Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-05
Famous Trials
TRIAL IN CONSPIRACY
AGAINST GERMAN EMPEROR


When Emperor William and his family
and all the leading members of his court
assisted at the dedication of the Nleder-
valid monument at RUdesheim on Sept.
Is, 1888, he was not aware for some time
how nearly he escaped assissinati-n, and
had those who We're convicted and SEN
fenced later been able to successfully
carry out there scheme they would have
practically wiped out the royal family of
Germany, as well as the country's great
est statesman.
The statue the Emperor and his suite
had gone to dedicate cost $4,000, is
knlewn as Germania and stand on an em-
inence on the Rhine known as "Volger's
Rhu."
short time after the dedication 1t was
disedvered that there had been a plot to
marder the Emperor, the consprators
having dug a drain across the road over
which the emperor had h pass, which was
filed with dynamite The explosives 9TH
er missed fire or the courage Of the con-
soiratirs failed them at the last moment.
\ So carefully had those enga ged in the
plot covered up their tracks that II was
close to a year before the German detec-
tive force who had left nothing undone
to round I'd the entire party, were able
the only evidence that was forthcoming
was that given by the accused men them
selves.
The trial began on Dec Dec Is. 1884,
at Leipzig. The leading con spirators were
three anarchists, Reinsdorff, Rupech and
Kuchler, two others, Hoizbauer and
BaGI1man were c nvicted as accomplces
and the remaining three tried were ac-
quilted Four counsel were employed to
look after the case of the defense.
On the first dav of the trial, Rupsch
confessed that Reinsdorf had ordered him
to fire the mine when Emperor Will
liams carriage was so feet from the
drain, by applying a lighted cigar to the
end # the fuse. placed at the side Of
the roadway. He claimed that he was un-
willing to do this, and only made feint
by placing an unlighted cigar to the end.
Kuchler, he said upbraided him for his
cowardice
The first attempt not having been sue
cessful, plans were made to carry out the
ssa ssination y3on the return from the
festivities When the Emperor returned
Rupsch applied a lighted match to tihe
fuse and walked away. The second at
tempt was also failure, for the reason
that Rush had previously cut the fue
The chief conspirators were very an
CRY at the second failure. and when the
road was clear of people they removes
the dynamite to the Grand Pavilion al
Rudesheinl, where a concert was in pro,
gress.
The pnesec {.ion regarded the state
ments of Rus@ah as Inventions for tht
| purpose of exculpating himself On thi.
first days trial a constable deposed thaf
| Bachmann had confessed that Reinsdorfl
promised him pay for exploding the mine
A tinsmith identified Reinsdorff as thi
man who bought the boxes of him tina
contained the dynamite found at Fiber
! field.
Reinsdorffs bold confession OF the sec
! ond day of the trial compelled the Judge.
to frequently interfere and rebuke him
! He admitted that he had persuaded
| Rupsch and Kuchfer to join him, ant
! that he gave them the necessary In
structions as to the handling and tn,
| placing of the dynamite. and boldly add
ed that II he had not been III he himsel
| would probably have committed the as
/ sassination at Niederwald.
! One thing to the credit of Reinsdo
4 was that he was frank enough to inpli
cate himself in every way and not tr,
to shove the responsibility on the should
ers of others less involved When h
had concluded his evidence he was ask
ed whether he pleaded guilty, to whic
he replied: II have nothing further I
say" Deal with me as YOU please"
At the trial on the third day a trades
man Of Elberfe1d deposed that Reins
dorff beasted that he would do q dee
that would make all Germany talk o
: him. The trial was concluded on tn
fourth day, which was Saturday, an
the court announced that the verde
| would not he rendered hafora Manda,
and on the 22d, Reinsdorff, Rupsch an
Kuchler were sentenced to death, ant
duly executed; Holzbauer and Bach
man to II years penal servitude and tn
other three involved were acquitted.