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

Il -.
Chas. May. yesterday one Oh the 'o'e
most public men OF Germany touas
an outcast from society a branded
criminal. shorn OF his nonors changed
from famous 10 infamous, rivals III
point OF interest that of Jean NalJedh,
hero OF Hugo's Les Miserahles, anu
I'm some ways closely parallels the He
of VIM. January &C. w. Anderson
the Kansas City escaped convict
AT 40. MAY has been Identified as
the man who some forty years ago
was brigand chief in the saxon
highlands. the perpetrator OF many
crimes aud deeds of violence
His father was a well-todo citizen
OF Dresden. who gave his son an eX-
cellent education and a careful up
bringing 10 qualify him 10 enter the
government service as teacher In
state school. and at the age or Il
young May was drawing salary Oh
sos a month TO instruct the young
boys Of the district
Just at this time his father died and
Charles went 10 lodge with an ola
friend of the family Notwithstanding
the ties binding him 10 his host. he
stole various articles about the house,
and was sentenced to 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. AT
this period he was just common
burglar and within few months he
was caught entering house and was
sentenced 10 four years penal SER
vitude.
Il 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 a 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 murmur. lawless and un-
disciplined as they were.
The headquarters OF the band was
a cave In the Riesen mountains.
wherc they met at regular Intervals
and INDUCED in riotous living on the
profits OF their brigandage They es-
tablished a veritable 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 TO the scene
e. operations. and persistent chase
began 10 earnest.
Now Gas. May put forth all his eff
forts 10 elude capture. His dash and
energy and daring were demonstrated
afresb day by day. Once. after the
chase had lasted many weeks. the
troops ancircled him and felt sure or
his seizure: but May obtained the uni
formrof a gendarme and walked bold
ly through the military lines.
A few weeks later MAY was drink
ing In a little village inn when two
I 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 cbliV-
ion OF the penal settlement.
Nearly twenty years later. "a 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 forcefu power He was
rich and generous. He inhabited a
luxurious house at Dresden and kept
ian elegant apartment In Berlins most
fashionable quarter He was relig
iuus. too.
Clas. MAY was the honored friend
of kings and princes, OF dukes and
noblemen. OF authors and politicians:
he belonged 10 the intimate circle OF
Germany's best men. When a well
+ known trade union leader, Lebius.
came forward and said. This man
Man, philanthropist and author Is
fraud ana nm impostor. Is Identical
with the brigand chief. Chas May
- tnc people just smiled at the latest
socialist folly.'
Nav himself treated the aiacks
with contempt BntL ehius- pe14-4ln-I
and became SO pressing that MS on.
8 slaughts could no longer be ignored
+ So May sued him for libel The case
was looked upon as joke except for
Lebius. 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
nesses and documents. with photo
graphs. in brief. with overwhelming
evidence. The court pronounced
judgment In favor OF Lebius. Chas