The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-06


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ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO EVENING rHEGkGPH.1
NORR1sTowN, Pa, February 6.-As might be
expected, the all-absorbing topic of the day has
been the execution OF Joseph, alias Jacob Frede-
rick Haddopp, for the murder of julius Wochele
in November, 1865. The circumstances attend
ing this crime, at the time it was committed,
caused an intense excitement throughout the
county, which had by no means abated at the
time the trial took place.
The First Execution for Murder.
Apart from its being case of purely circum.
stantial evidence, and the fact that the prisoner
from first to last, protested his entire innocence
in the matter, it is the first case in the history
of Montgomery county in which jury has con-
victed person of murder in the first degree,
although man is now serving out term of
twelve years in the County Jail, having been
convicted of murder in the second degree for
the killing of his wife, in a hand to-hand fight
with her.
The other Man Hung at NOrristOwn.
Since the Revolutionary war there have been
score OF trials for murder, but this is the first
case in which capital punishment has been
the penalty meted out on conviction Indeed,
the only execution that ever took place in the
county was that of an old offender by the name
of John Brown, who was hanged on the 18th of
April, l78S, by Francis Swaine, then Sheriff, tor
| the crime OF burglary, which was q capital
otTense under the old colonial Law. This execu.
tlon took place on Airy street. Just in the rear
| OF the spot where che Court House now stands.
Many OF the citizens took otfense at the pub
| licity of the proceedings but the Sheriff de-
| Tended his course by alleging that all the pro-
| perty owners in the neighborhood refused to
| allow him to perform mis- duty on their pre-
mises and he was thus forced to resort to the
highway.
Personnel of HaddOpp.
! The convicted murderer, Haddopp, is a man
| of slight frame, about five feet seven inches in
height, and weighing about one hundred and
! twenty pounds. His features are rather thin
and sharp, his forehead high, and his hair,
which he wears combed back, quite dark in
color. His beard consists at present of plain
goatee, the rest of his face being smoothly
! shorn. Not the least noticeable feature of the
prisoner is his greyish-blue eye, which is re-
markably clear and bright, imparting to him a
fascinating and at the same time dangerous
look. Although of an apparently peaceable
| disposition, he has just that bearing which is
fitted for deeds of dark intrigue, and this faculty
must have been brought into lively exercise
| when he allured his victim from this city to the
deserted farm on which he met his fate.
| Haddopp is a native of Baden, and has re-
| ceived a very thorough education. He is
fluent master of German, French, and Italian,
and is said to be well versed in the Latin tongue
as well. His knowledge of English, however,
is so imperfect that no profitable communica
ton can be had with him except through the
agency of an interpreter At the time of the
murder he had been in this country but few
years, and most of these had been passed in the
army, which he entered soon after his arrival,
joining the ranks of New Jersey regiment as a
substitute.
Interview with His Wife.
Several months after the murder, and before
his arrest, he married, his wife knowing nothing
OF his guilt. She visited him on Monday, but
their meeting was rather cold and formal.
h., Flriun hnT foe tod IN ho- se
! innocence, as he did to his counsel as late as
| yesterday afternoon.
HaddOpp's Story.
The story that he tells is to the effect that
he had often spoken to Wochele of his sister,
who resides at st. Charles, Missouri and in
whom Wochele seems to have taken great in
terest. Haddopp claims to have told him that
ST. Charles was very thriving town, but he
himself had no desire to leave his present work
and go there. Wochele, he claims, was much
disheartened, and anxious to better his condi-
tion; and having borrowed sixty dollars of
Haddopp, whom he was then unable to repay,
he gave him the address of his guardian and
step-mother, authorizing him to write in his
name for the money, from which he was to get
a return OF the loan. He pretends to believe
that Wochele set out tor the West, and that he
has seen or heard nothing of him since.
HaddOpp's Spiritual Advisers.
During his imprisonment since the trial Had
dopp has exhibited a variable mood. Being
Catholic by profession, Father O'Hara, of
NOrristown, rendered him his services, bat their
inability to understand the language spoken by
each other, rendered it necessary for them to
call in Father Kuntzer, of Manayunk. Last
week FatherGrundtner, of Philadelphia, was also
sent for, and since his attendance marked
change has come over the prisoner. Before
this, he would at times give way to extreme
passion, curslng every one who participated in
his trial, except his own counsel. He has been
particularly severe against Charles Hunsicker
Esq, the District Attorney, and at his request
the latter declines TO attend the execution. Dur
ing the past few days he appears to be some
what more reconciled to his fate. A few
evenings since, party of ladies and gentlemen
visited the jail and sang several pieces of sacred
music. Haddopp was so pleased with this that
he requested them to come again, and last
evening the singing party spent some time In
the corridor near his cell.
HaddOpp's Last writings.
The prisoner has written several letters, which
are to be given to certain parties and German
newspapers. letter, addressed 70 his brother
was 80 passionate and vindictive that It was not
forwarded BY the authorities, Some Of the