The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-30
new PHASE Of
|NSAN|TYISS SEEN
IN HERO Of WAR
Wanderer Affected Same as
From Shell Shock, But
Abnormal Mental State
Gave No Sign of Existence.
BY MAReERY REX.
written for International News Ser.
Vlce.l


viee.l
NEW YORK. July sO-A war hero.
Lieut., Carl Wanderer. OF Chicago, has
KILLED his wife because, he saws. he
wanted 10 return TO army life, because
ne hated her for the reason that she
was to become a mother.
loathed married nfe," he said after
eonfessing TO the crime. Il wanted TO
get back into the army. | grew to love
the army life while serving In France,
y > iree and easy. It's the life for
Wanderer planned and staged hold j..
UP with the aid Of a ragged tramp
Whom he hired to play "robber." II is
beheved Wanderer also killed this man
TO silence him
During the war men were taught to
tight and Kill. Human life was held
sheap. II anything got in soldiers
Wa%-an enemy or disobedient underllng
his life wasn't worth much
such view OF life and death can
not always be quickly set aside upou
returning to civilian life
man with 80 little fear Of the taxi
ing Of life Is as much victim of war
insanity as any poor, stunned. she'll
shock patient But the man whose
equilibrium has been shaken by bat =
tle, or the sights Of war. carries the
label Of his condition in shaking limbs,
queer speech. or lack Of speech, hyper
sensitlreness and loss of memory
Wanderers abnormal mental state
gave no sign Of it's existence through
his physical being.
Not until such distorted mind Wills
The destruction OF another person does
the mental twist announce itself.
Wanderers crime was no careless
flame of anger against the woman who
was 10 be his ehild's mother. His hate
mad been smoldering for a long time.
Since he had won tho Fpr
bravery and the Croix de Guerre, and
fought In the 18th machine gun bat
TALON. one might imagine he would. IL
about to commit murder, plan the deed
In some courageous style.
But he resorted to the frame up"
the means that Is taken by the under
handed. the sneak and the coward.
The victim Of ''frame-up" never has
a chance to fight back, to answer
charge, or to call for help. The cards
are marked against him,
Whisky helped along this ignoble
crime little Wandered claims now to
have been drinking heavily but admits
his hate was born Of sober moments,
lie met strange man on Madison
street in Chicago, entered into CONVEX
sation with him, bought him drinks and
offered him money II he would fake a
robbery
The stranger was reluctant. but more
whisky changed his mind. wanderer
had money enough to pay the accom-
plice. for he had drawn out or got his
wife to draw out Of the bank 81 500
she had there In her own name.
Meeting the stranger that day was
mere chance. but such an opportunity
waits for anyone looking for H.
1T seemed as II fate was playing into
my hand, Wanderer says now
You won't need to be afraid said
the hero OF the world war to the tramp.
y am good shot and won't be apt TO
shoot YOU
The fearless machine gunner conftded
IN the chance acquaintance how much
he hated his wife and the expected
child. and of how difficult II was for
a man to make living In these days.
In his confession TO the police Wan.
derer has gone over the details OF the
shooting and told how he petted his
wife and took her out TO moving
picture theater, carefully planning the
hour Of their reaching home so the
tramp could he waiting at the appoint
Cd time IN the vestibulo.
She feb for my stuff says the Heu-
tenant cyniCallS,, IN speaking of his
dead wife's credutitv in drawing money
out Of the bank and giving II to him
unsuspiciouslv
So The deed was done, and Wanderer,
whose plan was carried out SO neatly,
could no longer conceal his part and
His recital Of the crime is proof that
murder win out. although In many cases
revelation. Is slow in presenting itself
War, which has been the making of
many men. was the undoing of Wan
derer. His war glory, with cross and
medal. made him In his own opinion
supermau who could try to triumph over
the ordinary exigencies OF domestic
life
He would Kill his wife and unborn
child, he decided. and none would be
the wiser Why not? Hadn't he killed
many In the war at close range, and
others who got within the range OF his
gum He didn't know their names, Of
course. hadn't known thcm in civil life,
How could he know the enemy and
what difference would 1t make killing
them?
Then. he Would argue with himself.
III YOU want 10 kill someone you hate,
and what hateful thing a wife and
child can he when YOU want only to
have good time, when you want To
XIII. why let the fact that you are per
sonalIy acquainted with your enemy
ptop things
Wanderers act is one Of tho most
horrible of crimes It would be re
voting ordinarily But the murderer
was considered hero decorated as
such Probably many young men whose
duties prevented them from fighting or
whose health forced them TO fight the
war from "a swivel chair, Gnyied him,
were pa tronized by him.
His deed gives rise to the question
often put as TO the precise nature OF
physical courage, Does real valor neccs-
Farily have part in IL Is II not
sometimes merely the manifestation Of
HVttFtgfa instinct tpgRueffiypDHRu