The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-16
CRAZY KING LOUIS
His Part in the PitifuI Tragedy
at Lake Stranberg.
SLEW HIS FRIEND AND DIED.

on June lo, 1850, that tuueu us hlS
King Louis II. of Bavaria had re-
vealed many unmistakable signs of |
mental arrangement. He heard mys-
terious 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
tain access to him, and his domestic
servants were forbidden to look at 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, converslng 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 dlsembodied spirits.
The kings debts brought matters to
a crisis and necessitated the interven-
ton Of the Bavarian government. Most
Of the royal liabilities had been con
tracted through the construction and
decoration Of the famous three castles,
and several creditors threatened to In
itiate proceedings to recover their
money. King Louis requested the gov
eminent to introduce bill in the Ba-
yarlan legislature granting his prop
erty immunity from seizure for debts,
and when his ministers refused this
unreasonable demand he tried to Dor
row money from all sorts and condi-
| tons of people.
| In April, 1886. the Bavarian chamber
refused to sanction the payment of the
kings debts from the public treasury,
and few days later the cabinet ad-
dressed a respectful petition to Louis
to curtail his expenditures. King Louis
responded by dismlssing the whole
cabinet and nominating a new minis
try. at the head OF which he placed his
own barber
This irresponsible act brought mat
tiers to a head. A commission Of med
zeal experts, under the presidency Of
Or. Won Gudden. pronounced the king
to be incurably insane and incapable
OF ruling, and a deputatlon under
Baron Won Crailsheim was dispatched
from Munich to the castle where Louis
was I'm residence to inform his majesty
OF his dethronement The king had
Baron Won Crailsheim and oil the
members OF the deputation arrested.
Then DR.. Won Gudden proceeded "a
Neuschwansteln castle. where 10 al
outward appearances he succeeded III
persuading the king TO submit TO bis
dethronement and 10 retire to Bere
castle. near the shores OF Lake Stan
berg. where the final tragedy was en-
acted The king was escorted to Beers
castle by Or Won Gudden. another
medical man, Or. Mueller, and severa
trained attendants, and he seemed e
acquiesce In the arrangement that h
should remain there for n year unde
close supervision.
Or. Won Gudden. misled by appear
ances. telegraphed 10 Munich that hi
royal patient was "as obedient as
child" and at dinner that evening h
promised 10 take the king for wall
in the park His assistant, Or. Niue
ler warned him that II would b
dangerous To 20 alone with the kin
and urged him to allow an attendan
10 accompany them. or nj least to 10
low them No a discreet distance, bu
Dr. Won Guddcn dlsregarded the youns
or mans advice and paid the penalt
with his life. II was Sunday ever
Ing. and general feeling OF uneas
ness prevailed among those who ha
remained az the castle when the kin
: and DR.. Won Gudden failed to real
pear after an hour had elapsed. Scare
\ parties were organized. and during n
night one Of the royal footmen foun
the kings hat. coat and overcoat clos
to the bank Of the lake and Or Va
Gudden's umbrella close 10y on n
ground The bodies OF the king an
his physician were found not far fro
| the shore OF the lake. In shallow vi
ter, both heads projecting above Il
surface. Or. Won Gudden's face m
| head bore the marks ~ heavy blow
which the king, man OF immense
powerful build, had showercd ups
him.
| The position Of the bodies and Il
articles Of clothing found near the
| made It possible TO surmisc with pro
able accuracy, the details OF the trag
dy. IL IA likely that the king intend
TO escape from his prlson-for as su,
he regarded the castle in which
was kept as n madman-and that
Invested himself Of overcoat and co
TO swim across the lake. Or. Won Gu
den. & appears, closed with him at I
waters edge and tried to prevent |