The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21

and the Grand Duke OF Thuringcn and
his norganatic wife.
The readers attention is first called to
the properties of fluid extracted from.
a plant obtained by DIR. Weigand from
the Hindoo kush Mountains through the
help of Ahmed Khan, who first brought
the knowledge OF the plant to the great
German savant. BY numerous expert
ments DIR. Weigand and this chief as
sistant satisfied themselves that the fluid
referred to had powerful anaesthet!c quail
tiles. and when adapted to the use OF
human beings. would surpass everything
hitherto used in surgery. DR.. Weigand
was consequently busy preparing paper
on this plant and its extract to be read
before a medical congress at Jenna.
At this juncture DR.. Weigand received
an imperative summons from the Grand
Duke Thuringen to come to Wilhelms-
brunn, where the Dukes morganatic wife,
the Countess Lichtenthal, was lying at
the point of death. in consequence Of
burns accidentally received at Christ
mas tree festival.
DIR. Weigand went in response to the
command and took his assistant Ahmed,
with him. He relieved the suffering of
the Countess somewhat and, perceiving
that the burns she had suffered would
destroy all traces of her beauty, he or
dered all mirrors in the sick room dullcd.
and having given strict orders to nurses
and attendants. he returned to Leipzig,
leaving Ahmed installed to watch over
the Countess and send bulletins from
time to time in regard to her condition.
A few days later the Countess having
progressed favorably. Ahmed was sent
for by the Grand Duke and questioned In
regard to woman, a Russian gypsy, alias
"Mariska." but really named Marie Shu-
Ter, who was imprisoned at Zw1rnau
under sentence OF death for murder.
Ahmed had known the woman in her
better days. and believed her innocent Of
the crime of which she was accused, or
Irresponsible as she appeared to- be en-
tirely under the control Of her lover, the
real murderer. He had testified in her
favor In court, and had pledged himself.
when the woman appealed to him in her
terror, to gain her release. His testl-
mony had led to the Grand Dukes know
asked Ahmed If he believed there was
any reason why lie should not sign the
warrant for the woman's execution.
Ahmed made an appeal to the Duke In
her favor
But as his feelings were evidently in
terested. the Grand Duke could not en-
tirely trust his Judgment. He therefore
summoned DR.. Weigand a second time,
begging him to visit Marie Shuer in the
Zwrnau prison, and give his opinion as
to whether or not the woman was insane,
and thereby not morally responsible for
what had been done.
Ahmed was sent to Zwirnau to meet
DR.. Weigand. He went leaving his pa
rent reluctantly In the hands OF nurses
he felt he could not trust BY the eX-
ereise OF hypnotic power, he endeavored
to deceive DR.. Weigand In regard to Marie
Shulers mental state, but failed. the DR..
for the first time dlstrustlng his assist
ants actions and opposing his opinion.
When the two reached Wilhemsbrunn
palace, returning from Zwtrnau, they
found the Countess much worse. During
Ahmed's absence tho nurses had given
the patient 4 mirror. She realized what
the devouring flames had done to her
High. fever AND delirium We're the re-
suit. The disobedent attendants We're
dismissed, Ahmed replacing them with
n trained nurse In whom he had the ut
most confidence, Elsa Won Ilartvlg DR..
Weigand then left for Leipzig, and
Ahmed was once more In charge or
the now crltically-ln Countess.
Concealing from the Grand Duke his
knowledge that his patient could not re-
cover, Ahmed sought and obtained his
consent for the secret removal OF the
Countess to the inflrmary OF the prison
at Zwirna,l. He told the Grand Duke
that the one way Of saving the patients
lsllfc was by skln-graftng. He proposed
to get the skin for grating from Marie
Shuler. whose execution date was rap-
idly approaching. In the meantime
every one acquainted with the fact
of the Countess's presence in tho
prison was bound by the oath of
| secrecy.
What really happened afterwards was