The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-03-15
Execution Mt Huntington.

of Gotlieb Bonner and Albert Won Bor-
dcnburg for the murder of the Peightal
family on the evening of Nov. 18th.
There were four hundred people in the
Jail yard to witness the execution. a
large number OF prominent men were in
town from the surrounding countless
The people in the jail yard were placed
behind the scafold; the representatives
Of the press and the jury occupied posi-
tions in front of the scaffold, Every
thing was in readiness for the execution
at half-past eleven, the jury sworn, and
the positions assigned. At five minutes
of twelve the Sheriff mounted the scat
fold, and ordered that no one should get
on the wall under penalty Of being shot.
He had previously given orders to his
deputies to shoot the first man who DISC
beyed his orders in this matter. But re-
gardless of those orders, however, some
persons mounted the wall, and only left
when threatened with being shot if they
remained. The hill in She rear Of the
prison was packed with human beings to
the number Of at least three thousand
The scaffolding, which was erected on
each side of the wall was crowded. An
old barn overlooking the yard was bored
full of auger holes, which the entcrpri-
sing proprietor rented out at one or two
dollars IA hole
At seven minutes after twelve Sheriff
Nicely, accompanied by the Deputy Sher-
if, went into the cells with stakes and
ropes to bind them, and the irons were
taken off, When this was done Borden
burg said, Blessed God, all free"
They were bound with cords, and a
stake run through their arms, what is
called bucking. Before the prisoners
were brought out the Sheriff again mount
ed the scatfold and requested order from
those present, and stated that he required
implicit obedience.
The condemned went up to the gallows
without showing any trepidation. They
were, however assisted to mount. Boh-
ner occupied the left side of the gallows,
facing the JAIL and Van Bordenburg the
right. The former had left his hat be-
hind, but the latter wore his. After Sc
curing their positions the Sheriff and
Deputy Sheriff proceeded to tie their legs.
which was done in two places. On the
scaffold were the four clergymen, Sheriff
and Deputy Sherifs, and the condemned
Prayer was offered by Prof. Sykes, Of
Martinsburg in the German language
Everything was now in readiness tol
the final act. The clergymen left the
soaffold, and none remained upon it bu
the Sheriff and one assistant.
They now stepped forward, and th'
ropes were were placed around theirneck
and drawn tightly. AS this was being
done Van Bordenburg calculated Oh
Lord Jesus Christ, am going now.
am going to Thee now forgive my sins
and take my poor soul up into Heaven
The Amen was responed to by the clergy
men as they were leaving the scaffold.-
The black caps were placed on their heads
AS this was being done Won Borden
burg thanked the Sheriff for his kind
ness, sent his respects to his wife, anC
trusted he would meet him in Heaven
Bohner also sent his resepcts to tht
Sheriff's wife. The deputies left tn,
gallows leaving the Sheriff with the con
demned
A perfect silence now reigned in tn,
prison inclosure, and all were awaiting
: the end. 1t soon came. The Sheriff il
minute gave the signal, the prop was
knocked from under the staging by th'
Deputy Sheriff, and in an instant tn,
two culprits were swinging in mid air
The drop fell at exactly twenty minutes
Of one.
f Neither of them struggled to any ex
tent, and then only about two minutes
1t was evident that both died easy deaths
After they had been hanging five min
utes, the physicians in attendance exam
: ined their pulses and pronounced then
} not dead. After they had hung five min
' utes longer the physicians stated that Val
Bordenburg was dead and in four min
: utes more Bohner's spirit had also fed.
' After hanging twenty-five minutes thei
/ bodies were cut down and placed in tw
l black pine collins, ready to. receive them
! During one Of the last prayers, one o
the scafolds broke down, carrying with