The Washington herald., 1912-03-03

Berlin, March 2-Before the military
tribunal at Posen q trial for high trea.
son Is shortly to be heard which is re-
markable for Its peculiarly romantic fea-
lures. The story, as related in the Buda-
poster Presse, is startling.
Attached 90 the garrison at Posen was
a young and brilliant officer named Lieut.
Schorveder, who had the misfortune to
be as poor as the proverbial church
mouse. He was deeply in love with a
young lady named Ida Mullerthal, but
owing to his poverty the prospect OF
their becoming united In wedlock was
very remote. The despair of the young
lovers was well known to Russian Sc
cret agent, who approached Lieut.. Schor-
veder and offered him chance Of making
q large sum Of money, without any beat
!ng about the bush. the agent explained
precisely what the business was.
Was Closely Watched.
81 will give you," he said to the young
officer, "a small fortune. $4,000. for
plan Of the fortress OF Posen."
Dazzled by the offer, the lieutenant
agreed to the proposal, but he found it
very difficult to carry out the task His
circumstances were common knowledge
in the garrison, and he was carefully
purloin a plan of the fortress and de-
spatch It to Russia, and after he had
exhausted his ingenuity without being
able TO find a suitable scheme for earn
ing the tempting reward, he took counsel
with his intended bride. Her woman's
wit suggested a way out of the difficulty.
You shall tattoo the plan OF the for
tress on my back" she said, 70 him,
''and shall easily be able to travel TO
Russia with it without being discovered"
Schorveder accepted the fantastic and
heroic suggestion That same night. with
the help of a needle and some Indian
ink, he began to tattoo an accurate plan
Of the fortress on the fair shoulders Of
Ida Mullerthal. The painful operation
lasted several night. Some times the tor
tTIre was so severe that the young woman
Rad to beg for mercy, and was allowed
a little rest. But finally the work was
completed, and Ida Mullerthal could
travel to Russia. carrying the plan with
her in a place where it was hardly likely
to be discovered.
The Russian agent had informed the
military authorities of the fact that
young lady was bringing some important
Information, and Fraulein Mullerthal was
received very kindly by the governor
OF Warsaw. Removing her coat and
blouse, she turned her hack TO the gov
ernor, saying, Here is the plan" The
al the details at a glance; copy of the
plan was made: and without moments
hesitation the stipulated sum was hand
ed to the daring young woman who. for
the sake of her lover. had endured so
much pain and undertaken such a daring
mission - o..
But the very secrecy with which Schor-
veder had carried out his task had at
tracted suspicion. He had been seen,
moreover. in the company of the RessiGu
agent, who was well known in Posen.
The silly extravaganza in which the
Young couple INDUCED when Ida Muller
thai returned from Warsaw confirmed
the suspicious which had been aroused.
Her dwelling was searched. but without
any result, and finally she was arrested,
although there was no proof that she had
done anything wrong.
But the proof was soon forthcoming. In
accordance with the prison regulations.
she had TO be measured and inspected
for purposes OF identification. The game
was up. The discriminating plan was
found on hsr shoulders. This was the
key 10 the mysterious journey to Rus
sia and the sudden wealth. Lieut..
Schorveder was arrested. and the pair
will, as already stated, shortly be placed
on trial for high treason.
school Strikes.
Remarkable strikes have broken out
towns. In all cases the boys declare
that they will not go to school as long
as those professors who treat them with
great injustice remain teachers of the
school. The authorities threaten to pre-