The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-29
CRAZY KING LOUIS
His Part in the Pitiful Tragedy
at Lake Stranberg.
SLEW HIS FRIEND AND DIED.
The Mad Bavarian Monarch Beat
Faithful DR.. Won Gudden to Death
Before Heart Disease Stopped His
Own Dash For Liberty.

Before Heart Disease Stopped His
Own Dash For Liberty.
For months preceding the tragedy
on June 13, 1886, that ended his life
King Louis H. of Bavaria had re.
veaed many unmistakable signs o.
mental arrangement He heard mys-
ferrous voices in the air around him
and believed that he was constantly
pursued by dangerous enemies. He
withdrew entirely from the world, his
cabinet ministers were unable to OBJ
servants were forbidden TO look ut his
face, being compelled to approach him
with averted eyes. The old valet
Meier was obliged to don mask to
cover his features whenever he went
near the king, and many other strange
things happened at the magnificent
palace which Louis had built for him
self with reckless extravaganza.
Wearing his crown and purple royal
mantle, with the scepter of sovereign
ty in his hand, King Louis would wan
der through the rooms of his castles
at night, conversing with imaginary
guests, for the most part with the
ghosts of King Louis XIV. of France
and Queen Marie Antoinette. Ere
quently places were laid at his table
for their disembodied spirits.
The kings debts brought matters to
a crisis and necessitated the interven-
tion of the Bavarian government. Most
Of the royal liabilities had been con-
| tracted through the construction ard
decoration of the famous three castles.
and several creditors threatened to in
itiate proceedings to recover their
money. King Louis requested the gov
ernment to introduce bill in the Ba-
varian legislature granting his prop
erty immunity from seizure for debts,
and when his ministers refused this
unreasonable demand he tried to bor-
row money from all sorts and cOndi-
tions of people
In April, 1856, the Bavarian chamber
refused to sanction the payment Of the
kings debts from the public treasury.
and few days later the cabinet ad.
dressed respectful petition to Louis
to curtail his expenditures. King Louis
responded by dismissing the whole
cabinet and nominating a new miuis-
try, at the head of which he placed his
own barber.
This irresponsible act brought mat
ters to n head. A commission of med
ical experts, under the presidency OF
Dr. Won Gudden, pronounced the king
to be incurably insane and incapable
of ruling. and deputation under
Baron Won Crailshem was dispatched
from Munich to the castle where Louis
was In residence to inform his majesty
of his dethronement. The king had
Baron Won Crailsheim and all the
members of the deputation arrested.
Then Dr. Won Gudden proceeded to
Neuschwanstein castle. where to al,
outward appearances he succeeded In
persuading the king to submit to his
dethronement and to retire to Berg
castle. near the shores of Lake Stan
berg, where the final tragedy was en-
acted The king was escorted to Berg
castle by DR. Won Gudden, another
medical man, DR.. Mueller. and several
trained attendants, and he seemed ia
acquiesce in the arrangement that he
} should remain there for year under
close supervision.
DIR. Won Gudden, misled by appear
ances, telegraphed to Munich that his
royal patient was las obedient as
child" and at dinner that evening III
promised to take the king for wall
in the park. His assistant, DR.. Muel
Ter, warned him that it would b'
dangerous to go alone with the kinl
and urged him to allow an attendan
to accompany them, or at least to fol
low them mt discreet distance, bu
DR.. Won Gudden disregarded the young
er mans advice and paid the penalt.
with his life. 1t was Sunday even
ing, and general feeling of uneasi
, ness prevailed among those who hat
remained at the castle when the KIM
and DR.. Won Gudden failed to reap
pear after an hour had elapsed. Searcl
parties We're organized. and during tn
night one of the royal footmen foun,
the kings hat, coat and overcoat clos
to the bank of the lake and DIR. vol
Guddens umbrella close by on tn
ground. The bodies of the king an,
his physician were found not far fror
the shore of the lake. in shallow wa
ter, both heads projecting above tn
surface. DR. Won Gudden's face an
? head bore the marks of heavy blow
which the king, n man of immensel
powerful build, had showered upo
!. him.
s The position of tho bodies and tn
T articles of clothing found near theI
: made 1t possible to surmise. with prol
!, able accuracy, the details Of the trag'
ly. 1t is likely that the king intende
@ to escape from his prison-for as sue
L he regarded the castle in which b
: was kept as n madn:an-and that b
t dlvested himself of overcoat and cot
to swim across the lake. DIR. Won Gu'
g den, 1t appears. closed with him at ii
n - A.