The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-13
Prom the Baltimore Sun.
EXECUTION OF HORN.

EXECUTION OF HORN.
This event which ha. been looked 10 for weeks
past, the ston Of the penalty due 10 the
commission Of one OF the most atrocious murders
that ever blurred the character OF humanity, trans.
phed Ia accordance with the law, at exactly % min
utes before IL O'Clock, MERIDIAN this day, and was
Witnessed BY not less than thirty thousand people,
eighth Of whom were females. The excitement from
an early hour IN the morning until the execution
took place, continued 10 grow and more intense,
and was only relieved at length by the awful
which required to be enacted, for the satisfac-
ton Of the iearfuly violated laws. BY lOs O'Clock.
the various streets leading towards the jail began 10
present very uniform appearance OF The tendency Of
passengers that way, and before that hour hun
dreds Of persons occupied various positions stood
grouIe IN conversation within the immense circle
commanding view Of the jail. The gallows
erected IN the northwest angle Of the yard, the upper
beam being not less than fourteen feet above the le
vel Of the top Of the wall II could be distinctly
from many points in the central part ofthe city and the
whole execution was witnessed from several windows
OF the court house. As the hour approached, the
ways TO the prison became thronged with parties WHO
had quilted their avocstions and Fastening TO
the scene and the number of strange faces, Ddica
tive Of ssiiers from the surrounding country drawn
hither by curiosity, ressess from the startling cha
racler OF the malefactor's crimes, immensely
great The city poured out its thousands and the
merchant, the clerk, the lawyer and divine, the in
dusIrous mechanic with the soil of his labor upon his
hands the rae faced and sedentary student, the
young and the old, the mairon, the maid, and the
wanloD, hoyden boys and girls, the morast and the
jester, the serious and the proiane, swelled up the
motley multitude TO an oceanic flood. "Such is hu
man nature" we morazed and paused, for we our
selves had weDded our way TO the spot, but found
ready excuse In an imperative duty requiring US to
present the details Of this days dongs TO the eyes Of
the multtudinous mass spread out before our gaze.
But are there no promptlDgs Of Dionysan curiosity
within ourselves, we asked We could not analyse
the feelings with sufficient TO obtain a satisiac
tory response Human nature, however cultivated,
is human nature still.
The view from the top Of the Jail was of the most
interesting kind, presenting dioramc picture OF
the most diversified character il is possible 10
ceve. Immediately below, the gaunt object which
lifted ITS skeleton form into the cold air. stood peer
ing over the wall upon the vast beyond it.
self the centre for myriad eyes. Around and about
1t, conversng in subdued tones, those who had
obtained, by privilege or solicitation, admission with
in the walls the busy forms Of those Immediately
gagged and interested in the approaching catastrophe
occasionally passing TO and fro. Beyond, the great
interjacent plain, which had in the morning been a
white field OF snow, was now thronged with an al
most compact mass OF people, occupying both the
hither and thither side Of the Falls. The elevations
upon the north and the banky heights of Towards
woods, opposite upon the west afforded facilities to
immense numbers. especially OF women and children.
great many carriages, chiefly crowded with
men, occupied the line Of Belvide Road, and soa c
had drawn up nearer to the wall The windows of
many houses commanding view of the death scene
were crowded by the occupants, their friends and
quaintances. And uniformed traveller who had
posed that way might have looked on for hour,
and had the gaOws escaped his eye imagined that a
national jubilee about TO be celebrated and that
the shrine of obalion the Jail
But We revert to the more immediate details con-
nected with the criminal and the closing scenes of
his life We visited the jail at about O'Clock in the
morning, and found our friend, Sellers, the warden,
with anxiety and fatigue expressed in his coune-
nance he having beenup the greater part of the night
with his prisoner.
Horns Cen, 10 o'eioek-We have Just been admit.
ted to the cell Of the doomed maefacor. The Off
crrs have this moment Knocked of the iron shackles
from his legs, having been engaged at il twenty
minutes Horn then turned 10 the fire. stirred il up,
sat down, and, warming his boots which stood at the
hearth, put them upon his feet. Horn is in
yersaon with the reverend gentlemen in attendance,
Messrs. Sanderl and Neumann. lie is eyld, nily con
versing with freedom and Of mind and express
sion that denotes the most perfect composure
We learn from Mr. Sellers, who up with him
during greater portion of the light, that he remain
ed engaged in reading and prayer until about two
O'Clock IN The morning. when he laid down for about
an hour, and appeared to enjoy repose during that
time. lie then rose and re applied him elf to deyo-
uonal exercises during the residue OF the night lie
declined taking any breakfast this morning breakfast
being the only meal he has taken for two or three
weeks past, and from Friday Last until Monday he
maintained perfect abstinence. He was, however,
persuaded to resume has morning meal again Mon
day, which he continued until yesterday, lest he
should become too weak 10 sustain the trying scene
Of this day una SISTED.
Hay past 10 o'eioek-The Rev. s. Tustin, chap
lain of The United States Senate has entered the cell
by consent Of the criminal and the reverend gentle
men attending, Of course with no purpose Of taking
any part in the religious exercises
Horn has continued IN int recourse with the priests
the conversation being carried IN German. A
few minutes since Mr.. raoy, the sheriff, came into
the cell, he having previously visited the prisoner
during [ c morning.
At about 20 minutes before IL O'Clock, Mr. Bersch
and young Heary Hellman came into the cell. The
prisoner directly took the hand OF his aud said
Well, Henry" and the youth replied Well Faith.
err" 1t seemed as much as either could say for the
moment Horn, after nterchanging salutations with
Mr. Bersch beckoned his son to the table and took
up variety Of papers and pamphlets tied in a bun
die, which, with carpenters rule, he delivered 10
him the package appearing rather loose Horn took
up some books, saying " there a piece Of paper
here somewhere" and having found ii, took the bun
die again, carefully wrapped IT up and delivered to
his sor.
They then retired to a corner Of the cell, and had
some conversation together, which we subsequently,
understood in relation to the disposition Of the
body, Horn expressing desire that his son, as next
Of kin would make formal demand for il Of the
Sheriff. MIR Bersch was afterwards called up by
Horn, and the three continued the conversation to-
gether, Horn appearing exceedingly earnest in bis
instructions, which related chiefly TO the disposition
Of bis body.
At the close Of this conversation, Mr. Laws, She
riffs CLERK, Mr.. Wilson, Deputy Sheriff, and Mr.
Cook, Deputy High Constable appeared, for the
purpose Of srrsying the orminal Ills shroud was
produced and he put 1t on composedly as IL it had
been his daily garb, assisted by the officers after
which his arms were pinioned by small cord pas -
ing from each elbow joint, behind him, having his
hands free This being accomplished, Rev. Mr.
Tuston took the prisoners hand to bid him farewell
he having called for the purpose Of few minutes
conversation with him and his son. MIR Tuston, on
the OF the Lord Jesus Christ as the only hone
Of perishing mortals, and may God have mercy on
your soul" The reverend gentleman then shortly