Public Prosecutor Hecker and His Assistants

Supplement

* Cologne, 24 September. Mr. Public Prosecutor Hecker is the most tormented
No. 112, 26 September 1848.
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.
man in Cologne. For several days now he has been endeavouring, by personally examining witnesses, to ascertain what sins against the holy spirit of the penal code were committed at the popular assembly in Worringen. So far, the result of his investigations is said to have remained extremely slight, 1. because nothing unlawful occurred, 2. because the witnesses can hardly still remember what each individual said, and especially in what context he said it. As to point 2, we would rather refer Mr. Hecker to the band of disguised police officers and stenographing mouchards who roamed about on the meadow. But of course, if several of these pillars of the state no longer know anything to testify, that will hardly surprise us. In particular, one of them was already so drunk at midday that he moved from one bar table to another in tears, gratefully enjoying the drinks offered and recounting “in confidence” that he was here as a spy, but otherwise a good fellow.