Review of "Death of An Assassin: The True Story of the German Murdered Who Died Defending Robert E. Lee"
Author: Ann Marie Ackermann
Title: Death of An Assassin: The True Story of the German Murdered Who Died Defending
Robert E. Lee
Publisher: The Kent State University Press
Year of Publication: 2017
Bönnigheim is a sleepy little village in the Stuttgart district of Germany that is home to about
7500 people. In the modern era, travelers are wooed to visit by its idyllic landscapes, historical
buildings, and its penchant for wine, as this village has been a site of viticulture for its entire
documented history. On a fateful night in October 1835, perhaps after having indulged in some
of this notable wine, Mayor Johann Heinrich Rieber was murdered by a rifleman who hid among
the shadows. After gunning down the village’s mayor, the unknown rifleman dashed out of the
village and was seemingly lost to history.
Into this inauspicious murder mystery, Ann Marie Ackermann, has produced a worthy tome that
seeks to identify this killer. Those who enjoy true crime nonfiction or are intrigued by HLN’s
Forensic Files®, will find the plot development hard to put down. Ackerman toggles between
telling the story of the inability of the local district investigating magistrate, Eduard Hammer, to
crack the case and the alleged flight of the assassin to the United States.
Ackermann is commended for weaving this story with suitable conversation and intrigue to keep
the plot moving and not bore the reader in the process. When one considers how little detectives
had to work with in the 1800’s – you realize criminal investigation was a much different world
before CSI crime labs and DNA evidence. The plain narrative of the investigation is augmented
by a discussion of common criminal investigative technique. Sadly, Hammer would never figure
out this whodunit and would die not having solved the case.
The author believes that the assassin fled to the United States, and after a series of failed career
attempts, found himself serving under Robert E. Lee. While history buffs remember that General
Lee served gallantly by commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the
American Civil War, perhaps many will not realize the softer side of Lee that Ackermann has
unearthed. In his first experience under hostile fire, Lee penned a letter about a soldier who was
killed at San Juan de Ulúa that could provide a clue as to the killer’s identity.
In 1872, Frederick Rupp, a comb maker who had been driven out of Bönnigheim years earlier,
wrote an interesting letter to its current mayor. After what he contends was “delicate research” he
announced who he believed was the murderer responsible for the grisly death in 1835. The
village acknowledged the letter and believed that the matter was closed, even offering Rupp a
reward for providing the information. Ackermann wrote this book to clarify for Rupp’s
descendants that neither the story, nor the reward offered by Bönnigheim, is a hoax.
Remarkably written with ample historical narrative, history lovers and those with a penchant for
crime narrative will find this one quite satisfying.
Title: Death of An Assassin: The True Story of the German Murdered Who Died Defending
Robert E. Lee
Publisher: The Kent State University Press
Year of Publication: 2017
Bönnigheim is a sleepy little village in the Stuttgart district of Germany that is home to about
7500 people. In the modern era, travelers are wooed to visit by its idyllic landscapes, historical
buildings, and its penchant for wine, as this village has been a site of viticulture for its entire
documented history. On a fateful night in October 1835, perhaps after having indulged in some
of this notable wine, Mayor Johann Heinrich Rieber was murdered by a rifleman who hid among
the shadows. After gunning down the village’s mayor, the unknown rifleman dashed out of the
village and was seemingly lost to history.
Into this inauspicious murder mystery, Ann Marie Ackermann, has produced a worthy tome that
seeks to identify this killer. Those who enjoy true crime nonfiction or are intrigued by HLN’s
Forensic Files®, will find the plot development hard to put down. Ackerman toggles between
telling the story of the inability of the local district investigating magistrate, Eduard Hammer, to
crack the case and the alleged flight of the assassin to the United States.
Ackermann is commended for weaving this story with suitable conversation and intrigue to keep
the plot moving and not bore the reader in the process. When one considers how little detectives
had to work with in the 1800’s – you realize criminal investigation was a much different world
before CSI crime labs and DNA evidence. The plain narrative of the investigation is augmented
by a discussion of common criminal investigative technique. Sadly, Hammer would never figure
out this whodunit and would die not having solved the case.
The author believes that the assassin fled to the United States, and after a series of failed career
attempts, found himself serving under Robert E. Lee. While history buffs remember that General
Lee served gallantly by commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the
American Civil War, perhaps many will not realize the softer side of Lee that Ackermann has
unearthed. In his first experience under hostile fire, Lee penned a letter about a soldier who was
killed at San Juan de Ulúa that could provide a clue as to the killer’s identity.
In 1872, Frederick Rupp, a comb maker who had been driven out of Bönnigheim years earlier,
wrote an interesting letter to its current mayor. After what he contends was “delicate research” he
announced who he believed was the murderer responsible for the grisly death in 1835. The
village acknowledged the letter and believed that the matter was closed, even offering Rupp a
reward for providing the information. Ackermann wrote this book to clarify for Rupp’s
descendants that neither the story, nor the reward offered by Bönnigheim, is a hoax.
Remarkably written with ample historical narrative, history lovers and those with a penchant for
crime narrative will find this one quite satisfying.
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