The Oregon daily journal., May 03, 1908, Page 30, Image 30

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TT IS the old, old story of lifethis Get
i man tragedy which startled all Europe
' and caused proud officers of the Gcr
" man army to hang their heads in shame be
cause of the villainous double crime of one of
'their number. ,
... All the melodramatic elements enter into
this remarkable story a beautiful temptress,
an unsuspecting husband, a double-dyed vil
lain and false friend, a midnight encounter,
murder and' later -confession, disgrace, the
madhouse and suicide. ' "
" , "CJ... tHtJ) on .art t th n( tl0
: man who fell and sinned, just' as the same ex
cuse has been man's since Father Adam saw
; the gates of Eden close behind his reluctant
going.
- DiA ttt0 rinm sin t hriitt mnrrliif thi one
pf the most diabolical, cold-blooded crimes of
recent times? Did she actually hypnotize the
tool, self-poised, selfish army officer to do her
murderous bidding; to disgrace his uniform
Svith the ineffaceable mark of Cain only to
(ink into the grave of a despised suicide as his
rewardf
And was it remorse or fear that toppled
Wit M llMM stf MliniiAMitfjrr 'jajm ate
. SSJS,a W iMfl ll S SX C MAM J f M U ft f r. .1 .A WW U Mr III
scheminr throne and sent her shrieking and
raving to end her unhappy days in a mad-
YjHB hypnotised me," was the only excuse that
. sk was offered by Captain von Ooeben when con
L J fesslng to the midnight murder of his friend and
hospitable host. Major von Schoenebeck, hus
and of the handsome temptress. And then he cot his
throat
' The terror-stricken woman who huddles be&ind the
bars of an Insane asylum only shrieks and waves" "t-way
the herrtble specters that come to torment her.
' Ailensteln, the scene of the tragedy, is one of the most
unattractive places In Germany a somewhat squalid town
of 20,000 of mors people, and an army post on th Russian
frontier.
. Garrison life there la deadly dull; it Is one of those
places that become notorious as centers of gambling, of
drinking and of scandal, when a lot of strong and active
young men are removed from more fashionable and llve
' liar stations ; cooped up and confined to a never-ending.
Monotonous routine of drill and disciplinary regulations.
3 There is Uttle Intellectual life outside a small circle;
there an tew social events, because of the scarcity of
persons Interested In the usual doings of social life.
. A BORN COQUETTE
Into this gloomy atmosphere Major von Schoenebeck
took his gaiety-loving young wife, Antoine, a year or so
go. On of the most capable men, In the army, he was
highly regarded by his superiors, and had been stationed
t Ailensteln to help Improve the condition of that gar
rison. Some time this year he was to have been pro
inoU-l and given the command of a regiment
Well into middle life, Major von 8choenebeck was not
sa especially congenial companion to the dashing young
woman he had made his wife. He was quiet studious,
f nd of his two children and his home life, and cared little
t or noclety or Its amusemehts. .
i'rau von Schoenebeck at the time of the tragedy was
a strikimtty handsome woman of something less than SO
j ears. She was a brunette, of slender figure, luxuriant
lialr, sparkling eyes; her manners and conversation were
I&si'tnating. i ,
As a girl shy was a noted beauty In the Sileslan town
of Oociliis, and this led to her selection, ten years ago
ps the chief of a group of maids of honor who were ti
welcome the csar of Russia and the emperor of Germany
upon the occasion of a visit to that town. -
Uoerlits still talks of that visit and of the rare grace
with which the young maid of honor presented a bunch
of Mowers to the German empress. In the kaiser's train
an a young officer of dragoons. Captain von. Schoene
K-nv-wbo promptly fell in l"ve with the beautiful girl.
1 here was an introduction, followed by an ardent court-
Ulp ard a speedy marriage. .
