The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-06
I HAVE LIVED THE
life OF | / (:
Haunted by Memories Of Alien
stein Tragedy; Courts Trial..
Frat Weber Declares. !.
HAS RECENTLY REVIVED
Adds Another Chapter to Story
Of Major Won Schocnc-
beck's Murder.

Special Cable 70 The Times. Dispatch

Especial Cable TO The Times DIspatch1
Berlin. March 5.--Another remark
able chapter has been added to the
Life story OF Frau Weber. formerly
Frau Won Schoenebecs, who was the
central figure of the Allcnstcin trag-
cdy on Christmas morning. 1907.
/ Her first husband. Major Won
schocncbeck, was murdered under par
ticularly atrocious circumstances by
| Captain Won Goeben, a brother officer.
who aftcrward committed suicide in
| jail. Frau Won Schoenebeck spent a
year in an insane asylum, and after
her release wandered about the world,
to use her own expression, like Ish-
mael.''
While living in London recently she
met a. O. Weber, a German author.
and became his wife. This resulted i'll
her denunciation in the Retchstag by
! a member who protested against her
not having been brought to trial Tor
completely in tho murder OF Major Won
| Schoencbeck.
Disguised ms santa Claus.
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
Allenstein tragedy. and expresses her
Willingness to be tried.
The murder of Major Won Schoene-
beck took place carly on Christmas
morning Captain Won Goeben. who
was infatuated With Frau Won.
Schoenebeck, was present at her house
81, J-,,o a.
queraded as Santa Claus and dis
:ributed gifts to Major Won Schocne-
beck's children. He left before the
other members Of the party. at IL
o'clock. but instead OF leaving the
house hid In Frau Won Schocnebcck's
bedroom.
After covering his face with q. velvet
mask, purchased the day before. lie,
waited until Major Won Schoenebeck
was asleep. Then, creeping into the
latters room, he shot him at close
quarters. Captain Won Goeben left the
mouse By window. hurried TO his
apartments in the barracks. hid tho
mask, changed into civilian attire. and
was returning to the house In order
to throw the body OF his victim into
the Aller River, when he encountered
a military patrol.
He was arrested next day, and soon
confessed to the murder. He re-
NAMED in Jail until March .. when
he committed suicide by cutting his
throat and wrists with knife which
had been supplied with his dinner 1t
was afterward believed that the oppor-
tunity for self-dcstruction was de-
liberately offered Captain Won GoebeH.
SO that the officers corps might avoid
the disgrace entailcd by his being
sentenced to death.
Widow Freed From Asylum.
Medical experts declared that Frau
Won Schoenebeck was not responsible
for her actions. and she was removed
to the State Asylum at Kortau. After
years confinement she was removed
Ito a private sanatorium, but subse-
quently released.
Nothing more was heard regarding
her until tho announcement few
weeks ago that she had been married
| in London.
Now Frau Weber says:
ut is terribly difficult for me to
| speak about the Allenstein drama
! Often, during the last two years. when
| overcome with despair. l wanted to
| defend myself, but the task seemed
| hopeless.
II have not even explained the cir
| cumstances to my present husband.
Those who regard me as the rnurderess
Of Major Won SchoenebeclS and as the
linstigator of that tragedy are entirely
Ignorant regarding the cause OF the
terrible deed.
"yvhen married Major Won
Schoencbeck he was thirty-siS years
old and was eighteen. was young
and inexperienced, and married to cs-
cape the clutches of my stepmotler.
| 1T do not want to complain OF my
murdered husband. lie was good
ma tured, but he neglected nle-even the
first day after the honeymoon. when
he went shooting. Eight months after
| the marriage 1 made an unsuccessful
ATTEMPT at suicide. and on two subse-.
quent occasions again tried to Kill
myself.
"IIusbnnd Neglected Me-"
"Alienstein is a small garrison town.
st Offered no distinctions whatever i
needed some one to love me-: some one
IN whom | could confide MY husband
| did not care for me, so that others
4 took his place. Society in Allensteln
acuuesced as long as outward appear
4 anccs were observed.
II made the acquaintance Of Cap
TAIN Won Goeben at a ball In January,
1907.
eventually he urged me to obtain d.
vorce and marry him, always re-
fused, although I did not try to con-
ceal the fact that my marriage was
an unhappy one 4
"sometimes Captain Won Goeben
talked OF challenging my husband to
a duel under such conditions that ono
of them must have inevitably been
killed."
After Captain Won Goeben'ss arrest
ho accused Frau Won Schoenebeck Of
having instigated the murder. She
declares that he was ,goarded into this
statement by being told that she had
accepted attentions from other men
while pretending to BIO friendly with
none but Captain Won Goe1}en himself
Lived In Despair.
"Rut public opinion condemned mo-"
her statement continues. II have lived
tho lifo of Ishmael. j dared not an
pear anywhere under my right name.