The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-05
A BARON TRIED FOR MURDER.
JEALOUS DE RAHDEN, VINO KILLED
A DANISH OFFICER.


The Jury Acquit- Him-Hs Wa. Mndiy
jealous orLIeut. Cnstenskioid. Whom He
Accused OF Following uIs vIfe-Hs Says
He BIdn't shoot TIL Be Was Attack ed.
PARIS, Dec. l.-The trial began to-day be-
fore the Assize Court at Riom. Depart
ment Of Puy de Dome. OF Baron oscar do Rah-
don. Russian. on the charge otmurder. The
victim was Lieut.. Castenskiold. an officer OF
the Danish army. The Lieutenant met Baron
ess do Rahden. who prior to her marriage and
afterward was a circus rider. He paid devoted
attention to her, and finally her husband
called him to account for It. A duel was fought
and the Baron was wounded. In their travels
about the Continent the Baron and his wife
were followed by Castenskiold. and when at
Clermont- Ferrand the enraged husband shot
and killed his wife's admirer.
At the trial to-day the principal witness
against Baron de Rahden was Herr Weiss Of
Breslau. father OF the Baroness. He was very
bitter against the accused. and took no pains
to conceal his dislike. His acrlmony augmsnts
the likelihood OF the prisoners acquittaL
The Baroness Is described as a very hand
some woman. She lie about % years old. There
is considerable doubt as to her relations with
Castenskiold. After the lattor's death a num-
Der OF letters written By Tho Baroness wero
found In his room, but none OF them contained
anything to show that her relations to him had
been anything but platonic.
Baron de Rshden is dark. tall. and hand
some. and dresses in the height OF fashion.
In response to the Judges questions. he gave
to-day the details Of his career. He resigned
his Lieutenant's commission In the Russian
navy. he said. because he had challenged q
superior officer to q duel. The Cars per-
sonal influence. however. prevented his SUI
fering severe punishment perhaps even death.
The Judge reproached him for marrying
without an income and allowing his wife TO
support the household. and then rehoarsed the
charges. fortified by evidence. that Rahden
had drunk brandy and absinthe heavily and
habitually. had given full rein frequently to
his high temper. had i'll treated his wife. and
had called his father in-law a dog. Asked to
give his version OF the shooting. Baron de
II was walking in the circus passages when
the direction OF my steps to avoid him. He
followed me; however, ard struck me with q
wounded him slightly. The second bullet was
Baroness de Rahden followed her husband
on the stand. She was greatly agitated. and
almost Toll as she was taking her seat She
questioned GI0sey by the Judge as TO the
s sfS1 siamRsSSd out Snly short. inSofsIeai
get a Connected story in her own Language.
and began to ply her with questions.
Odd no strike your A-Ho did mott he
was very good to me.
Q1pidi 20, get letters frequently from Cas-.
thing improper In our relations.
The Baroness could not remember whether
Castenskiold said he would rid her OF her hus-
band She said her husband drank a good
deal. but not more than was customary among
the crowd began gossipinG so loudly about her
that the Judge had the court room cleared.
Herr Wss fHs wS%s Ss , the
how he had lost a fortune on the Berlin Bourse.
and had been left so poor that hts daughter
had gone INTO circus 70 support herself
and had married her much against her par;
mo an old dog" continued Weiss. "He quar-
relied violently with his wife, although never
saw him strike her. The police often brought
+" In Barcelona the baron and ,Castenskiold
seemed to he friendly enough, never h FAR
Three days before the shooting Baron de Rah;
den said: have told the police will kill
ing before the shooting. the Baron and my
daughter had an unusually violent quarrel"
the HI he had taunted Rahden with car r
rying a revolver for fear OF Castenskiold.
signor Pierantoni Of the circus In which the
tensIod had frequently appi led for an en-
gagement as horseman In the circus. Rahden
being informed OF this. went to Pierantoni and
" That fellow has been following my wife for
three years. II you employ him we shall leave
II will not engage him. then" Pierantoni re-
sponded:
Is You'd better not. "lsaid Rahden. " for II you
do there will lie a calamity"
"a few hours before the murder" said
saw Rahden drink glass after glass OF alb
sinthe. Aiterward he came and told me quite
calmly: i have lust killed a man."
murder Baron de Rahden's arm was bruised.
Yes" interpolated the prisoner: bruised by
skiold"
The jury gave verdict OF mot guilty" and
the prisoner was acquitted. The announce
ment OF the verdict was Applauded. The Jury
conferred only Ave minutes After his acquit-
tai Baron de Rahden embraced his LAWYERS.
and his lawyers dined together privately at
hotel in hiom and then all started for Paris.