The Washington times., 1910-03-08
Frau Won Schoenebeck,
Haunted by Memories,
Makes Statement.
HUSBANDS MURDER
LEADS TO ASYLUM
Speech in Reichstag Berates Fact
That She Escaped Pun
iShment.

BERLIN. March S.-Another remark
able chapter has been added to the life
story Of Frau Weber. formerly Frau
Won Schoenebeck. who was the central
figure of the Allenstein tragedy on
Christmas morning, 1901
Her first husband, Major Won Schoene-
beck, was murdered under particularly
atrociOus circumstances by Captain Won
Goeben. a brother officer. who after
ward committed suicide in jail Frau
Won schoenebeck spent year in an
insane asylum. land after her release
wandered about the world, TO use her
own expression. like IshmaeI.'
While living In London recently she
met A. 0. WeSer. a German author,
and became his wife. This resulted in
her denuaciation I'm the reichstag by
a member who protested against her
not havins been brought 70 trial for
completely I'm the murder OF Major Won
Schoencbcck.
Herr Weber demanded and secured an
apology from the deputy for his attack.
This is now followed By an amazing
statement by Frau Weber. in which she
explains her part in the AUenstein
tragedy and expresses her Willingness
10 be tried.
Killed on Christmas.
The murder Of Major Won Schoenebeck
took place early on Christmas morning.
Captain On Goebcn, who was infatu-
ated with ~au Won SChoeuobecI. was
present al e house on Christmas Eve.
when he masqueraded as Santa Claus
and distributed gifts To Major Won
Schoenebeck's children. He left before
the other members Of the party. but
instead Of leaving the house hid in Frau
Won SchoenebeCk bedroom.
After covering his face with a velvet
mask purchased tho day before. he
waited until Major Won Schoenebeck
was asleep. Then. creeping into the lat
ter's room, he shot him at close quar-
ters. Capt. Won GOeben left the house
hv window. hurried To his apartments
iu the barracks. hid his mask. changed
irto civilian attire, and was returning
10 the house In order TO throw the body
of his victim into the AIler river when
he encountered a military patrol
He was arrested next day. and soon
confessed 10 the murder He remained
IN jail until March 2, when ne committed
suicide by cutting his throat and wrists
with a knife which had been supplied
with his dinner. II was afterward be-
lieved that the opportunity for self-de-
struction was deliberately offered Cap
tain Won Goeben. so that the officers
corps might avoid the disgrace entaiIed
BY his being sentenced 20 death.
Sent to Asylum.
Medical experts declared that Frau
Won Schoenebeck was not responsible
for her actions, and she was removed
the the state asylum OF Kortau After
a years confinement she was removed
70 a private sanitariUm. but subse-
ouently released.
Nothing more was heard regarding
her until the announcement few weeks
aEo that She had been married in Lon
don.
During the debate on the military
estimates in the reichstag. Herr Stros-
ser, a conservative deputy, referred tn
this marriage and to the fact that she
had never been tried for complicIty
In the murder OF her former husband
He demanded that she be treated with
no more consideration than wuuld he
accorded woman = humble birth IN
der similar circumstances.
Frau Weber then made a statement
In ner own defense, in which she said:
II IS terribly difficult for me to sneak
about the Allenstein drama. Often dur
lhg the past two years. when overcome
with despair, I wanted 10 defend myself.
but the task seemed hopeless
- have not even explained tho cir
cumStances 10 my present husband
Those who regard me as the murdcress
OF Major Won SchOenebeCk, and as the
instigatOr Of that tragedy are entirely
ignorant regarding the cause Of the
terrible deed
When ! married Ma jor Won Schoau-
check he was thirty-Six and I was
eighteen I was young and ineXnsrI.
onCod, and married to eScape the
clutches Of my st6p-mother
'I do not want TO c1rrnIaio ~ nv
murdered husband. He was good ma
tured. but ne neglected me-oven the
tirst day after the honeymoon. when
he went shooting. Eight months after
the marriage I made an unsuccessfr,I
attempt at suicide, and on two subse-
quent occasions I again tried 10 kin
myself
Diversion. COurted.
"Ailenstein is a small garrison town.
1t offered no distractions whatever. I
needed some one to love me: some one
in whom ] could conGde. Ny husband
did not care for me. so that others took
his place Society I'm AIlenstein ac-