The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-07
MURoERERs GO FREE.
How Military Despotism Encourages
Crime in Germany.


Crime in Germany.
Attention has been frequently drawn
to the manner in which military JUS
rice-if justice it can be called-is
allowed to usurp the rights of civil
justice in Germany. With the COM
pulsory military service which pre-
walls there. everybody who does not
happen to be Grippe is a soldier,
either with the cOlOrs or enrolled as a
member of the reserve forces from the
time he attains the age of 20 until he
becomes too old even for what is
known as the 'landstrum." If he hap
pens to be an educated man and of
gentle birth, he usually passes the ex-
animation qualifying him for the rank
of officer, and after brief regimental
service returns to civil life, but re-
mains on the roster of the army as an
officer of the reserve forces. AS such,
when he renders himself guilty of any
fnfractiOns of the laws OF the land, he
can always claim exemption from the
jurisdiction of the ordinary courts,
and insists as a soldier upon trial by
cOurt-martial-that Is, by members of
the same military caste to which he
himself belongs. and who are, there
fore. naturally prejudiced in his favor,
especially if the object of his aggres-
sion happens to have reen a civilian.
In this way quite a number OF crimes
have remained unpunished.
A particularly gross case has just
occurred in Alsace and Lorraine, which
is exciting much popular attention
and would undoubtedly have been
made the subject of bitter attacN
upon the emperor were it not for the
sympathy inspired by his recent be-
roavement. The offender is a Baron
StietencrOn, who served as captain
of the Eleventh regiment of Prussian
lancers, and VINO, although he has long
since retired into private life, is still
carried on the reserve of that crack
cavalry regiment. The little town of
Neiderwieler was laying pipes for a
new water supply and had obtained
permission from the baron to carry
them through remote part OF his
property. The mayor Of the town in
due course notified the baron that the
pipes would be carried through mis-
land on the following morning. But
when the gang of Italian laborers
appeared upon the scene and CON-
suddenly pounced down upon them,
gun in hana, and ordered them away.
The laborers, who were unable to
speak a word of German and who had
received their orders, paid no atten-
ton to the baron. but wen on With
their work, ignoring him completely.
That SO inturiated the nobleman that
he proceeded TO flre cnarge of bira
shot point blank at one of the Italians.
wounding him seriously in the arm.
1t Is said that the wounded man then
raised his spade to defend himself,
although this is denied by everyone
save the baron. Whether this be true
or not, the baron Immediately fired his
second barrel, loaded with heavy buck
shot, killing the Italian on the spot
The remaining Italians fed and the
baron returned TO his chateau.
When later in the day a magistrate
anu a number of police officials ap-
peared upon the scene the baron
roughly ordered them off his premises,
declining to hold any communication
with them and defying them to arrest
him. saying that as an officer of the
reserves he was accountable for his
actions solely to the military authOri-
ties. Some idea of the condition of
affairs in Germany can be obtained
from the fact that this amazing argu
men; was admitted and that there was
no further interference with him by
the criminal authorizes, the military
authorities of the district leaving him
free on parole until he was brought
before a court-martial, which acquit-
ted him of all blame on the ground
that he killed the Italian in self-de-
fense.
Fortunately, the German press has
taken up the matter and has been con-
Quoting an inquiry of its own into the
record of the baron, with astonishing
results The investigation goes to
show that the baron is thorough
ruftian whose attitude can only be
explained by the fact that he is not
a.,Ogether responsible for his actions.
Thus it seems that a few years ago
he shot and seriously wounded a
workman whom he found picking up
some plums that had fellen from one
of his trees. On another occasion,
finding a peasant taking a short cut
home through one of his fields. ne
arrested" her and kept her for three
days and nights without food or drink
in his Ice cellar. only releasing her in
Difference to the directions Of the
military authorities, who by mere
chance had heard of the affaiar.
Moreover. his own wife. lady of gen.
tie birth, universally beloved in the
neighborhood for her charity, is known
to have been on various occasions
confined in this same ice cellar tor
days together on bread and water.
Yet this man. solely because he was
formerly an officer in the army, ana
| still figures on the roster of the re.
| serve forces, is left unpunished. and
not merely free to continue his acts
OF barbarism. but even encouraged
thereto by the immunity which the
military authorities accord to him
Were he to be held accountable by the
ordinary tribunals. he would long since
have been consigned either to penal
servitude or to lunatic asylum fol
the criminal insane.
THE EDITORIAL "WE."
! Somebody has explained the signifi
| canco Of tho editorial two" Savc thf