Editing Karl May (section)

=== Delinquency ===
In 1856, May commenced teacher training in [[Waldenburg, Saxony|Waldenburg]], but in 1859 was expelled for stealing six candles. After an appeal, he was allowed to continue in [[Plauen]]. Shortly after graduation, when his roommate accused him of stealing a watch, May was jailed in [[Chemnitz]] for six weeks and his license to teach was revoked. After this, May worked with little success as a private tutor, an author of tales, a composer and a public speaker. For four years, from 1865 to 1869, May was jailed in the workhouse at [[Osterstein Castle]], [[Zwickau]]. With good behaviour, May became an administrator of the prison library, which gave him the chance to read widely. He made a list of the works he planned to write (''Repertorium C. May''.)

On his release, May continued his life of crime, impersonating various characters (policemen, doctors etc.) and spinning fantastic tales as a method of fraud. He was arrested, but when he was transported to a crime scene during a judicial investigation, he escaped and fled to [[Bohemia]], where he was detained for vagrancy. For another four years, from 1870 to 1874, May was jailed in [[Waldheim, Saxony]]. There he met a [[Catholic Catechist]], Johannes Kochta, who assisted May.<ref>M. Bugmann, ''Savage To Saint: The Karl May Story'' (2016).</ref>