The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-13
EXECUTION OF ADAM HORN.

Adam Horn, alias Andrew Hellman convicted
during the last term Of Baltimore County Court,
of the murder Of his wife, Malinda Horn, was
executed yesterday in the yard of the Baltimore
Jail. AT an early hour in the morning he was
visited by the Rev. Mr.. Sharndell and Rev. Mr.
Neumar, German Catholic Priests, who remained
with him in his cell, praying and administering
religious advice and consolation. About half
past 10 o'clock the maefactor was dressed in his
death habments, consisting of white shroud
and white linen cap. His arms were firmly BAN
daged to his body with strong cord, which en-
circled them near the elbows, allowing an oppor-
tunty to use his hands, which he often did with
handkerchief in wiping his face. Thus solemn
ly costuIned, after having communed in German
with the attending clergymen, and, in English,
also, with the warden and others who had been
admitted to his cell, he knelt down with the
clergymen and engaged in prayer, for the space
of about twenty minutes. During this period he
seemed deeply affected, and anxious to ratify his
peace with his Creator. He conversed sometime
with several friends, and at half-past III o'clock,
the sheriff entered the cell and demanded the
prisoner. He expressed willingness to 60, and
in company with Rev. Mr.. Sharndal the sheriff,
and warden, in front, his son, Henry Holman,
Immediately in the rear, and some others, he was
followed to the gallows. The prisoners step was
firm. He assembled the steps to the platform Of
the scahoId alone, and without the slightest per-
ceptible faulterng.
His son, on reaching the place of execution,
imme dately retired in company with Mr.. Bersch.
On reaching the platform, the prisoner kneeled
for few minutes and engaged, in prayer. He
then arose firmly to his feet, when the cord was
placed around his neck by the sheriff. the pris-
oner assisting to adjust it. Being thus prepared,
the white cap was drawn over his face, he shook
hands with the clergyman, the warden, and She
riff, when they all descended from the scaffold.
The last expressions of the prisoner were that he
was prepared and ready to die.
A few minutes now elapsed, when the trap
fell, and the prisoner was LAUNCHED into eternity.
The body fell about four feet before being sus-
pended. After hanging about minute, convul-
sons of the chest were perceivable; an attempt
il to raise the arms also ensIed, three or four
struggles with the legs and body followed, and at
the expiration of six minutes all struggling and
appearance of suffering had ceased. The body
was swung off at twenty six mnuates before IL
o'clock, and hung until II precisely, when it
was cut down, and proved lifeless by DR.. Downs,
the attending physician of the Jail.
The corpse was then placed in a coffin and con-
veyed to room in the JAIL where galvanic ex-
periments were successfully performed on it by
Drs, Dunbar, Akin, Edwards, aud others after
which, it was given to the son, who came forward
and claimed it tor burial The particulars of the
galvanic experiments we have not time to note,
though they were highly interesting.
~ There were, most probably, ten thousand per-
sons-among whom we noticed many women
on the surrounding eminences, who witnessed the
execution. In the Jail enclosure were perhaps a
thousand more.
The execution was conducted in ahighly cred
itabIe manner to all who took init all active
part; II was performed BY Mr. Tracy, the High
Sheriff. He was cdstumed in black, weating a
belt and sword at his side. sd . vs. 'a-ss1
y. lie acted thr9paho,l With great ftmhesf, and
was, evidently deeply affected - Ra1l. RAJ.