The Death of Kaspar Hauser

Abstract

On Saturday 14 December 1833 Kaspar got up as usual shortly before 8 o’clock and set off to Fuhrmann’s house for his weekly hour of religious instruction. He remarked on some cardboard boxes in Fuhrmann’s study and the minister said that he had made them to keep some pictures he had cut out to make Christmas presents for his children, adding that he found it very difficult to work with cardboard. Kaspar replied that he would be very happy to help him as he had learnt how to work with cardboard from the bookbinder and casemaker Schnerr in Nuremberg with whom he had been apprenticed for seven weeks. Fuhrmann thanked him for his kind offer, but pointed out that they now had to concentrate on the task at hand. Kaspar asked if he could return after lunch and Fuhrmann said he would be delighted. The lesson lasted about one hour and ended at about 9.15. Kaspar then went to work in the court of appeal and went home for lunch at 11.30.