The Detroit times., 1910-04-28
GRIMES or YOUTH
BLIGHT HIS LIFE
Aged Author and Philanthropist Is
Stripped of Fame and Honor
After Many Years.

BERLIN, April 2s.--The story Of
Chas May. yesterday one of the tore
most public men OF Germany, today
an outcast from society, a branded
criminal. shorn of his honors. changed
from famous to infamous, rivals In
point OF interest that OF Jean Vatican.
hero OF Hugos Les Miserables." and
In some ways closely parallels the lie
ef Vim January c. W Anderson
| the Kansas City escaped convict.
At 20. Nav has been Identified as
the man who some forty years ago
was a brigand chief in the Saxon
highlands, the perpetrator of many
crimes and deeds Of violence.
His father was well-todo citizen
OF Dresden. who gave his son all ex-
cellent education and a careful up
bringing 10 qualify him to enter the
government service as teacher in a
state school. and at the age OF p
young MAY was drawing a salary OF
$25 a month 10 instruct the young
boys OF the district
just at this time his father died and
Charles went TO lodge With All Old
friend OF the family. Notwithstanding
the ties binding him To his host he
stole various articles about the house.
and was sentenced 10 six weeks i'm
prisonment.
On emerging from prison after this
short term. May made no attempt to
resume an honest life He plunged
more and more deeply into crime. Al
this period. he was just a common
burglar and within a few months he
was caught entering house and was
sentenced to four years penal SER
vitude.
II was after this that May embark
ed on the romantic period of his Grim
inal career Taking flight TO the
mountains and highlands he establish
ed himself as brigand chief. At
first he operated single-handed and
carried out many bold robberies. Gen
orally he left a gorgeously decorated
proclamation announcing that Chas.
May. monarch of the highlands, had
levied tribute on his subjects.
His picturesque and romantic per-
sonality attracted other young men,
like himself ex-convicts, criminals
and outcasts from society. One by
one they enlisted as his followers.
May possessed absolute authority
over his men and they obeyed him
without a mHrmHf, lawless and I'M
disciplined as they We're.
The headquarters Of the band was
cave in the Riesen mountains.
where they met at regular intervals
and INDUCED in riotous living on the
profits Of their brigandage. They es-
tablished veritahle reign OF terror;
they attacked and sacked farm houses
held up conveyances. robbed poor
peasants and women, stole horses and
cattle Their operations were wide
spread and always audacious.
The local authorities, unable TO cap
ture the brigands or to check their
raids. appealed TO the government for
troops to hunt them down. Infantry
and cavalry were rushed 10 the scene
of operations. and a persistent chase
began In earnest.
Now Chas. May put forth all his eff
forts TO elude capture His dash and
energy and daring were demonstrated
afresh day by day. Once. after the
chase had lasted many weeks. the
troops encircled him and felt sure OF
his seizure; but May obtained the uni
form Of a gendarme and walked bold
~ through the military lines.
A few weeks later Nav was drink
ing i'm a little village inn when two
soldiers rode up. dismounted. and en-
tered the same bar May dashed out
Of the window. quickly jumped upon
one OF the troopers horses and rode
away.
But Nemesis overlook him at last
and he was caught, tried and SEN
fenced TO eight years penal servitude.
Chas. May disappeared into the obliv-
ion OF the penal settlement
Nearly twenty years later. d clover
writer named Chas Nav began to
attract attention by his literary works
and became a celebrity in Berlin's
and Dresden's cultured circles His
work was distinguished by its delicate
touch and forceful power. He was
rich and generous He inhabited a
luxurious house at Dresden and kept
an elegant apartment In Berlins most
fashionable quarter He was relig.
iuus. too.
elias. May was the honored friend
of kingS-and- princes dukes and
noblemen, OF authors and politicians;
he belonged 10 the intimate circle OF
Germany's best men. When we'll
known trade union leader Lebius,
came forward and said. This man
Man, philanthropist and author, is a
fraud and an impostor. Is identical
with the brigand chief, Chas May
the people just smiled at the latest
socialist folly.
May himself treated the attacks
with contempt But Lebius persisted
and became so pressing that his on
slaughts could no longer be ignored
So May sued him for libel. The case
was looked upon as a joke except for
Leblus, whose drastic punishment
was foretold.
Then came the denouement Doubt
less May calculated that after so
many years Il would be Impossible
to muster sufficient evidence To make
any kind OF impression in court. he
was mistaken Lebius came with Wit
nesscs and documents. with photo
graphs: i'm BRIEF, with overwhelming
evidence. The court pronounced
Judgment I'm favor OF Lebius. Chas.
May left the court condemned and
morally executed crushed and broken
down with shame and despair.
MAY. who has aged a decade within
day. has returned TO seclusion to
.f.i. 4. L., h.aI In ON atfanpt n pSClpp