54 
Kaspar Hauser. 
losing his balance, came near falling. To save himself he grasped 
at the projecting wainscot of the wall, but caught instead a loaded 
pistol which was hanging on a nail close by. The pistol went off 
and grazed his forehead, causing a profuse flow of blood, but not 
leaving any serious wound. The sound of the shot alarmed the 
policemen in an adjoining chamber, and they rushed in to find 
Kaspar lying on the floor insensible. Physicians were summoned, 
‘he wound was dressed, and in a few days the patient was entirely 
cecovered. 
This event made a great deal of talk in Nuremberg, the more 
because there was a small party among the citizens who had been 
disposed from the beginning to regard Kaspar Hauser as an im- 
postor, and to put the worst construction upon everything he 
did. Some of these persons were of a kind that exists everywhere, 
1nable to believe anything extraordinary, and distrustful of the 
strongest evidence which does not harmonise with their own opinions 
and experiences. Others were disaffected because they were envi- 
cus of the foundling’s prosperity, and jealous of his widespread 
celebrity. They found it unjust that he should have a horse to 
ride while they were obliged to go on foot, and they grudged the 
money paid out of the city treasury for his education and support. 
They pretended to believe that he had stabbed himself in the 
Daumer house, and shot himself in the Bieberbach house, 
merely to create an excitement, and make himself the centre of 
interest, as he had been on his first appearance in Nuremberg. 
But these persons were few in number, and insignificant in char- 
acter ; the great majority of the citizens recognised the absurdity 
of such suspicions, and cherished a sincere affection for the com- 
munity’s adopted son. 
1 
in 
ifr 
It was evident that the Bieberbach house was not the right 
place for Kaspar Hauser, and accordingly he was entrusted to the 
care of Herr von Tucher, who was appointed his guardian. 
Baron von Tucher belonged to one of the ollest patrician 
families of Nuremberg. He was a well-educated and highly- 
cultivated man, dignified in his manners, and guided in his