The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-07
REMARKABLE CRIMINAL.
MATTHIAS HADzLT' SENTENCED TO
DIE ON THE GUILLOTINE.
he Confesses to Sixty Crimes, and
Has Spent Fifteen Years in Roboing,
Bleckmsiling and Murder Outlaw
and Monk

Has Spent Fifteen Years in Roboing,
Bleckmsiling and Murder - Outlaw
and Monk.
From the Neto York Su;.
PARIS, May An the department. Of the
Drome to-day Matthias Hadelt was entenced
to death for killing in October Pere Ilde-
fonse, bursar in the Trappist monastery at
Aiguebelle on the Arc. In the course of the
trial Matthias was revealed as one Of the
most remarkable of criminals. For the last
fifteen years he has passed from place to
place on the continent killing, robbing and
Matchmaking without rest. He speaks all
the continental languages and confesses to
at least sixty crimes.
He began his criminal career in Copen-
hagen as a pickpocket. He tried to burg
lar1ze bank, was suspected, and fled to
Switzerland. To escape detection he
entered monastery near Berne. where
he earned a reputation for exceptional
piety. AT the end of six months he stole
part Of the communion service, rifled the
treasury OF 5000 francs, and fed TO Italy
After squendering the money In Rome be
entered another monastery from which he
disappeared shortly with several hundred
francs worth of silver plate. This robbery
was committed near Florence. Thence he
went through Southern Italy aud
Sicily alternately, as hlRhwayman
and monk. Near Palermo he is said to
have killed man who resisted his attempt
at robbery IN the street. From Italy Hadelt
went to Bosnia, where he robbed a convent
and church. In Berlin he passed few
weeks Ia spending about 1900 francs
which be had realized from his monastic
life, and then proceeded to Hanover, where
he Joined an infantry regiment. He stole
800 marks from the officer at whose personal
service he was placed. and deserted before
the theft was discovered. He was captured
while making his way toward the French
border. He was then disguised as a monk,
and had the money concealed in the skirts
OF his habit. To avoid suspicion he was
begging his way from door to door.
be was tried and sentenced to two years
imprisonment in the fortress Mayencs, but
escaped by letting himself down over the
wall at night. He went directly to Paris,
where, for few months, he was the most
expert of the city's confidence men. With the
money obtained in this period he set up a
flashy establishment. introducing himself as
foreign count who had adopted France as
his country. On the strength Of his military
experience in Hanover he posed as a military
man and eventually joined the French
army. He served some time III the French
Legion OF Honor. When his funds
began to dwindle he again put
| on the garb Of a monk aud after numerous
| robberies and attempted murders 10 French
| monasteries he brought up one year ago as
Trappist brother in Aigue belle. He af-
fected the utmost piety and gave to the
order 200 or 800 francs which he had with
him when he entered it. One night in the
sixth month Of his residence there he entered
| the room of Pere Ildefonse, killed him and
| fed, taking with him II, 135 francs in notes
and securities belonging to the order.
During his trial Hadelt behaved with the
utmost callousneSs. alternately laughing at
the testimony against him, and RlorifYing
In the narrative of some exceptionally
atrocious crime. The police of Italian,
Swiss, German, Austrian and Danish cities
were active in securing evidence a. to his
| past life, and the testimony sent ia writing
| fills hundreds of pages. Hadelt will be
| guillotined at the end Of this month.