The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-28 00:00:00

The Execution of Kohl•

The following account of. the execution, on Thurs-
day, of Kohl, and of his conduct generally, is from
the Rev.. Dr. Cappel

" Kohl," Dr. Cappel says, " has always protested his in-
nocence, and seemed chiefly to rest his assertions of inno-
cence on the ground that no one saw him commit the deed,
and that none of the clothes or other property of the mur-
dered man were found on him. He was also most violent
against some of the witnesses. He was rather subdued up
to yesterday, when I saw him at 7 o'clock in the evening.
At first he seemed much as usual, but when I went to him
a little later I observed a marked change in the man. He
had become more determined and yet more frivolous than
before rand he occasionally even laughed and seemed to
make light of the matter. He has asked me sometimes
whether there was any chance of his sentence being altered
to transportation, and he has also asked me whether the
carrying out of the sentence could not be deferred for a few
days. Last Monday he said he would give $2OO or $3OO to
any one who would say that they had seen him on the 3d
of November in London. I told him it was quite impossible
that any one could give that evidence or else his own soli-
citor would have brought it forward. He then became
violent, and I left him in a state of great anger. Yesterday
(Wednesday) when I saw him in the evening he still per-
sisted in declaring his innocence. I saw him this (Thursday)
morning shortly after 6. I found him in his cell engaged
in reading, and he told me he had had a good night. He
still asserted he was innocent, and wanted, as he had done
at other times, to obtain from me an acknowledgment that
I considered him innocent. At various times when I would
not give that acknowledgment he became much excited, as
he did also on this occasion. His firmness never left him
for one moment, and indeed •I think it seemed to increase
as his last hour drew near. I engaged with him in prayer,
reading the Scriptures, and religious conversation, he still
continuing to assert his innocence. After I had been with
him a little time this morning he said, Will you promise
me to write to my father and sign your name, and I will
sign my name ?' I did as he requested, and while writing
he seized a penholder and pushed it into his mouth, saying
vehemently, ' I will kill myself ; I will push off the palate.'
There was only one officer in the cell with us at the time,
and he did not at first observe what was done, but on my
calling out the pen was snatched from him. He then threw
himself down, and knocked his head against the wall. My
own idea was that he did it on purpose. It seenied to me
as if he wanted to kill himself. After trying to knock him-
self against the wall he fell down and swooned away,when
the officers threw water into his face, and after some time
he recovered. This was just before leaving his cell. Hand-
cuffs were then put on him. He asked several times to
have them off, but the under-sheriff would not allow it, as
he considered them necessary for the protection of myself
and those about him. On the Monday when I left him he
had asked me to come to-day and be with him on the scaf-
fold, and I promised him I would do so. As he was leaving
his cell with two officers he called out to me, as I happened
not to be close to him at the moment, and asked me in Ger-
man to walk alongside of him. He proceeded to the
pinioning-room protesting his innocence all the way. On
reaching the pinioning-room he pulled me aside and asked
me if I did not believe in his innocence, and he also asked
the chaplain and Dr. Manning the same question. Dr.
Manning told him he could not believe it, and implored him
to make confession of his guilt, and the chaplain, the under
sheriff, and myself also urged him to confess. He was then
led out from the pinioning-room by two officers, and as he
passed out turned and asked that I might walk by his side.
He said in German, Come with me, Dr. Cappel.' I walked
with hini- on to the drop, and there he said more than once
in German, in a loud voice, I had no hand in it ; I die an
innocent death.' He then said, Tell me, tell me when the
last moment arrives.' I said, ' Now, this is the last moment,'
and as I spoke the drop fell. Last Monday ho had asked
me particularly about Muller's execution, and wanted to
know the exact time when he confessed. I told him 'At
the last moment.' This (Thursday) morning he said,
Thatlast man that was executed here did not confess till
the last.' I said, You are mistaken.' I asked the officer
in the cell about it, and he confirmed my statement, and
Kohl, in reply, said, ' Oh, oh !' "

THE REPRESENTATION OF PRESTON.-011 Thurs-
day a few gentlemen from Preston waited upon the
Hon. Frederick Arthur Stanley, at' Knowsley, with a re-
quisition, signed by between 1,500 and 1,600 of the electors
of that borough, soliciting him to stand at the next general
election. The Hon. Mr. Stanley, without a moment's
hesitation, expressed his willingness to comply with the
request of the electors. Mr. Stanle3iwill be nominated with
Sir Thomas G. Hesketh, Bart., the present Conservative
member. Mr. Grenfell, the present Liberal member, re-
tires ; and the Liberals bring forward Mr. George Melly,
of Liverpool, a gentleman who offered himself in 1862, and
was defeated by Sir T. G. Hesketh, on the retirement of
Mr. Cross. There is not a shadow of doubt that the two
Conservatives will be elected-1,300 would give a candi-
date a majority, but as the requisition is signed by between
1,500 and 1,600 the next election is virtually decided.—