The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-16


peculiar sort OF plot required In the
hsir-raising plays which have made the
Theatre Grand Guignol. OF Paris, famous
the world over. Yet a divorce case lust
tried in Stockholm, Sweden, presented
evidence that shows faithless wife and
her male accomplice to have figured in
scenes that could hardly be improved
upon at the Grand Guisnol. where the es-
sential stage props" are coffins and
shrouds. bottles OF vitriol and knives drip
ping with stage blood
II II unfortunately true that wives are
occasionally faithless In actual life as
well as upon the stage And the same
applies to husbands. Divorce court rec
ords reveal many ingenious ruses where
by wives and husbands have secured evil
dence OF the faithlessness OF their we'd
ded partners: but this appears to be the
nrst instance OF a husband accomplishing
such feat by having himself pronounced
dead and placed In coffin ready for
burial
That Il the feat that was successfully
performed BY KArl Petersen. a well-to-do
citizen OF the Swedish capital. Upon evil
dence thus o6ts'ned the court granted
him divorce from the handsome woman
TO whom he had been married barely a
year.
Owing to her beauty and many charm
ing accomplishments. Mrs. Petersen's for
mer suitors and admirers were not alto
gether discouraged by the fact OF her
marriage TO one of the wealthiest mer-
chants OF Stockholm. Several OF them be-
came frequent guests at the Petersen
home. One In particulars certain dash
Ing young society man named Sven Egs-
rom-shortly became a recognized fam
lily friend OF the type that. in this country
and England. IA called tame cat"
Several months ago Petersen became
suspicious that Egstrom was exceeding
his duties as bundiecarrier and general
utility man about the house. In fact he
more than half believed that the bond
between his charming bride and Egstrom
was OF nature that was rejecting upon
ms own honor. Petersen vainly en-
deavored 10 prove or disprove his sus.
picions. and then resolved upon spinning
the strangest web IN which an errfnR
wife ever was entangled.
He feigned Illness and made that an
excuse TO 20 TO HIS country house for a
few days rest away from the business
ana social whirl OF the metropolis He
was accompanied only by two or three
old and confidential servants.
The day after his arrival in the conn
try. Petersen took TO HIS bed and quietly
summoned his confidential physician. 20
whom he stated his suspicious and out
\ lined the details OF his plan. The phv-
sicians sympathies were with the hus-
band.
For a beginning" said Petersen. ct
=
q AZ J am dying"
II viii do that. willingly" said the
physician. And I win manage 10 make
you appear a. dead as you are supposed
70 De. When the time comes. But can't
see my way clear 20 signing any death
certihcste"
How long can you defer your official
report OF my death7" Incurred Petersen
viii forty eight hours be long enough"
Ample said Petersen. II have rea-
-
hours after you have pronounced me-
eead my sife's paroxysms OF grief will
nave subsidized sufficiently 20 allow her 20
give me all the evidence I need"
me physician sent the telegram IN the
afternoon, and n few hours later received
Mrs. Petersen's answer that sbe vonid
AYE the hrst train and reach her hus-
bands bedside on the next afternoon.
fetersens Illness" had an alarming
ehange FOR the worse 81 mldnight. Al
oANn the physician announced 20 the sor-
rowing servants that their master had
passed away The butler alone vas In the
conspiracy. for reasons that win become
obvious. But he was naturally melancholy
ana, therefore. needed 20 add merely q
togen more OF solemnity 70 bis features
PETERSEN being ~ spare build and en-
tirely without color IN face or hands !,
was a simple matter for the phvgician 90
add The oorpse-ilke chill and ririditv thai
would deceive any ordinary behoider. lie
also undertook the settling 81 n scene In
the library that would give the suaperfed
vile every opportunity 20 betrav herself
handsome burial casket had been timed
10 arrive before noon. This vas placed
on trestles In the library within a yard
or two OF desk. on which vas a teie
phone.
The physician took upon himself ,hs
duties % undertaken. Aided hy the nm
deceived butler, he prepared petersen's
corpse-like body for burial and placed h
. In the casket The conin's cover uas In
Two parts. The lover twothirds vas
screwed down. the upper part beins Isft