soon began to pay court to
the Lieutcnant's beautiful fancee. She
was fascinated BY his mannefJ and his title,
and listened to his words of devotion, but
Wernert would not give her up without a
struggle. He snatched her from the clutches
of the Italian by threatening to kill him if
anything happens to the girl
Upon this the Prince sent challenge to
the Young Lieutenant, who accepted it. The
meeting took place IN the Iatter's garden
and the weapons chosen were swords. After
some passes Wernert ran the Prince through
the body and ne was carried off unconscious
and died soon alter. Determined to punish
the bold young man and avenge his friends
death, one OF the Princes second. sent
Wernert another challenge, which again he
accepted.
DUEL AT NIGHT.
The scene was the same spot in the garden
where the former duel had taken place 1t
was night when the combatants met and
they had to fight by the glimmering light
given by 6 few lanterns which were fur
nished by the seconds. In this en-
counter Lieutenant Wernert was slightly
wounded, but his opponent suffered as Sc
riously as his royal friend and like him was
carried of the field unconscious, and il is be-
lleved has since died.
These are the facts that led to the Lieuten-
ants flight, for on hearing the tragic result
Of his action he became fearful OF the conse-
quences and fed the country Before the
court martial be refused to throw any light
on the matter or to furnish any proof of his
innocence. He merely said:
do with me as you please"
Luckily for him the real story as above
given was known to the court and the trial
resulted in his acquittal as told to-day.
Meanwhile, Wernert is the hero of the hour,
but the girl for whom he risked his life at
the swords point has gone to convent.