Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/514

 published by B. Zack, at Treptow (Berlin); and in dozens of studies dealing with homosexualism; as also in daily papers and criminal reports. In Ulrich's book "Memnon" are a classic few—now of long-ago—such as the murder of Lindemann by König; the attempt to drown a victim (already robbed) in Geneva; a series of desperate brutalities, including murder or its attempt, by the celebrated "Zürich Clique" of homosexuals and of other bad characters generally, in 1895; who lured persons of wealth into similisexual intimacies, gained access to their victims' houses, plundered them, and so on. Metropolitan police-annals abound in assassinations that are homosexual in colour. Strangers often imprudently go to the very lairs of just such assassins; have valuables on their persons; and never are seen alive again. Berlin, Vienna, London, New York, Cairo, Naples—all such large cities show this dangerous phase of the Uranian's quests and acquaintances. Here are a few such, from newspaper police-items:

"In Potsdam occurred a few days ago the mysterious murder of one Albert Schmidt, an elderly resident living for some time past in K— strasse. Schmidt was unmarried and given to peculiarly "intimate relations" with young soldiers. He had a very roomy apartment, and each week he was host to such special guests, often on short acquaintance. About a year ago Schmidt was brought into one of the criminal courts on a charge of an offence under Paragr. 175 of the Statute-Book, and the charge being-proved he was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Unluckily this affair did not 'cure' him of his eccentric habits. He was constantly to be met of an evening, in the parks or streets near the Barracks especially, "taking-up" with young soldiers, as mentioned. After four days of being missed by his immediate neighbours, he was found dead last Monday, on the floor of his sitting room, wholly undressed, and in a pool of his own blood. His skull was broken, and he had also been strangled. Evidently a hard, if curiously quiet, struggle had taken place, between Schmidt and his assailant, during an evening together. As Schmidt's purse containing 85 Marks in gold and silver, (and also his watch and valuables) were not stolen, the exact origin of the quarrel with his murderer is not clear. Several individuals, however, are suspected, including a certain young man described as wearing a light-coloured brown suit, lately much seen with