The New York herald., 1870-01-25
THE sCAFFoLD.
Execution Of William Kriel for the Murder
or His Wife ut L0uisyille--Ten
Thousand Persons Present.

from the Louisville Courer-Journal, Jan. 2al
william Kriel, the murderer OF his wife, paid the
penalty OF his crime upon the gallOws at half-past
one O'Clock yesterday. He underwent the trying
ordeal with extraordinary frmness ana his many
conduct on the scafl0ld 0ccaslOned general remark.
me execution took place AZ point near where Fii.
teentn street, II extended, would inteIsect "Dutch
Ditch about mile south oil Broadway. There
were ~ least ten thousand people present on tue
naa Tne Guy was empea ol Us ~
quiet Sabbath from nine O'Clock In the morning
TN me crowd returned from the execution II was
Inc biggest turnout Louisville has had for long
time, and was composed OF ali kinds and conditions
OF men, from the gray haired old man TO the infant
TnE PRISONER IN hrs CELL.
Inc prisoners brother. George krlel visited him
hm til few minutes before ne was taken out to be
hanged. This was the iIst time George had seen
him for nearly year. Two ministers ol the gospel.
fev. r.. i. PERKINS, rector OF st. Paul6, VINO has
been with kl1el I0r several months, ana Rev. Mr.
stern, pastor OF the German Reformed church on
moments were IN his Cell mnlsterlng to his spirit
ual wants durlnx the greater part OF the morning.
around ms neck lis little nc son ABOUT o1rtssa
years OF age, also visited the jail about eight
O'Clock aud renamed with dis father Little over
an hour.
AS stated yesterday Kriel was unnerved by the
reception OF the news that the Governor would not
interfere his case but during the night he became
caiIner and Slept some. Yesterday morning ne
seemed 10 nave made up ms mind to die, anu as MS
conauct aI the scanoid showed, was fully resigned
and talked with them in regard TO nus spiritual wei
iare with confidence and sincerity.
THE LAST CHANCE.
Though all endeavOrS to obtain q communication OF
the death sentence had been exhausted on the day
IN the minds Of his friends and attorneys till lew
minutes before he was taken from jail. II was ar
O'Clock, but the necessary arrangements delayed 1t
till nearly twelve Al fteen minutes past eleven the
telegraph messenger entered the jail oilice with
despatch This was expected to be respite, ana
created o profound sensation, but upon being
opened, 1t was found to be only an additional con-
1rmau0n OF the dreadful reality 1t was IN answer
to q last and linal prayer OF General Jackson for
meicy and read as follows
GEsEnAL W. L. JAoKsos--I must decline to interfere
aly informed you IN December further respite
would be granted have granted four resptes already, and
'N'''' Ne'p j. w. STEVENSON.
THIS was the last OF hope, and Krie's case was
given up forever.
THE CROWD BEFORE THE JAIL.
The crowd, which had begun 10 assemble about
the Jall as early as nine O'Clock, was now immense,
and completely blockaded Jefferson and SiXtn
reefs. A large police force was detailed tor the
purpose OF Keeping the crowd back, Dut 1t was with
dliilcuty that they could keep the rusnipg curious
crowd out OF the jail yard There not less than
5000 people there waiting Tor nouis W get gmrse
OF the prisoner
At ten minutes before twelve O'Clock Sheriff Martin,
with his dcpuues entered the cell or the doomed
the Affirmative and arose 70 have his pin.
loned. He then requested his spirtal advisers 10
accompany HIM, ana proceeded with the officers.
For some time since Blyew, tue man who Is con-
hued under sentence OF DEATH nom the United
states Courf, has occupied the same cell with Krie.
They formed close attachment for each other per-
haps from sympathy, and the grief OF Byew at
parting with nus Trend l0r the iaSt time on earth
quite overcame MIN. He wept like a child.
AS kriel came out OF MS cen the Otner prisoners
crowded around him, weeping and crying to tell han
farewell. Rev. Mr.. Perkins addressed them in few
brief but eloquent words, advising them to take
warning from This sad instance and let 1t be u re-
memorance with them forever. HIS words were
timely spoken and seemed to make deep fnprcs-
sion even upon the most hardened Of the criminals.
