Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-27
From a London paper.
EXECUTION OF GERMAN EANDITTr.

IIo" AoHu"" Puyef.
EXECUTION OF GERMAN EANDlTTr.
In the early part of last year we annour.
ced TO our readers the conviction and exc
cution OF the leader and principals Of de-.
perate gang Of bsnditti. which had for sey-
cral years previous held the inhabitants at
the mouth of the Elbe, and its vicinity, il
constant terror by their frequent and Law.
less outrages; for the following particulars
of the execution of these wretches, which
are curious, as they exhibit picture, PEI.
haps new TO most OF our readers. OF the cr!.
minal process in that part OF Germany. We
are indebted to the common place book Of
a eentlsman who was an eyewitness {.
what he describes.
This band of desperadoes, about thirty
in number, had for many years practisei
the most alarming and extensive midnight
depredations upon the south bank OF the
Elbe; their numbers either defying attack.
or their dexterity GLIDING the vigilance Of
the officers of justice sent in pursuit Q.
them. At length the cruelties inflicted by
them upon their victims, most frequently
unprotected females, and of description
too indelicate TO relate, for the purpose o
extorting discovery OF concealed proper.
ty, reused the neighborhood 10 exercise
and led to the detection Of the offenders.
The leaders and chief proportion Of these
wretches, proved to be farmers, many Of
them wealthy, and residing in line ex.
tending along the Elbe, from Stickenbuttle
and Cuxhayen. through the towns ofOtteR.
dortf and Nergchouse 10 Frieburgh, embra-
cling tract of about 80 English miles.
Interpretations were usually conducted
upon a system, which in few hours, would
collect gang, and enable them to carry
on their villanous designs on most exten-
sive scale. Their Chief named Roster, with
his lieutenant, Lunder, and his own son,
third in command, all lived on their re-
spectiye farms, at Stickenbu;tle. kOsler
wore cooked hat, and very appropriately
assumed the title Of Napoleon, by which
he was usually addressed by his comrades
The apprehension Of the six principal
miscreants had taken place as long since as
the latter end Of the year 1915; but having
been tried by the laws Of Hamburger, &C.
cording 10 the established practice, the
whole Of the evidence, with the sentence,
was submitted to the head professor Of ths
university of Cottingen, whose confirma.
ton or judgment is seldom obtained in les
than from one totwoycars, leaving the cul'
prits in state Of suspense, which usually
terminates in indifference or forgetiulnt@
Of their approaching fate. Such was the
case with these unhappy wretches aitcra
long confinement and hard labor in the Gas
lie of RitZebuttel, on the 2Gih April, 1877,
confirmation OF the sentence was received,
with directions for its immediate execution
Roster, sen. and Lunder were condemned
TO the block, and the others to perpetual
and various periods Of Imprisonment, viz:
*l2, Is and 25 years. On the judgment
being publicly read by the Licentente, the
governor pronounced the sentence in the
following words go The law is spoken.
The stick is broken, sinners you must die
at the same time breaking small stick OF
about IL inches in length, painted black,
with white ends, as usual on such occasions.
On this declaration the executioner, Han.
nings, stepped up with his attendants 10 tie
two condemned robbers, telling them they
were now left TO him, and that on Monday
the 28th they would lose their heads; his as
sstant very loosely assuring them that
they could not have fallen into better hands
than his master, who would relieve then!
Of their heads in a moment, and without
any pain. Or the Monday morning they
were conveyed from the castle in Wagon
to the fort at StickenbutteI, where, upon
small emineIce, the sentence of the law
was first inflicted upon Lunder, who, being
placed in chair, handkerchief was tied
over his eyes, and black ribbon under hB
chin and over his head, and held up by his
assistant, when, with one blow OF two
edged sword, the executioncr severed his
head from his body, amidst the acclama:
tions Of the spectators. The blood issued
as from fountain, and a glass being filled
with il. was drank in the presence oil the
multitude by young woman named Wei-
ling, ASIAN infallible cure for the apopcSy:
Rosters execution Immediately followed
in similar manner-when the execuIioner
holding up the two heads, and taking oi
his CAP, saluted the people, being greeted
with loud appIauses and clapping Of hands.
To person who has witnessed the solcm.
In Germany The "a hours confinement
is reckoned as two days; the criminal be-
ing liable TO be Put TO labor either IL the
day or night, the real term is thus shorter
by one-half than the nominal time OF tie