Crime History: Mord am Unterwelt-Hehler - "Stehlen lohnt sich nicht mehr"
Summary
This episode of Crime History reconstructs the 1920 murder of antiquarian Alfred Neisser in Berlin using newspaper reports, as police files were lost. The hosts examine the trial of a criminal trio accused of the crime, focusing on suspect Gustav "Matrosenvillie" Passage, who retracted his confession, alleging police coercion and intoxication by investigator Otto Trätin. Criminal historian Regina Stürico provides context on the Weimar-era underworld, highlighting the challenges of investigating crimes in the corrupt Bülow-Bogen district.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The murder of carpet dealer Alfred Neisser
Victim profile and missing police archives
The world of 'Heeler' dealers in Weimar Berlin
Crime hotspots: Bülow-Bogen and the criminal underworld
Police raids and the criminal warning system
The suspects: Matrosenwilli, Erna, and the crime scene
The motive: Dispute over stolen Persian carpets
The heist: Faked check and the attack on Neisser
The betrayal: Erna snitches and the forced confession
Trial drama: Retracting confession and police brutality claims
The twist: Master thief Ludwig Levy enters the case
Ludwig Levy: The famous 'Meisterdieb' of the era
Verdict, aftermath, and the unresolved mystery
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