Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-06-14


Probst, the perpetrator Of the horrid butch
cry and murder Of the Deering family, was |
executed last Friday. Very few were admit |
ted TO witness the execution, although there
was large and excited outside interest mani |
Tested.
AS the day approached no change whatever
was perceptisle 10 Probst. He ate as heartily
aud conversed as uncencernedly as when first
received into the prison.
During Thursday the Rev. A. N. Gunter,
pastor OF the Church of St. Alphonsus, was In
attendance upon the condemned man. He
exhorted him earnestly to place his trust In
his Redeemer, and the wre,ched criminal
appeared to be devout and penitent Early on
Friday Rev. Mr.. Guntsr was In attendance,
together with Rev. Peter N. Carbon, pastor Of
Trinity Churoh. Probst received this com
munion on Friday morning. The attending
clergymsn then engaged in prayer and exhor-
tations with the prisoner, and continued these
exercises until the arrival of Sheriff Howell,
who announced to Probst that he was about
to execute the sentence Of the law.
The preliminaries were proceeded with, and
having been concluded, the prisoner, dressed
in white vest and striped panialoons, was
led from his cell. supported BY the Rev.
Messrs. Grunder and Carbon. He had a cru
ci6x In his hand, which he repeatedly kissed
on his way to the gallows. On reaching the
scaffold Probst assembled with much frmness
Alter engaging in prayer with the attending
priests the sheriff hsndcuded him, and the
moose rope being adjusted, the white cap wal
drawn over his head, Al precisely iiteeI
minutes before eleven O'Clock Sheriff Howell
atty of bis crimes. The body fell three feet
and after a spasmodic jerking Of the legs an
hands, which lasted Two or three minutes
death resulted.
Thursday Probst wrote the following fare
well letter to his parents in Germany.
PHILADELPHIA June 7lb, ls66.-Dedr Pa
snts, Brothers and Sisters;-I do not kno
whether or not you received nay last letter, i
which sent you the sad intelligence of m
fate. ] desire to write to you again, to inferI
you how have spent my time here 10 prison
l have now spent eight weeks in this cell, an
have endeavored to prepare for my death q
well as | could. The clergyman has visite
me every day, and has instructed me we'll.
have several times confessed and have receive
holy communion; besides this many prayer
are offered up for me throughout the entil
city, and therefore am now so cheerful an
consoled that can gladly offer up my life I
an atonement for my fearful crime. truI
that you also will be consoled and cheerful
am.
The clergyman will give you the particula
OF my death. only eutreat you to pray f
me. Have the holy sacrifice of the ma SO o
fered up frequently for the repose of my po
soul. Joseph Waechter has also visited n
several times during my imprisonment.
will send you my picture and a lock OF n
hair. The 9Th Of Juae has been appointed
the day of my death, and tomorrow will
the 9Th of June, on which l am ready to of
up my life with the greatest Joy for my sins.
TRUST to meet you all in eternity, in happ
and better place, and this hope makes me
ioice with my whole heart. will new CT,
nay letter with many thousand greetings
you all. ANTON PRoBsT. ;
This Joseph Wsechter is the only rela'
Probst had in this country, he having MARI
a sister Of Probst in Germany.