The jail Oice was then cleared Of ail except the
officers and members OF the press. As the prisoner
passed out many or his Ola friends extended their
nands, and he snook hands with them, bur did not
speak. kriel Is about forty-six years OF age, of
medium stature. rather heavily Knit frame, has
DARK gray eyes and light brown nalr, His coun.
tenance Is expressive or both undue passion
and amiabllity. the fierce eye and sharply
cut mouth giving performance to his pas
be at all favoraby Impressed With Krel but
close examination something Is dlscerned In his
visage Jnat cannot be called bad. When he came
out OF the jail he seemed 10 be perfectly calm and
collected, and nad evidently made up his mind as to
the reality Of ins awn iate and determined TO meet
II With courage ana resignation. He was alfred in
plain SUIT OF black, had neavy oyercoat thrown
loosely over MIS- shoulders and kept hts head bowed
low he passed our, except when greeted 10y
his friends when he would look up with forced
smue. Since his Imprisonment he has lost consider
abe flesh and his halr has become somewhat thckly
on THE WAY TO THE scAFFoLD.
A few minutes before twelve o'clock the police
cleared the jail yard and the prisoner was marched
to the conycyance, large omnibus, which stood
backed up 10 the pavement on Jefferson street In
front OF the new JAIL Sheriff Martin walked on one
side OF Kriel and Mr. Glass particular friend at
krieps request, walked on the other. He was imms
dately foOwed by his spiritual minister's tnen the re-
porters some thirteen In number, representing the
press OF Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New
Albany ana several other cities Tue deputy She
rails, ten or twelve OF them, followed. kriei was
placed in omnibus with the Sheriff aud his guard
the reporters ana several others. Rev. Mr.. Perkins
a left
both whispering occasionally IN his ear encouraging
aud advising hlni. Kriel Sat about midway OF the
omnibus on the lett hand side, with his head bowed
and often mutterng IN an undert0ne second
omnibus followed behind containing officers and
others. The police formed sond square around
the two vehicles, and In TINS manner the procession
moved down Jefferson street to Seventh out seventh
to Broadway, down Broadway TO Fifteenth, aud out
Fifteenth 70 the place OF execution IL was followed
by an eager, gaping crowd OF promiscuous persons,
all striving TO see the prisoner. Just the process
sion got under way the bell tolled for twelve O'clock
inc sound seemed to srarte Krie; he looked up
suddenly, but sank back again IN few moments.
HIS ONLY REQUEST
krlcl made only one request IN regard to his
effects, so far as known; that was to Messrs. John
Shive!y and David Needy the way to the scaffold
in the possession OF the Circuit Court, be given
his sister. The pistol IS the same with which he
committed the terrible deed which COST him his llie
AT THE 5CAFFOLD.
The great procession reached the place Of execu-
tion about one O'clock and much difnculty was ex-
perlenced III making way through the dense crowd
which had assembled around the scafr0id AT last
however an opening was made and the two omni-
buses drove up The Sner1f, with several deputies
got out and ascending the scaffod commenced pre-
parlng for the execution. Kriel In the mean
while. remained IN the vehicle closely en-
gagged IN prayer with his spiritual advisers.
They encouraged hum to bear the ordeal
manfuy, when he answered, "rlt do the best
can.n The scalfold had been erected in . broad,
open common Oh y slight elevation, 30 that the
prisoner was plainly seen by every one IN the vast
Ihrong. IL was bound on the north by the Dutch
Ditch, and this body OF water kept at least One-haf
OF the assemblage from crowdlng on the scaffOld.
The opposite bank was densely crowded with
upturned faces. IL was surprising TO sec so many
women among the spectators. There were some
young glrs--naldens OF sixteen and eigteen--young
married women with their children In their arms
women OF maturer years, and IN fact, women or all
shades. sizes, ages and descriptions. The scanod
was a rough platform constructed by the side OF u
cypresslOOking tree, one end bntiing against IT, Tho
beam was about seven feet above inc platform and
about twelve from The groulu.
AT twenty minutes past one O'Clock the Sheriff
announced that all was ready. when Kriel left
the omnibus ana advanced to tie steps OF
the scaffod Here the Sherilrs offered TO assist him
In ascending, but he ran up before them and
feachinH the platform, threw the 0yerc0at from