If Von Schoenebeck soon found that he had been de
rHved by Cupfd he made no sign- Although somewhat
uMere in his. home relations, be maintained the honor
rf hot name scrupulously; no bint of scandal ever touched ''
Jul rcpuietion. - . - , - ,
I ui his wife seemed a born enqueue. She was fond
rf t';" rvlotv of dashing young officers, of the gay whirl
ti a l&xf city like Berlin. .When her husband we or
Grpfaio voo 6oeber, ihe Mcrdererand daicide
dered to Allenstein the removal there .was bard blow.
She missed the balls, the dinners, the opportunities tor
flirting; and the display of fine gowns.
Repeatedly she secured her husband's permission to
visit Berlin, and he allowed her to go without suspicion.
While he deluded himself In the belief that she was being;
looked after by relatives there, her visits were generally
productive of more or less scandalous reports.
Some of these reached the ears of the husband; there
were disagreements, a coolness and a quarrel ; but the ex
asperated officer treated his wife pnjy as an erring child .
and endeavored to bring her back to a saner life by get- '
ting her more deeply interested In her children's welfare.
It was about this time that Captain George August
Hugo von Ooeben arrived In Allersteln; he had been or
dered there to command a battery of artillery.
Perhaps It was more because his arrival promised an
other victim to her coquetry, rather than any interest
aroused by his personality, that Frau von Schoenebeck
began at once to throw about him the allurements of her
wiles.
Certainly Von Ooeben was not attractive. About 37
years old, with a sallow face, a lame foot and taciturn
of manner, he hardly seemed a man who could charm a
woman.
But he had come from the great outside world, with
a recent knowledge of its happenings and its gossip, -and
rHEK Sir Edward jGrey assumed the high- ;;
y important post orzoreign secretary :
in the British cabinet formed by Sir
r4 ' V X -VafrM V'l BL-"- 'Vit Tas J . . . -.. .1
j lienfy Vampbcll-Jjannerman he was re- :
eaTded as one of. the coldest, most uitapproachablo .
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'smm'immsmmmm ml EL ; m
ttjprwjdcboenebexkb Wb Where. tie.bte Murdered
even such a presence .was like a ray of sunshine In that .
stagnant atmosphere. -.
Major von Schoenebeck took the new comer to Ms
friendship and extended to him the hospitality of his .
noma. Both men were great hunters, and talked enter
tainingly , Of adventures and experience ' while In the
quest of game. v-. .
Visits of Von Ooeben to the villa of the major were
" not always made while the master of the place was at
home. It came to pasa. In the course of time, that Frau
von Schoenebeck would signal from an upper window to
the oaptaln almost the moment her husband left home
' for his round of duties.
. Whether Von Ooeben walked Into the trap set for him
with dosed eyes, or merely in a spirit of adventure. Is an
"open question. Cool, calculating, supposedly Immune from
the charms of women, he had long boasted of his free
dom from conquest and of the flinty quality of his heart
aa regarded the other sex. -
His final plea was that she had hypnotised him. In
hie letter of confession he asserted: "The woman roust
have used a kind of suggestion upon me. Without thought
or Inward resistance, I committed the greatest .of crimes
for her. I felt she would have me do It, and was happy
In Its doing. -
"I never felt any qualms of conscience, although I
knew from her own Hps what a light life she le'd.
Nothing could restrain me in my madness or prevent my
idolising her. , .
"With her eternal complaints over the mistreatment
of her husband, she raised in me the fixed Idea that he,
who was only seen by me in the most hideous colors,
must be got Tid of. She would not permit a duel."
SWORN TO MURDER
An understanding, whether discussed or not, had been
reached between the two. The husband must be put Out
of the way. To Von Ooeben's credit It must be said
that he wished to give Von Schoenebeck a chance for his
life; he wished to Insult him deliberately and force him
Into a duel. The scheming wife would not permit that.
At one time -Von XJoeTjehpurchaaed and gave to Frau
von Schoenebeck enough poison tr'Tclll a score of men.
He instructed her in its use, bo that she might escape'
being charged with the crime. But, when It came to ad
ministering the poison, her courage failed.
