honesty or dishonesty. Almost all these declared their conviction that he acted in good faith, and that he had no intention whatever to defraud them.
The elevation of the treasure was to have been accompanied by a solemn procession; and the amount raised was to be disposed of thus: 50 thalers to every maiden who walked in the procession; 30 thalers to each woman who did the like; 50 thalers to each man who showed in the procession; and 100 thalers to every pastor who appeared in the same. Fritzsche was to receive 2000 thalers, the bulk of the treasure was to go to the King of Saxony, and the balance was to belong to the ghost-seer to be dispensed in charities. Two years later a bronze and stone monument was to be erected in the market-place of Dieppoldiswald, at Hänel's expense, to commemorate the discovery.
For three weeks Hänel was examined almost daily, and he persisted: "I can say no more than what I have said already, that both before and after I entered Fritzsche's house I have had intercourse with spirits, and that I actually did see what I have related; that the treasure was certainly shown to me. God laid on me the duty of raising it and promised me His blessing, and of a surety this year the treasure will come to light. Whilst I have been in bonds I have been greatly hindered in pursuing the work of the release of suffering souls. Last night at twelve o'clock they appeared to me and bade me rest contented. This week they will return, then I will inquire of them when the revelation of the treasure will take place. I can say no more than this; next Ascension Day will pass, S. John's Day will also pass. What will come next I dare not say."
Not till after three weeks of harassing cross-questioning and of sturdy assertion of his innocence did Hänel admit that he had told lies, and had deceived his dupes.
He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour, October 16, 1846. He at once retracted his last admission, and returned to his assertion as to the reality of his visions and spiritual communications.
We may well doubt whether his confession of fraud was genuine. He had fixed the day on which the treasure was to be trove, and the authorities would have acted wisely to have let that pass and the delusion reveal itself, instead of arresting him
