Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-11-02
BITTERNESS IN GERMANY
THE LICENSE GIVEN TO ARMY
OFFICERS.
seuueis of the Murder of an Artisan
by Lieutenant Won
Breusewitz.

special to the World from Lon
don says: The lenient punish,
ment meted out to the German
army officer who deliberately
murdered mechanic in a Carls-
ruhe cafe "to save his honor"
seems to have aroused Germany
as no similar incident has done in
years. The Socialist leaders say
it has done more to shake the
Kaiser's authority and to pre-
judice the masses against the
vast military establishment than
all their preaching of a decade.
Information from Berlin gives a
different version of the story from
that already sent in the press dis
patches, and as the case seems
likely to develop into one of
great importance, your cores
pondeut sends herewith the exact
facts:
La the Cafe Taunhauser, at
Carlsruhe. an artisan named Step
mann, in moving his chair struck
the chair of Lieutenant Won
Breusewitz. This was not imme.
diateIy construed as an insult, and
persons sitting at Siepmann's
table first became aware that the
Lieutenant was angry when he
asked the landlord to put Step.
mann out. Thereupon Siepmann
rose and explained that he knew
nothing of Breusewitz, and wish
ed to have nothing to do with him.
He left the room for a few min
utes, but afterward returned, re-
suming his seat without touching
the Lieutenant's chair.
After some time Breusewitz
went to Siepmann and asked him
to apologize. This he declined to
do, saying he was not aware of
having insulted any one. Breuse-
witt repeated the request and
Siepmann replied: 81 have moth
ing further to say" The officer
drew his saber, and would have
struck Siepmann had not the lat
ter sprang behind the table. Then
began a regular hunt, Siepmann
dodging backward as the Lieute-
naut advanced. Women present
shrieked and the landlord held
the officer back. Siepmann went
out into the courtyard. Breuse-
witt took his cap and left the cafe,
saying: "My honor is dead. l
must resign and blow out my
brains"
In the street the officer found
that Siepmann had not left the
cafe. He was in the courtyard,
talking to the landlord, who had
taken him his hat and coat.
Siepmann maintained that he
in no way insulted the off Ger, but
declared his readiness to apollo
gize, to save the landlord annoy
ance. The landlord was about to
let Siepmaun out through a pri-
vate door when Breusewitz rushed
in, and though told that Siepmann
was ready to apologize, attacked
him with his saber. Siepmann
fed to the end of the yard.
Breusewitz followed and in a
corner ran Siepmann through the
body. AS Siepmann fell Breuse-
WITT exclaimed: II have saved
my honor" Siepmann died an
hour later.
The prevailing conception of an
officers honor makes it incumbent
upon him to kill any person by
whom he considers himself in
suited, if such person does
not occupy a social rank sufii-
cieutly high to he challenged to
u duel. In difficult questions the
military court of honor decides
whether man is worthy of Il
challenge, but there can be no
question as to workmen. Little
is known as to Emperor Williams
personal attitude in regard to the
matter. No Hohenzollern has
ever fought duel, but the young
Kaiser is believed to favor a strict
Interpretation of military honor.
The only official document on the
point is an ordinance issued May,
1872, by William l, which enioins
polite conduct on the part of Off
GERS, but recognizes the necessity
of duelling in cases Of gross insult.
In certain cases, adds the ordin-
ance, the officers will use weapons.
The Socialist newspaper, Yor-
..no,I, zo,, thnk rnuDlyar Ham a.