The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
COMMENTARIES
PUBLICDEATH
AS MURDERESS
Hilda Hanika Regarded
In Prague AS A
SOrceress

(By Leased Wire To The Age-Heraldl
x PRAGUE. April 19.--Found guilty
of having. by arts and guiles savOring
of witchcraft, induced her young cousin
to murder her husband and commit sui
eide. the beautiful Countess Hilda Hani-
ka has been sentenced to be strangled
to death in the public square of Brunn.
After the announcement: of the YER
siiet. a mob stormed the courtroom,
seeking to lynch the ''sorceress."
The trial of Countess Hanika aroused
interest throughout middle Europe, and
brought forth testimony of unique
and sensational nature. When the
count. a brilliant cavalry officer, mar
ried Hilda Charvat five years ago,
everyone agreed it was love match.
The bride was of an aristocratic family
of Brunn. and noted beauty. Their
happiness did not survive the honey
moon, however, for she was a coquette
while the count soon came to spend
much of his time at the gambling table.
Violent discussions were the order of
the day in the Hanika household. At
the beginning of 1923 the countess sent
for. her mother to come and live with
them, and the elderly woman brought
with her young Johann Besely, 16-year-
old cousin of the countess.
Count Is Shot Down.
Late one night last December as
the Hanika family were in the salon
after dinner Johann suddenly drew
rPyolved, and fired five bullets into
lapsed, dying instantly. Johann fired
tbo Il. ehaA ut 81
to the floor. mortally wounded.
Countess Hanika met the police with
unruffled mein. She declared that there
had been duel, saying that the count
has dbeen jealous of the affection she
showed her young relative, and that
the two had agreed to fight it out.
The mother of the countess told a sim
liar story. But the police became sus-
picious, investigated, and discovered
that there was only one revolver in
the house. and that all six shots had
been, fired from it.
A policeman, dressed as a hospital
orderly, was placed on duty in the
room where Johann lay dying. From
the boys mumbled words the officer
pieced together an astounding story.
Forced To Do Her VIII
From his earliest years, Johann had
adored his cousin She had exercised
a despotic influence over him, how
ever, forcing him to do whatever she
desired. When her love for her hus-
band changed to hate, she sent for
the boy and told him she wanted to
get rid of her spouse. Johann tried to
resist her influence, but failed. He con-
sented to kill the count.
PEG On the day set for the crime the
countess had Johann write letters to
his father and his mother, expressing
his intention of killing himself and beg
ging forgiveness.
Have them play my fasorite music
at my funeral he had written. at
viii make your pain less hard to bear.
l love YOU so much. - *.
Everything had been, carried out as
the woman ordered. She had planned
the whole scene in which her husband
died. 8
At the trial, Johann was brought,
into the courtroom on stretcher.
Doctors testified that he had only
few days to live. Nevertheless he was
condemned to three years imprison-
ment. He found strength to make
final plea for the woman he loved.
Let her go free" he begged. 1T
was | who slew her husband, and I
must die for the crime "