The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-18

lmpllcateU rTecke as au dCCo-hplICe. He
main facts of the confession are as follows
Marschall ard Frecke, who it appears
were brother burglars, had been at New
York to dispose of the proceeds of one Of
their robberies-which they could not with
safety do near home. On their return,
on boat running between New York and
South Amboy, they fell in with Forester.
By the allurement held out to him of
plenty of work and good wages, they in
duced their victim to accompany them to
| Pittsburgh. Arriving here, on the pre-
tense of taking him to hotel, they escort
ed him to the most unfrequented part OF
Boyd's Hill, where, with no human eye to
behold them, they foully murdered him.
Frecke first stabbed him, and Marschall
finished up the business by striking him
on the head with bar of iron. They
then possessed themselves of his effects,
consisting of between one and two hun
dred dollars in money, gold watch, boots,
cap, &C. After which, Freeke vent to
Mrs. Miller's, and Marschall went to an
other house.
FRECKE ASSERTS HIS INNOCENCE.
Frecke corro5orated this confession in
so far as refers to their meeting the stran-
1
here, but he positively denied any and all
completely in the murder. In thus assert
iEg his innocence, he was consistent
throughout, for the very last act Of his
! life yesterday was to aver that he died
with hands unstained with blood.
THE VICTIM
Investigations set on foot by the proper
authorities demonstrated that the MUIR
dered man was one John Henry Forester,
a native of Germany. He was born In
Aix-la Chapclle in 1886, and was there
fore nearly 80 years old when he met his
death. He was moulder by trade, and
had come to this country in search of en-
ployment. . 1t is not known how long he
had been here before he was met by the
arch -fends who, for the pitiful sum of less
than two hundred dollars, hurled him
into eternity-but the time could not have
been an honest, industrious young man.
THE TRIAL.
The two men were brought before the
Court Of Oyer and Terminer of this coun-
| ty for trial at last October sessions, and
after fair and patient hearing, were ad-
judged guilty of murder In the first de-
gree. The Court, in the performance of
its duty, sentenced them to be hung, and
the Governor in the death warrant named
the 18th of January as the day for the
execution.
LOOKING TO GOD FOR MERCY.
When it became apparent that there
was no hope of escape from the death they
so richly deserved at the hands of the law,
MarschaH applied himself diligently to
the task of preparing himself to appear
before the bar of God. He was sub
scriber to the doctrines of the Roman
Catholic Church, and performed his devo
,ions IN accordance Herewith. He pro-
fassed to have experienced change of
heart, aud INDUCED in the hope that,
tt2ach he was " the chief of sinners"
lie would be saved. Frecke also paid at
tention to his spiritual welfare, aud died
trusting in God.
AT TIE GALLONS. . ~
All the necessary arrangements IS having
been made to carry into effect the sentence
of the law, at one o'clock the prisoners
were pinioned and led to the gallows,
which had been erected in the enclosure
adjoining the Jail. Frecxe bore himself
with stoical fortitude under the trial and
unto the end, betrayiDg not so much
emotion as the tremor of muscle. Mar
schall, on the other hand, appeared to be
totally overcome by emotion, aud shook
like an aspen his knees bent under him,
and he had to oe supported from falling
The fatal moose was adjusted around the
neck of each, when Frecke turned to
Marschall and said {" Marschall, will you
confess aow that I am innocent ?" Mar
schalI replied that he had nothing to con-
fess; when Freeke continued: am in
nocent, and have a clear conscience"
Referring to the rope, he said to the
Sheriff, " make it tight am innocent,
and am not afraid to die" The,ca were
now drawn over their eyes, and the atten-
dants bade the wretched men good-by.
THE LAST ACT.
At LILO O'Clock, the Sheriff sprang the
trap, and the two men were left hanging
in mid-air. They fell distance of about
four feet Marschall's neck was broken
by the fall, and he died comparatively
easy ; but owing to the displacement of
the moose around Frecke's neck, the death
of the latter was protracted and painful.
The bodies were allowed to hang half
hour, when they were takeE down and de-
livered to the undertaken. The body of
Frecke will be inferred N the Hilldale
cemetery that of Marschall> in the Ger
man Roman Catholic cemetery, near Mi
nersville.
And thus was avenged. by God and the