The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-03-06
RUDOLPH MASLING IS A
CRIMINAL FROM CHOICE
Man of Culture and Refinement Becomes Noted
Forger Through His Love for
Excitement

not from desire for gain, nor
through the demands of dire neces-
sity, but from sheer longing for the
zest and excitement Of the chase.
Originally from an excellent fami-
ly, with independent means, equipped
with a splendid education and with
abilities that would have insured a
success in almost any branch of hon
est endeavor, it seems almost unbe-
ievable that any one would choose
instead a career of crime merely for
the thrill that accompanied the de-
ception of his victims and that he
gained in eluding the officers Of the
law.
Yet, such, in brief is the record of
Rudolph Masling, linguist, artist, ex-
pert accountant and mining engineer,
man of letters, and last, but by no
means least, master forger, lately ar
rested in New York after series OF
spectacular swindles successfully ex-
ecuted, says the Pittsburg Leader.
His case has attracted the atten-
ton of medical men and psycholo-
gists, who are striving to ascertain
the fundamental causes that lie be-
hind his peculiar crinkle. They have
found that there is no apparent out
ward cause for the mans evident
moral deformity.
He is sober, industrious and ad-
dicted to none of the dangerous drugs
that make their victims morally, II
not legally, responsible for their acts.
Moreover, his medical history shows
nothing, either in his own life or IN
that of his immediate ancestry, which
might offer an explanation for his
strange criminal tendencies.
His case seems to be entirely
unique.
According to his own statement
this is borne out by the records OF
the police-it is no more possible for
Masling to refrain from his illegal
acts than it would be possible for a
morphine victim to renounce the
drug which enslaves him. He recog-
nizes his danger and knows that dis
grace must inevitably follow con-
tinuance of the habit but is utterly
unable to forego its delights.
So it seems to be with Masllng. He
recognized that his ultimate dlscoV-
ery and conviction were absolutely
certain, yet declared it to be lmpos-
sible for him to reform.
Perhaps the best that can be said
of him is that apparently he IS
anxious to make every amend in his
power for his misdeeds, the best proof
of which is, that he voluntarily gave
himself up to the police. Had he
wished he could easily have escaped
at least for a time-and he could
speedily have satisfied the demands
of his dupes and made restitution of
the money his big operations had cost
them.
Its the only thing for me to do, v
he told the police lieutenant to whom
he surrendered himself. LAS long
as I'm out I can't help being a
crook. I don't know why it is, don't
need the money, have every reason
to keep straight
But l love the excitement of it..
It's like the dope habit with me.
I've lost wife and friends through
nv weakness, but can't stop being
scrooked.' So I guess maybe the best
thing for me is to do another
stretch This one will be long
one and it may cure me-
The police, however, have some
doubts of this, for Masling's record
of wrongdoing is long one. He is
now 50 years old and has served at
least three terms in prison. On each
occasion alCSr DelAS lluolo oI0o Ao He@'
lived honestly for some time, and
then the fatal fascination for the ex-
citement of his illegal art has claim
ed him.
Even if he is now convicted under
the "habitual criminal' act and given
a ten-year sentence, the police de-
clare he will resume his old-time
operations once he has served his
time. They. look upon his criminal
failing as form of mania, and it is
this which physicians and psycholo-
gists who have been studying Mas
ling are trying to ascertain.
Apparently Masling lacks all sense
of control when the desire to commit
forgery assails him. 1t is like dis
ease, which remains dormant for in
determinate periods, only to return
with an increased force to wrack and
wreck it's victim, as malaria, in GER
tain forms, returns again and again