Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-11-04
AN EXECUTION IN GERMANY.

"A Stout, athletic, but very respectable
looking man, dressed in n full suit ofblack
stood waiting on the Scafiold. Not far
from him stood another man. whose fig
nre was concealed by large black colak,
nere was no appearance Of either block,
or axe, or sword; but in the centre of the
scatfold, chair was placed, behind which
| small fixed post arose, the object of which
will soon be explained. About quarter
OF an hour after the arrival of the prisons
ers, one OF them named Bakof. was led out
oil the lower compartment 10 the foot of
the ladder, TO mount the scaffold, the
clergyman following close behind. Ba-
kotf took off his coat Brace himself, and
then sal down in the chair previously men,
toned. lie was now fastened by breast,
waist, legs, and feet, 10 the post, behind the
chair. His hands were then lied together
in front, andlastly, his eyes were Eound
The post which rose as high as the criminal
served not only to make him fast. but also
10 guide The stroke of the execuiioner.-
The latter now took from beneath the
cloak Of the assistant, the fatal sword
which had hitherto been mercirullv con-
ceaie d-that sword which the criminals
were soon 10 feel, but never to behold
The finisher of the law now poised the
weapon in both hands bringing it close 10
the neck OF the victim, 10 guide his lnten-
ded aim. Then, without any apparent eff
fort, without strain or jerk, but with one
quick, sweeping, continuous motion Of his
own hands-the sword passed on uncheck-
ed; and the head fell on the floor of the
scaffold. An Elton schoolboy at monlem
does not more easily cut off poppy head.
he headless trunk sat perfectly still;
while the blood spirited aloit in two CONT
NOUS streams. IT was sickening sight
The next operation was TO remove the re
mains; and sand was strewed TO conceal
the blood flom the eyes Of the next victim
of the law. y
The last and wors; Of the three was now
led out. He was considered by the sim
pie spectators a kind of prodigy; because
he had been as far as Braz Is, where he had
served us an ar,Ieryman. His name was
Gahar; and he had been the principal
planner Of the intended robbery, and the
chief perparator Of the murders. To the
establishment Of his listeners, he solemnly
declared his innocence Of the crime of muir
der, though he confessed himself guilty Of
the other charge. He then began 10 re-
fleet upon the conduct Of his judges. bat
here he was interrupted, and dragged to
the chair of death. 1t was a heart fenoi,,g
spectacle, this vain struggling against IN
exorabe fate. The person Of the convic.
was soon made fast. and his eyes bound;
the clergyman prayed, and it must have
been with agony. if he was endowed with
any sensbility. The operations were hur
ried on rapidly-the sword again emerged
from the cloak The hand Of the assis-
tant ..was now placed on the head OF the
victim, who still appeared TO struggle in his
bonds, like a wild beast in the toils-and
the head almost instantly rolled on the
platform. At the same moment, the trunk
stretching violently forward, loosened some
Of the lIgatures that bound it to the stake.
The criminal had resisted his fate to the
last No sooner had the last head fallen,
and believe all the three fell in the same
quarter of an hour. than cheer from
some hundreds of the spectators grated
harshly on my ear. 1t thrilled through my
veins as though fends were hooking ar
ound, but my guide informed me that il,
was intended as compliment to the exc
culioner. for the wonderful skill which he
had displayed.
Major Wittngham's Residence in Berlin.