130 
Kaspar Hauser. 
wounded in Nuremberg; perhaps, because of the shock to his 
sensitive nerves ; perhaps on account of the great loss of blood, 
Afterwards, his progress in learning was slow, and it was plain 
that he would never be capable of persistent mental effort. 
His conduct while in the Von Tucher family gave no occasion 
for blame until he was subjected to Lord Stanhope’s evil i. 
fluence ; but from that time his behaviour changed completely, 
and it was no longer possible to govern him as formerly. 
In reference to the charge of having tried to make Kaspar 
learn an obnoxious trade, Von Tucher said that he had never in- 
tended. to set the boy at any kind of work until he should be 
older and stronger in health. But in view of the fact that Kaspar 
could never practise any learned profession, and knowing that 
it was doubtful whether the mystery of his birth would ever be 
cleared up to his advantage, Von Tucher had thought it advisable 
for him to learn some trade which would not tax his physical 
strength too severely, and would be sure to give him a sufficient 
support in case of his losing public assistance and the help of 
friends who must in time die off. The bookbinder’s trade seemed 
to him most suitable ; but Kaspar preferred to become a watch- 
maker or a merchant ; however, all that was left for the future to 
decide. 
Herr Bieberbach and his daughter were also examined. Frau 
Bieberbach was already dead, having committed suicide in a 
paroxysm of nervous frenzy, by throwing herself out of an upper 
window in her own house. 
Her husband and daughter spoke much more charitably of 
Kaspar’s faults than she had done in her scandalous letter to 
Frau Meyer. 
Herr Bieberbach said that Kaspar seemed to him like a 
spoiled, self-willed child, and the daughter added that he had a 
tendency to deceit and untruthfulness 5; but that such faults as he 
showed ought not to be laid up against him. This proves that 
his conduct in the Bieberbach house was not so bad as had been 
represented, and that the daughter considered him in many 
instances excusable.