The state herald., 1907-08-02
CHILD MURDERER
MADMAN RIPS OPEN sToMAcHs
OF THREE BABES.
A WHITE CHAPEL REPETITION
Berlin Mothers Go Wild With Excite.
ment and Entire City is Up
In Arms.


Berlin.-A series of cold-blooded
crimes, singularly resembling the
Jack the Ripper" murders of the
Whitechapel district in London. but
Sor the fact that instead of women the
victims were little girls. followed ono
another with remarkable celebrity al
most in the center of the city, ana
aroused the most intense excitement
and indignation. Within short space
of time the assassin successively en-
ticed three girl babies, the oldest only
five years, into doOrways of houses,
and stabbed them several times in the
abdomen with sharp instrument. AS
result one of the children Is dead.
another is dying and the third is dan
gerously wounded J
The first knowledge that the crimes
had been committed came when an oc-
cupant of the house at Ryke and Bel
forter streets found the body of Mar
eaTitha PrawitZ. aged four, lying In
the doorway, bathed In blood, tho
| lower part of the body horribly
gashed This was Immediately re-
ported to the police, who were about.
TO investigate the case, when reports
came that Bertha Lenst, aged three.
and ELY Knispel, five years old. had
been found similarly on the ground.
but alive. in the PrinZhauer alley and
in Hensersdorfer street respectively
Rumors soon spread magnifying the
number OF victims, and the inhabitants
Of the neighborhood became intensely
excited. Mothers sought their children
In the streets and made them return
indoors for fear that they might meet
a similar fate Crowds gathered about
the police station shouting vengeance
against the murderer
In the meantime the two victims
who were Sun alive were sent to a
hospital Their condition is procari-
Gus and they are not expected TO sur
yiyc.
The officials acted quickly In nm en-
dcayur to locate the murderer, and pub
lished an offer Of reward Of 81 600
for his capture.
Shortly after the crimes were com
mitted a slip OF paper with death's
head sketchcd on Il was found ON a
public seat In the square near tho
scene. On II was scribbed In n ram
bling hand;
Away. away In FIVE minutes
there will be n corpse There Is IA
child murderer In the neighburhood
Deliver this note 10 the police. have
killed children In Bolflrter. PTcinz-
haucr and Hensersdorfcr streets"
The note was attached TO the scat
by means Of sharp single scissor
blade, and II is assumed that tho
crimes were committed with the other
half Of the instrument.
| Al the available police and detec-
tiyes were ordered tO scour the neigh
borhood. Some parents have reported
that their children had seen a hnF-
gard man, about q years old. wen
dressed and wearing q cap. Offering
candy and fruit TO little girls. whom
be asked 20 accompany him
a man was arrested shortly after
ward who Tailed somewhat with this
Indefinite description, Later he was
confronted by the two wounded chill
dron who. however. were too weak
20 respond 10 the questions put to
them The man WIS then taken In
cab, guarded by police. 10 the police
station, The crowd outside the sta
tion, believing him TO be the mur-
derer. attempted 10 DRAG him from
the vehicle and to lynch him. and ho
was only saved by the policemen
drawing their swords and holding tho
crowd nj bay. The people then at-
tempted to storm the station. and tho
prisoner was removed to tho central
station for security.
Experts who have examined tho
note found ON the EgHt hngo Fona Ia
tho conclusion that II was written by
n mhdman. They Will secure sum
piles Of writing from the prisoner and
compare these with the note
The streets Of the city and suburbs
are pntrolod BY large numbers Of po-
liccmcn. Intense excitement prevails
and the people are discussing ~.
question whether or not the murderer
n siill at large and whether tho
bloody deods are TO continue,