Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-23
THE MARTYR OF MANNHEIM.
Execution of Karl Ludwig Sand Was
One of the Most Remarkable on
Record

One of the Most Remarkable on
Record.
August Friedrich Ferdinand Won
Kotzebue, who was born at Werner III
1851 and slain at Mannheim in 1879, was
one of the great men of his time. lie Is
among the most celebrated of German
dramatists. and his originality Is attest
ed nv the fact that his works have been
a mine for later writers of all NATIONS
He wrote 200 tragedies. dramas ana
farces and most of them We're success
fnl during his lifetime His best known
work is 1.-The Stranger which, 80 years
ago. was as popular and famous in the
United States as it was IN Germany. ne
also wrote successful novels, and a re-
markable satire. in which he TOOK ran
out of Goethe and Schiller. who had de-
clined to admit him to their society
kotzebue was tirfle too fond of sa-
tire. when displeased with any person
or cause he was wont to hold the same
IN to public ridicule This weakness led to
MS tragic DEATH His lie was al mt
urous. Much of 1t was spent in the
service of Russia. and once he was ban
isbed to Siberia. but was recalled a year
or two later by the Emperor Paul, who
tate His later years We're spent at
MANNHEIM, where he was employed as
correspondent by the Russian GOVERN
ment. reporting upon matters literary,
artistic and intellectual In these days
| such a post would be considered honor
able, but at that time many people De-
leved he was Russian spy. When In a
satirical mood he found much amusement
| in making 1un OF the 'BursenscnaIt
movement or tine universal German
students Association The students
took the association seriously, II ne
didn't.
On March %. 1919, the indications were
that Kotzebue would spend his declining
years in peace and comfort under ms
vine and fig tree at Mannheim. He was
prosperous, and had congeniai employ
| ment and his genius was being generally
l recognized On the afternoon of that day
he went into the town on an errand, and
when he returned to his home maid
| told him that a young man had called to
see him, and promised to call again
| Half an hour later the young man re-
| turned, and the maid showed him up to
/ the family sitting room. He waited
| there few minutes. and then Kotzebue
entered the room. with outstretched hand
| and smiling face
| "You are from Mitau?" inquired kotze-
bue.
The stranger drew a dagger from his.
sleeve and, crying "Traitor to the faith
erland.' stabbed him repeatedly. Instead
Of trying to escape. the murderer tried to
i pacity his ylcums tour-year-oid son,
who had entered the room and sto.-
| there shrieking.
Karl Ludwig sand; who committed this
cold -blooded and senseIess murder, was
a student and enthusiastic member of the
lBursenschaft Patriotism WAS more ..ian
a passion with him. 1t was disease.
He hated Napoleon with hatred that
kept him awake at night. and spoiled his
appetite He spent most of his time
brooding over the woes real or imagi-
nary, of his country, when he should
have been doing something useful.
He had made some reputation as a boy
orator at the University of Erlangen, and
Later lie went to Jena. where his talents
attracted no attention. and this soured
him. 1t was at Jena that he deliberate
1 " made up his mind to be a martyr, and
he left for Mannheim armed with his
dagger and determination to kill kotze-
bue. He had planned everything down
to the smallest details. His only excuse
for making Kotzebue the victim was
that the latter had ridiculed the students
y association.
And his plans worked out wonderfully
we'll After long years of war and peril
the people were in a hysterical mood, and
Sand was hailed hero and martyr.
The flower gardens of Mannheim were
desolated, that the martyr might have
bouquets Fortunately, the tribunals
, were not carried away by the prevailing
, sentimentalism. On May 5, 1920, the SUI
) preme court of the Grand Duchy of
, Baden passed sentence upon him, decree
J ing that he be executed by the sword.
u May 20 was the day fixed for the exc
| cution, and the place was meadow Just
, outside one of the gates, of the town.
) The news had spread far and wide, an
, immense crowd streamed to town to see
the doings, and the sympathy for Sand
| was so strong and so general that res
cue was feared, and strong force OF
, infantry surrounded the scafold.
, In the courtyard of the prison Sand
, was lifted into low open chaise The
prisoners appeared at the Jail windows,
weeping and wringing their hands. for
they also considered him hero, and he
bowed to them and smiled. When the
door of the yard was opened, and the
chaise emerged, sobs and groans were
heard everywhere. The whole town was
in tears. Not one of all the millions OF
, tears shed that day was for kotzebue,