Both knew, however, that the time for deliberate
murder was drawing steadily nearer; It might come now
at any time. Both steeled themselves, to be ready when
the moment should arrive.
Major von Schoenebeck gave a little festival enter
tainment for one of his children; Von Ooeben was there,
in costume, and helped entertain the merry little ones.
The next day he was Invited to the villa again, for the
afternoon and evening.
While her husband was temporarily absent from the
room the wife made Captain von Ooeben stand in the
middle of the floor and swear a solemn oath that be
would commit the deed that night
Before the captain departed that night, ostensibly for
his own quarters, the two men made an agreement to go
hunting the next day. But when he went out the door
Von Ooeben did not go home; he retired to the shadow
of an outbuilding and waited.
In his pocket he had a pair of thick woolen socks be
longing to Major von Schoenebeck; they had been given
him by the desperate woman.
When he entered the house again on his murderous
mission he was to 'wear them over his boots, both to
deaden the noise of his tread and to pffevent the house
dog from following the scent
An hour, two hours, and more, he waited in the
shadow. When he tried the front door he found it had
been left unlocked. The big house dog was not in the
front hay. Its usual sleeping place; the woman had taken
the animal to her own room, on the second floor.
$ddvmdfcey;fqt?fand& fbrefen Secrefeiy
lie is even more silent and reserved today than
ever; so much so as to excite comment. He rarely
appears in the House of Commons unless com
pelled; seldom is he seen with an associate.
Few persons outside the circle of his "friends
know that back of the icy reserve of the powerful
minister lies', a pathetic heart tragedy, and a ro
mance of memory and devotion not often found
in life. . ' ... ,. . . '' ' ;' ,. -
ffT AM TOLD," wrote T. P. O'Connor, recently, "that
H (Hi tnin. whn Ii ntnhahl tha
T
. B flgurs In the world, wielding more influence over
, destinies, man anyotner minister in any other
land, is lost to the world. from Friday, or Saturday to
Monday of every week."- -- - , -t- -
! Sir Edward Grey, possessing one of the most brilliant
minds In England, was always retiring and reserved. A
tearful tragedy that darkened his lite- has made- him a
recluse whenever his public duties permit him to hasten .
away from the throngs of London. .
-'i-. r:' '-'v ;' v''';; v'.V UA
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f':
Anfoioe van Scboenebeck. who Inspired f&r
totmaSffader
Major von Schoenebeck occupied a room on the first
. floor. Toward this the Intruder made his way, knowing
that he was about to kill the man who had befriended
him, who had received him into his home, but thinking
only of the masterful, bewitching Woman, on the floor
above, who had exacted from him an oath of blood.
Something of the soldierly spirit remained In Von
Ooeben's breast He wore the socks that was from fear
of the dog but he did not don a mask bis thoughtful ac
complice had made for him. . '
He mads Ro attempt to move noiselessly; he really
hoped, he said afterward, that his victim would meet
, him and fight for his life.
Aroused from sleep by the opening of his door, the,
unfortunate master of the house saw before him, In the
dim light his guest of the evening, pistol in hand. "Herr
' Major," cried the Intruder.
The newly aroused man grasped his own pistol from
its place beside the bed and raised it; but - sleep had
numbed the alertness of mind and hand. Almost before
he fully realised what was happening a bullet crashed
Into hie brain, and he fell back on bis pillow, a corpse.
Upstairs, a waiting, listening woman hugged herself
with joy as she heard the shot that ended her husband's
life. , ,
Captain von Ooeben rushed from the house by a rear
door, and hastened, in a roundabout way, to his own
It was two years ago that 'the blow fell on heart and
home. , His beautiful and accomplished wife, who was
companion and helpmeet in the fullest and happiest sense,
met sudden and violent death just when the future
seemed brightest for the loving couple. Lady Grey was
thrown from, her trap while driving, and died several
days later, without having regained consciousness.
