Mata Hari (born Gertruda Margarete Zelle), 1876-1917
Manslaughter
In 1981 Marianne Bachmeir, from Lubeck, West Germany, was in court watching the trial of Klaus Grabowski, who had murdered her 7-year-old daughter. Grabowski had a history of attacking children. During the trial, Frau Bachmeir pulled a Beretta 22 pistol from her handbag and fired eight bullets, six of which hit Grabowski, killing him. The defense said she had bought the pistol with the intention of committing a suicide, but when she saw Grabowski in court she drew the pistol and pulled the trigger. She was found not guilty of murder, but was given six years imprisonment for manslaughter. West German newspapers reflected the opinion of millions of Germans that she should have been freed, calling her ‘the avenging mother’.
Crime of passion
Bernard Lewis, a thirty-six-old man, while preparing dinner became involved in an argument with his drunken wife. In a fit of rage Lewis, using the kitchen knife with which he had been preparing the meal, stabbed and killed his wife. He immediately called for assistance, and readily confessed when the first patrolman appeared on the scene with the ambulance attendant. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The probation department’s investigation indicated that Lewis was a rigid individual who never drank, worked regularly, and had no previous criminal record. His thirty-year-old deceased wife, and mother of three children, was a ‘fine girl’ when sober but was frequently drunk and on a number of occasions when intoxicated had left their small children unattended. After due consideration of the background of the offence and especially of the plight of the three motherless youngsters, the judge placed Lewis on probation so that he could work and, support and take care of the children. On probation Lewis adjusted well, worked regularly, appeared to be devoted to the children, and a few years later was discharged as ‘improved’ from probation.
Murder
In 1952 two youths in Mitcham, London, decided to rob a dairy. They were Christopher Craig, aged 16, and Derek William Bentley, 19. During the robbery they were disturbed by Sydney Miles, a policeman. Craig produced a gun and killed the policeman. At that time Britain still had the death penalty for certain types of murder, including murder during a robbery. Because Craig was under 18, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Bentley, who had never touched the gun, was over 18. He was hanged in 1953. The case was quoted by opponents of capital punishment, which was abolished in 1965.
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Fraud
This is an example of a civil case rather than a criminal one. A man had taken out an insurance policy of £100,000 pounds on his life. The policy was due to expire at 3 o’clock on a certain day. The man was in serious financial difficulties, and at 2.30 on the expiry day he consulted his solicitor. He then went out and called a taxi. He asked the driver to make a note of the time, 2.50. He then shot himself. Suicide used not to cancel an insurance policy automatically. (It does nowadays.) The company refused to pay the man’s wife, and the courts supported them.
Teenage killers free after 5 months
By Cherry Norton
The parents of 12-year-old Louise Allen, who was killed last year, have reacted with horror to the news that her killers are to be released on the anniversary of her death.
Louise was kicked to death by two girls in a fairground in Corby, Northamptonshire.
She had intervened to separate two girls who were fighting. A fourth girl joined in, thinking the fight had become a two-against-one affair. Louise was attacked and kicked repeatedly, once while lying motionless on the ground. She died the next day.
The teenagers were convicted of manslaughter in December, and given a two-year custodial sentence. The original charge of murder was dropped after extensive negotiations involving the police, defense lawyers and Louise’s parents.
The girls will be released on April 30, just five months after being convicted – the term is based on a 12-month reduction for good behaviour and seven months spent in custody before trial.
Louise’s mother said she could not believe they were going to be released on the first anniversary of Louise’s death. She will visit her grave on Wednesday with her ex-husband John and Louise’s brothers, John, 12, and Dean, 2. The family intends to put flowers in the red and white of Manchester United, her favourite football team, on the grave. (THE SUNDAY TIMES)
Jack the Ripper
“Jack the Ripper” was a mysterious killer who terrorized the East End of London in the autumn of 1888. His victims, all women, were killed by having their throats cut, and in many cases the bodies were savagely mutilated as well. The number of victims is said to be between four and fourteen, though police authorities generally thought that only five murders were definitely the work of the Ripper. The Ripper was never caught, and his identity remains a mystery. All kinds of people had been suggested as possible Rippers, including the Duke of Clarence and even a barrister.
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Mata Hari (born Gertruda Margarete Zelle), 1876-1917
Mata Hari, who was executed by a firing squad in France in October 1917, is probably the most famous spy of all time. She is renowned for her beauty, her numerous military lovers, her provocative oriental dancing, and, above all, her espionage. Yet in fact, she was not oriental or even a spy. Mata Hari was a stage name adopted by a plump middle-aged Dutch divorcee, named Mrs. Margaretha McLeod, who had left her alcoholic Scottish husband and opted to become a dancer in Europe. The evidence of her alleged espionage on behalf of the German Kaiser is based merely on her being mistaken for a well-known German agent Clara Benedix, by the British in November 1916. That month Mrs. McLeod was arrested in Falmouth, Cornwall, on board of the ship Hollandia while she was on her way to the Netherlands. The police released her when they realized the mistake. Later she was arrested in France and charged with having been in contact with German intelligence officers in Madrid (though she had never even been there). At her trial in Paris her lurid life-style was used to damning effect. It was only in 1963, when the secret files relating to her case were released, that the legend was reassessed. Most historians now think that, far from being a spy, Mata Hari was simply an innocent scapegoat – shot because the French government wanted to cover up its military ineptitude by fabricating an all-powerful ring of German agents.
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