The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-05
MURDER IN HoNoR's NAME.
A short Story From Everyday Life
in Military Germany.
From the New York sun.

in Military Germany.
From the New York Sun.
Chis is to be a plain, brief narrative of
MURDER done by a German army officer a
uttA more than two weeks ago. The ca
bled.reports of the murder were too frag-
menery to point the true moral of the
GRIND Nor did they explain the excitement
which spread the length and breadth of
the German empire as soon as the facts in
the cde were made known. In word,
this murder illustrates one of the most
painfuAand degrading phases of national
life in Emperor Williams country.
Anyb4y who has lived year or more
in GermIny probably has heard of similar
cases am will recognize in the following
narrative the familiar characters and in
cdents Of the everlasting conflict between
the Germln soldier and the German civil
ian. The Iacts are taken from the Bad
ische LaAieszeitungi Badische Landes-
bote, and tie Frankfurter Zeitung, and are
given in keir unvarnished atroctty:
It was bdween Ii and u O'Clock at night
In the estlurant of the Hotel Tannhau-
ser in Karlfuhe. Lieut.. Baron Bruesewitz
of the Karlfuhe garrison sat with several
other Offices at a table in the middle of
the room. He and his friends had been
drinking, but not heavily. All were in full
uniform.
A master machinist named Siebn1ann
entered the restaurant with two women
Siebmann hid not been drinking. He
was known asa man of unusual soberness,
industry, and inoffensive ways. He had
prospered in lis business, and owned con-
siderable proplrty in Karlsruhe. He and
the two womei were Joined near the door
of the restaurant by his friend Walz, and
the party tooAseats at the table next to
the one occupied by the officers. AS Sieb-
mann turned b call a waiter his chair
rubbed against Bruesewitz' $. In an IN
slant the ieutehant baron turned on him
and called him Ihde and unmannerly, Sieb-
mann bore thess reproaches with civilian
meekness. He made no reply, but drew
away his chairI Eventually Bruesewitz
roared
"a man with any decency about him
would beg my plrdon under such circum-
stances"
II do not know what reason I have to
beg your pardon,P Siebmann replied.
Bruesewitz's temper then broke loose.
He demanded that the lanlord put Sieb-
mann out. The landlord refused to do So
Bresewitz's jumped up, threw back his
chair, drew his sword, andfried to make a
thrust at Siebmann but was caught and
held back by the landlord and q, waiter
or more devoted himself to conversation
with his friends. Whether they melted
him to renew the attack on Siebmann or
not is unknown, but at all events he did
renew the attack, heaping insult after in
suit upon the civilian.
Slebmann told Walk he feared the quar-
rel as disturbing the guests in the res
taurant; he Thought the best way to end
1t was to go home. He himself would go
outside and Walz might come a moment
later with the two women. So as to at
tract as little attention as possible Sieb-
mann left his coat and hat to be brought
to him by Walz. AS he left the room
Siebmann met the landlord. He talked
over the quarrel, and told him in case
Bruesewitz really felt himself fnsulted it
would do no harm for the landlord to
inform him that Siebmann had apologize
ed. Siebmann said good night and was
about to pass on when Bruesewitz, accom-
panied by two officers, appeared at the
door. The landlord foresaw trouble, and
he at once made the apology authorized
by Siebmann. Bruesewitz did not reply.
He fixed his eyes on Siebmann's retreaing
figure, drew his sword, and sprang after
him. Siebmann heard him coming and
turned.
You have MORALLY insulted me-"
shouted the lieutenant. You have stain
ed my honor. l must have satisfaction or
So this brave officer and baron proceed
ed to avenge himself, cleanse his honor,
and mt himself to continue associating
with other barons and officers. Siebmann
stood before him unarmed, and calling
out that he had apologized. Bruesewitz
threw himself on the man, pushed him
back, and with a short thrust drove his
sword through the machinists breast.
The lieutenant sheathed his weapon and
returned to his fellow officers
Il laid him OUT was the only COM
ment on his deed. He returned to the
restaurant in high good humor, but soon
started for the barracks, leaving two of
his fellow officers behind to brag that
this was the way to stop the mouths of
such insolent canaille."
In fact, Bruesewitz had stopped Sieb-
mann'S mouth-stopped it forever. The
stricken man lived but fifteen minutes af-
ter he had been cut down. He died in
agony, uttering shrieks of pain that could
be heard throughout the neighborhood.
Forty-eight hours passed before Bruese-
WITT was arrested. The arrest was militia
ry Of course, and the trial was military.
Just what the penalty for the murder was
1t not known. The only report of the sem
tence yet made public is that Bruesewitz
got four years fortress confinement. That
Is about the same as condemning a United
STATES officer not to leave Governors Is
land for four years.
The tory dailies in Germany speak of
Bruesewitz as an officer generally loved
by his comrades for his amiabilitv and
nigh sense of honor. And this. in snite
OF the fact that Bruesewitz asserted ana
Ieasserted on honor that he attacked
Slebmann only after Siebmann had boxed
ms ears-a statement which was proved
lie by the testimony of every witness
of the murder.
1t may now be plain to persons who
nave not observed on the ground the Ger
man conflict between soldier and Civilian
why German editors devote so much spare
time and space to leaders on 1.-THE rela-
uon of our military to our civilian popu-
lation" ~ PNP"-