This talented woman had married Sir Edward Grey a
few months before he entered Parliament, and had al
ways taken a keen Interest in his political work, ren
dering valuable services especially at election time.
Tall and strikingly handsome, with a kindly disposi
tion and pleasing manner, she was on of the most popu
lar women In all the kingdom.
Had he not felt so strongly the call to duty It Is
probable that Sir Edward Grey would have retired from
public life after the loss of his wife. He was made to
realise that his country needed him aad remained at bis
post, although his heart was heavy and sore.
- Since then, as O'Connor states, he has bean lost to.
the world at every week end since. His leisure moments
are given over to his grief; ha takes it with htm on his
little vacations from toll.
There is a splendid mansion on his country estate,
but he rare'r enters It; the place holds too many sad
memories. So he has built for himself a tiny cottage on
the banks of the river Itchln, in a corner of Hampshire, '
where he may pass his leisure hours undisturbed.
It is really a little hut constructed of sine, this rest
ing place of the famous statesman. But all about It
. nature is tranquil, beautifully soft and sympathetic to ths
aching heart. , .
To this little place Grey retires without a companion:
not even a servant Is allowed about him. The man who
is so powerful In London takes with him a few loaves
of bread and a few boxes of canned food, and spends his
vacation hours either fishing or lying down In his hut
with books or papers relating to his work beside him.
' One of the many promising young men discovered by '
.William E. Gladstone, Sir Edward Grey has succeeded
in spite of himself. He has never had any taste for
politics; he would much. rather fish' and commune with
nature.
When little mora than grown be was elected to the
House of Commons much against his will; but having
been put Into, public life, he made a conscientious study,
of . public questions. His maiden speech in the House
was made when he was 22 years old, and he acquitted .
himself well.
Soon after that Mr. Gladstone remarked of him: "I.
have never known so signal a capacity for parliamentary
life and so small a disposition for it." Sir Edward him
self said: "I feel convinced of my unfitness tor a pursuit :
which I detest which interferes with all my private
comfort and one which I only sigh for an opportunity of
.abandoning deefdedly and forever."
A man of striking personal appearance Is the foreign,
: secretary. Only about o years old, .the spring of youth
Is still Inv his stride, '
His face is clear-skinned and clean-shaven, set with
. dark eyes; the high forehead is crowned by a mass of
jet black hair; the chin and jaw betoken Inflexibility of.
Will.- : ' -:. ':-:- . '--f ' - " " ;. .,-.
. - The whole man auga-esta a splendid storage of reserve
fair fcuward Is an athlete, mentally and physically.
apartments. But In a short time he was on his way
back to ths scene of the tragedy, Impelled by an Im
pulse to take his victim's body and cast It Into the river.
As he Seared the gate, a corporal's guard approached
to relieve the sentinel always posted there. To escape
notice, the captain slunk back Into a shadow, but too
lata; he had been seen.
When the major's body was found the next morning,
suicide was suspected at first But his revolver was
found beside him, fully loaded; there was no other
weapon near.
It was seen that he had died instantly, so that he
eould not have disposed of the death, weapon after hav
ing used It himself. ,
A famous detective was summoned from Berlin and
set to work on the case. All the clues that he worked
out pointed to Von Goeben. When General Scottl, com
mander of the garrison, ordered the captain's arrest the
guilty man broke down and confessed,', ( -
While In prison awaiting trial Von Goeben' was sub
jected to repeated tests In order to determine whether
he was Insane. For four days Baron von Schrenck-Not-ilng,
the celebrated alienist, .was his .cellmate for the
purpose of studying his mental condition.
.The. baron declared, as a result of his study, that the
'murderer .was . not crasy, but as he asserted, had been
hypnotised by Frau von Schoenebeck.
In due time a court-martial was convened to try the
captain; it had not concluded Its Investigation when the
unhappy man committed suicide. He knew what the
verdict would be.
