The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-01-11


ness his innocence; and once called out.
"My God why hast thou forsaken me Z"
Even after the rope was adjusted, and cap
drawn over his face, he continued his pray
ers. After bidding cordial "good-bye" to
the humane Sheriff and gaolor, he was suns
and In a few moments he stood in the
presence of an offended creator, sacrifice
to outraged justice. 1t was an awful sight.
The undaunted bearing of the prisoners
seemed to increase its solemnity and add to
its unspeakabIe interests. A moment be-
fore, and he stood before us, with unouiyer.
ing lip and flashing eye, calling upon the
living God TO witness his innocence. A
moment after, and he swung before US in
tho asonles of death! He did not struggle
much; few convulsivc heavings, and all
was over. He was left on the scaffold
nearly half an hour before he was taken
down.
We know that these proiestalions OF
Kobler will be looked upon by many who
are unacquainted with the facts, as so mapy
proofs of his innocence. But, in order TO
place the proper countenance on the affair,
we think it is best to add-that the clothes
OF hellerbach were found Oh the person of
Kobler; and never accounted for in the tost;-
mony-that ne told William he had enter
ed the name Of Dill a: the Pioneer Office
for his own, the morning after the murder,
which, on being sworn to by William.
rendered a search Of the record of the Pas
sergcrs at that Office necessary, when the
name of Dill was found Under .hc very date
sworn to-that he was recognized as hay
ing been in company with Zellerbach be-
fore the murder, that he graspca at every
opportunity 10 impicate others who were
respectable citzens-and other evidence
scarcely less conclusive. Il would be
dreadful even to imagine the execution Of
an Innocent man. We have therefore, con.
sidered it proper to revive these strong
points in the testimony elected on his trial
in order that public opinion may form its
conclusion correctly.
Koblcr was singular man; and when
we recollect his singular language, we arc
almost constrained to believe that he was
not wholly sane. lie seemed to be q per.
feet fstalis;, at least so far as his execution
went, which he believed inevitable and moi
TO be avel:ad by human agency. All the
solicitations Of those around him to extort
confession were unavailing; the efforts o
the clergy, the reasonings Of Sheriff Ro,
berls and others, proving equally fcuiiless.
He died without so much as an indication
on his own part, t,that he was a murderer. He
said that he would have justice done TO him
III the end, that in fifteen years the genuine
murderer would be found, and so ON. He
declared frequently that he had been sacri
feed by the Jews; and one of his unnatural
decla.ations was, that they conspired agains
him as against Jesus Christ! 1t is not one
of the least singular points in his character
that in written agreement, drawn and
signed few days before his death, he actu.
ally sold his body, for stipulated sum, tc
one of the physicians of this city, the mo
ney of which he spent for wine, beer, &c
OF his guilt, 'cc have never doubted, and
when we reflect Of the fendish murder he
committed, we are reminded that justice
has only been done upon the offender a.
gainst divine and human laws
We are indebted to our friend DR.. Nef'
one of the physicians present, for the fol.
lowing satisfactory description of the effect
produced by the Galvanic Battery on the
body.
"When the platform fell, Kobler swung
both feet backwards and forwards, slowly
and regularly, for precisely one minute,
then appeared to be dead; but at the end ol
three minutes there was a conclusive shud.
der over the whole body, and this was the
last effort in the agonies Of death.
At the end Of about thirty-fve minutes
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