The conflict of opinions as to prison treatment has raged continuously and as yet no uniform plan has been adopted for the whole German Empire. Each of the constituent states of the great aggregate body has maintained its independence in penal matters and the right to determine for itself the best method of punishing crime. At one time, after 1846, the theory of complete isolation was accepted in all German states, although the means to carry it into effect were not universally adopted. Reports from the United States had deeply impressed the authorities with the merits of solitary confinement, among others the well known Professor Mittermaier, one of the most notable judicial authorities of his time. But reaction came with another no less eminent expert, Von Holtzendorff, whose works on prison administration are still held in great esteem. After visiting Ireland, he was won over to the seeming advantages of the progressive system, the gradual change from complete isolation to comparative freedom, and he strongly favoured the policy of cellular imprisonment. His proposals laid hold of the practical German mind, and to-day the scheme of continuous isolation finds little support; it left its mark, however, in several prisons which will be referred to in the following pages. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION 5 I. PRINCIPAL PRISONS 13 II. FRIEDRICH VON DER TRENCK AT MAGDEBURG 41 III. NOTORIOUS POISONERS 81 IV. THREE CELEBRATED CASES 106 V. CLEVER IMPOSTORS AND SWINDLERS 137 VI. TYPICAL MURDERERS 173 VII. THE STORY OF A VAGRANT 201 VIII. SOME REMARKABLE PRISONERS 224 IX. SILVIO PELLICO AT SPIELBERG 249 X. BRIGANDAGE AND CRIME IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 273 List of Illustrations HEIDELBERG _Frontispiece_ FRIEDRICH VON DER TRENCK, IN HIS CELL IN THE STAR FORT _Page_ 52 SILVIO PELLICO AT SPIELBERG “ 256 GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN PRISONS CHAPTER I PRINCIPAL PRISONS The Bruchsal in Baden--The Moabit in Berlin, the prison Stein--Penal methods in force--Adoption of solitary confinement not universally accepted--Bruchsal opened in 1848--Penal methods employed--The annex where prisoners are kept in association--The Protestant brotherhood and their work in the Moabit prison--Munich--The work of Obermaier--Bavarian penal code--Capital Punishment--Long Trials--Case of Riembauer--Hans Leuss’ account of Celle and his imprisonment there--Flogging--The “bed of lathes”--Zwickau in Saxony--Humane treatment in force--Heilbronn--Prison reform in Austrian and Hungarian prisons--Three new prisons erected in Austria-Hungary.