Perhaps the garrison officers were not averse to such
an ending or the case; no attempt had been made to
guard against' the prisoner working out himself the ex
piation of his crime. In fact, he was allowed, rather
openly, the nse of knives and forks, and. It is said, the
broken table knife with which he opened an artery in the
neck was suspiciously well sharpened.
Antoine von Schoenebeck, the cause of It all, had not
counted upon such a swift and direful ending of her
plans. The mesh that enveloped her partner in crime
spread Its folds about her, too; but insanity stepped in
to claim her before the hand of the law was ready.
Her guilt-burdened mind gave way, and she was car
ried, shrieking and struggling, to a madhouse. She has
made desperate efforts since to end her life, and a close
watch is kepTTipon her at all times.
When the end comes. It will be from the bars of the
asylum, doubtless, that her blood-stained soul will go to
its reward.
Some Curious Facts
AN ORANGE tree will continue to bear fruit until
It is 150 years old.
The average weight of Ivory obtained from
XT ?Jn,e olophanf Is about fifty pounds.
T- . BWzeJnIs frosen meat trade with Great Brit
am now equals about 16,000 sheep a day.
. ccor(ilng to bakers, people eat 20 per cent, more
br'J, when the weather is cold than when It Is mild,
r Lef ot the ooeoanut tree Is nearly thirty feet
rvfAnWi ? il.ln1iiet o( th Parasol magnolia of
Ceylon will shelter flfjeen or twenty persons.
f!61?1 moment there are 194 monuments In
St.mifay !ive. been completed lo Prince Bis-
snt?ct7onr orUarTp?ined.,ther' ln PrCMS COn'
-T,h.f.wlId cU,B of China are well named, for the
EHiJrau.rr0UIMiea b waIIa tblrty t tony feet
' Th,r!.i??n from, 1.xten to thirty feet in breadth.
i.n..ctty .f H1-f i surrounded by a waU sixteen
miles in circumference. .
Th.e principal factories of the mouth organ are at
r.nlVe.n..,n tne Black ForeBt Germany. These la-
- K- trli!i L. p?f8 ,old "I greater quantities in
the United States than In any other country. At Tros
singen one firm alone has fifteen branch factories,
employs 2000 hands, and turns out 6,000.000 instru-
o menta every ?ear.' - . .
SY In some parts of West Africa the girls have long en
gagements. On the day of their birth they are betrothed
to a baby boy a trifle older than themselves, and at the
age of to they are married. The girls know of no olher
way of getting a husband, and so they are quite happy
and satisfied. 'As wives they are patterns of obedience,
end the marriages usually turn out successes.
A section of the Canadian Northern Railway, running
northwest from Sudbury and crossing the Vermillion
rlver is unique ln that it Is ballasted with gold. Every
yard 'of the gravel used for ballast has been found to
contain from 60 cents' worth to a dollar's worth of the
precious metal In the shape of fine dust, and a syndlcsts
is installing machinery for its extraction.
-The most curious almshouse in England Is St. Mary's
l.. Hospital at Chichester. There eight old ladies live actu-
- ally ln the church, a flne old building dating from 15S0. It
was originally a monastery, but Queen Elisabeth turned
it Into an almshouse to endure as long as almshouses
exists The old ladles . have two neat, little rooms each
down the sides of the main church, with windows looking
out on the garden. They each have a coal supply, a
kitchen range water and gas At a chapel dally services
are held. The choir -stalls are- beautifully carved old
oak, the original seats that the monks need. ,
The maintenance of the pride, pomp and circumstance
of elvlq tata costs the corporation of London a yearly
sum of close upon $90,000. The lord mayor receives $50,000
and, the Income tax on that sum is paid for him, while
he"M allowed $500 for the supply of new-furniture, nd
his robes cost close upon $1000. Then the rates, taxes and
tithes payable on the Mansion House total upwards of
$15,000." StructursI tnd other repairs represent an expendl-
ture closely , approaching $10,000, and periodically there is
f a. heavy "eall'" for specisl redecoration the amount .spent
last year, for Instance, on the Egyptian Hall being $2800. . "
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