New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-29
How Liebknecht and Lux.
e1nnbarg Were dubbed
to Death

the military court, and his case was
not further inquired into. The evi-
dence was accepted, apparently b.
cause It lessened the blame to be at
tached to Private Runge. This i'm
questionable member Of the guard, as
soon as Liebknecht got into the car,
aimed two blows at him with the butt
OF his rifle. One blow missed, the
other cut his head open.
Captain Lieutenant Won F1ugk-
Hartung, the officer in charge, then
got into the car. The reporters testify
that this officer made very favorable
impression on the court He was we'll
groomed, alert, had clear and spark
ling eye, and gave his evidence in an
open and attractive fashion. He said
that he had taken quite a fancy to
Liebknecht in the hotel, thought that
for a Socialist he had interesting
views and good way Of putting them.
And so when he got into the car be-
I side the dubbed man he drew his re-
volver and told him that he would
shoot him if he tried to escape.
Thus, chatting about socialism, they
continued their journey, Liebknecht
streaming with blood, but In the opin-
ION of the captain-lieutenant not suffi-
GENTLY wounded to make it advisable
10 have medical advice. Presently, In
q dark corner Of the Their Garten, the
car stopped. Evidence was accepted as
proving that the breakdown was Kenu-
Inc. aptain-Lieutenant Won PLUCK
Hartung neither sent for another car
nor remained In the car until the dam
age was repaired, but turned his man
out into the dark, and warned him that
he would be shot if he tried to escape.
Presently he was shot and killed, and
evidence was accepted as satisfactory,
from an examination Of the body, that
he must have been running away. The
amiable captain lieutenant was acouit-
ted, with great applause at the verdict.
About an hour later Rosa Luxem-
h,-rr <ol-
the hotel, where a car was waiting for
her also. But there, for soma reason
that was not inquired into, Private
Runge was also waiting for her. AS
soon as she got into the car he swung
his rife and dubbed the little lady
twice on the head. This man did not
please the court. In fact, every one was
so much impressed by his criminal
type-the picturesque reporters de-
scribe him in the language Of Lom-
broso and call attention to the stig-
mata that disfgured him-that no In
quiry was thought necessary as to why,
having dubbed Liebknecht at one door,
he should have been allowed by the Of
fcers Of the Garde-Schutzen Division
to be waiting for Rosa Luxembourg at
the other. 1t was doubtful II his blows
had actually proved fatal, and 1t was
suggested that he was mentally de-
fective. And so he was given two
years imprisonment
Lieutenant vogel, the officer In
charge OF this party, then got into the
car. accompanied by two other officers.
1t was unnecessary to warn Rosa Lux
emburg not to escape, because tho poor
woman was SIS good as dead. However,
she was shot through the head. accord
ing to the other officers, by Lieuten-
ant Fogel, but, in the view Of tho lieu
tenant, by ono Of the other officers.
He then had the car driven to a canal
Into which the body was thrown.
Lieutenant Vogel did not make a
favorable impression on tho court. ar
parently, according to the reporters,
because he wore a monocle and had
not the fine, open manner OF the ac-
quilted captain lieutenant But Il was
accepted In evidence from him that
he threw the body into tbs river to
save the honor Of the Garde-scht,tzen
Division And just as Private Runqe
escaped verdict Of murder because
1t was not certain that his blows had
Killed her, 30 Lieutenant vogel escaped
the verdict OF murder because It was
considered probable that she had died
from the blows before he shot her. But
ne gave his evidence in a shamefaced
fashion, and so no was given a SEN
tence OF two years and four months
imprisonment. Already, however, his
escape has been contrived. A man in
oificer's uniform drove up In a motor
car TO the prison, presented a forged
warrant and reIenaad thn ur;vopar