Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-27
A MURDERER,S DEATr.
The Execution of Michael Kierehnei
i'm Buffalo for tIe Murder Of Henri


The Execution of Michael k~ierchner
i'm Buffalo for the Murder of Henry
Henning.
The Buffalo papers of Saturday contain
full acconnts of the execution of Michael
Kierehner in that city on Friday, for the
murder of Henry Henning, a returned sol
der, which took place on the 10Th of Sep
TENDER last. The trial of Kierchner took
place during the first part of the present
month. The evidence against the accused
was mainly circumstantial, but conclusive.
He was found guilty on the 18th inst, and
on the 18th was sentenced to be hung.
Up to the last moment of his life the I'M
happy man persisted in asserting his inmo-
cence, and bore himself with a bravido.
which was, however, rather brutal than
courageous. We make a few extracts
from the elaborate details by the Buffalo
papers. In relation to his demeanor be-
fore the execution, the Express says:
HE JOKES.
Duringth evening he asked the turnkey
if he could tell him where they struck The
first nail in the scaflold. The turnkey
thinking he meant in what part of the
structure, answered he could not tell.
kierchner then said, "Why, right on the
head, to be sure"
HE SLEEPS SOUNDLY N EATS 4 HEARTY
BREAKFAST.
He went to sleep about 10 o'clock. and
slept soundly until four in the morning.
and afterwards ate a hearty breakfast.
II ACTS THE PART OF A PRosFCrrrvc
ATTORNEY.
During the fore part of the morning the
prisoners had a mock trial, Kierchner
taking the part of a prosecuting attorney.
He made quite a speech, if the statement
Of the prisoners can be believed, and gave
the culprit Il severe lecture.
HIS IRONS REMOVED.
AT nine o'clock two officers proceeded to
his cell to remove the irons from his legs.
He quietly submitted to the operation.
only breaking the silence once. telling
them if they hurt his legs he would give
them trouble.
The reporter of the Courier gives the
following account of
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CRIMINAL.
Upon opening his cell door he was al
lowed to come into the hall, upon doino
which b. instinctively turned his face in
the direction whence proceeded the sounds
winch attended the erection of the scaflold.
lie looked better than when last we s,w |
him on trial his face had a healthier look
and his eyes which formerly seemed dim
and lack-lustre We're bright and intellinent
In reply to the question "how do Won feel
hIerchner?' he relied promptly: "As
well as could be expected from one in nv
position. From this digniied answer ne
jumped into the trifing mood. and asked
humorouSly, Are they getting up that
mast, referring to the gallows. We an
swered that they were and he replied 81
am gong to die a game Dutchman.n Con
tinuIng IN his CHASTITY humor he said; ~
expect a good puff in all of the papers OF
the United States We assured him of
this,and mquired,in regard tohis innocence.
lie replied: 81 no more killed that man
than II child three years old. l would like
to see "A guilty man in this dark cell sleep
as well and eat as well rs | do He re
marked in addition Il will die an inno-
cent man. ! am better prepared now than
l would be in twenty years
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
At eleven o'clock the preparations for
the execution were made. MIR. Pierce en-
tered the room with a black gown. can
&c. As soon ms Kierchner saw him he
arose and proceeded to give what assist
ance he could in putting them on. While
tins was being done, Kirchner remarked;
"lf you ever saw a Dutcbman die game.
you will see one to-day Looking nj
the gown, he said lie would pass for q
priest now, &c, and requested to have his
unbuttoned To enable him a.
get some tobacco, which was done. When
the rope was placed about his neck he
examined 1t somewhat closely, and asked
why they did not give him a silk rome.
and desired them not to tie his hands
which request was granted.
When taken to the Jail yard. he mount
ca the seaiiold firmly, aud permission he
ing given him to speak, addressed the /;
erowd present in Il long rambling talk.
nearly an hour. He commenced
slowly, in order that his speech l
be taken down in full. but Seine
he reporters desist from their work. in
at his offensive and cold-blondcd :
manner, he spoke more rapidly. He com I
nenced his harrangue in the most famiI- :
ar and torrSal style, as follows: " Well.
aides and g'n lemen, l see no ladies @ ore
L draw II pretty good crowd TODAY
outside and inside, behind me and before
ne-a larger one then Dan Rice ever .
rev. when l am dead and in nv :
rave and all my bones are rotten, " &c. o
lie went on to deny his guilt and give his =
,ersion of the murder, stopping several i
lines to rest or to take a chew Of tobacco. "
THE END. /
At the conclusion of his speech. he SAT h
own, and the Rev. Mr.. Vogt offered M b
n earnest prayer, and in concluding it he 5,
laced his hands in an impassioned man n
er on kierchner's head and asked him if al
e could say before Almighty God that he st
'as not a guilty man. The reply was that lie
e was innocent. While vet Kierchner in
1t in his chair, the rope was taken from 7
IS bosom and passed through the loop of n
lie cross bar of the gallows. While this Il
as being done Kierchner exclaimed
Watch the Dutchman die The rome
eng fastened and the knot adjusted. he
as assisted to his feet and towards the -,
rlha, L. =