The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-12

Execution of Franz Joseph Won Measner
at Rochester Yesterday.
He Meets His Fate with Calm
ness and Resignation.

NSS UAau SSCSRS
ROCHESTER,, August II, 1871.
since carly morning the city has been rhronged by
the curious from all parts of the adjacent country
who have been led here by vague and unhealthy
curiosity and desire to be as near as possible to
the scene of Messner's last suffering on EARTH Men
and women, old and young, gathered In knots
ABOUT the streets, and dense crowd was packed in
me neighborhood Of the jail and without the lines
OF the soldiery Who guarded the avenues and
grounds approaching It, Longing eyes were strained
toward the gray walls. as II their vision sought to
penetrate them, and many seemed listening attel-
lively as to catch any sound from the prison yard
The guard about the jail consisted OF Companies
and OF the Fifiy-fourth regiment, NJ G. S. N. Y,
under command Of Lieutenant Colonel Baetzel,
and reported to the Sheriff for duty, from
their armory, at six o'clock A. M. The rush
of persons anxious to witness the execution has
been so great Us almost to drive the Sheriff his
onlce. and though many more were admitted than
1t was designed should be, long lists Of names OF
persons of greater or less influence were registered
at the office, some Of the parties actually
BEGGING FOR TICKETS
or special sheriff appointments. The Under Sheriff,
Mr.. Charles J. Campbell, estimated the number of
applicants at five thousand. Every effort was also
OF arrangements to be followed, but Sheriff Camp.
bell remained unninchingly silent, and no satisfac-
ton was afforded the curious AS the hour for the
execution to take place drew near the excitement
Increased, till the OR OF anxious expectancy on
every face became absolutely oppressive. Now,
however all the excitement and fever are over.
Franz Joseph Won Messner has at last gone to his
long home in the dark aud unknown land; gone
with stoical air. as one prosecuted, yet with many
evidences OF sorrow and repentance for O deed CON-
United IN moment OF ungovcrnable passion. and
with childish and complete faith In the power Of
good Father Payers prayers obtain for him for
giveness for his SINS The Old man had been taught
by three years OF suffering and by many acts OF
injustice and cruelty to have little faith in the
honesty OF individuals or the good qualities OF
masses. They had, he believed sworn falsely
against him; they had, ut later time, brutal!y and
meanly demanded In his presence that he be led TO
death at the first moment prescribed Dy his sentence
for fear writ Of error would arrive and deprive
them OF a disgusting and horrible pleasure,
and they had gambled about him AMI won or lost
their stakes, as he should keep or lose his life All
this did not make HIM love his nelghbor much.
DeDarred from human sympathy regarding all who
app cached HIM only as enemies, he turned from
man to God, and one should hope AT last finds
peace
THE CONDEMNED.
Franz Joseph Won Messner was born In the king.
dom OF Wurtemberg In 1871 He had been in this
country nearly twenty years, and came to this city
irOm Long Island IN 1851. He was OF medium height
broad shouldered. compacty built, lean and muscu.
lar. A broad belt from the forehead 10 the back of
the heas was nearly bald, the hair, which was OF a
dark brown, growing thinly. He wore heavy mus
tache, the face and chin being ceanly shaved and
showing firm, square cut Jaws He was cot a hand.
some man, nor was he In the least degree repulsve
or evll looking ana ne had evidently suffered mucn
and worked hard during long, rugged life. When
he came to the prison first he was Dr0nzed by the
sun and winds and, despite his aye, had cordOns OF
a iron Tpn In fha rfrr pho
he had passed since then the brown lnge had faded
out from his cheek and forehead and the arms had
For some months past ne claimed that his
memory was failing, and strange, buzZing
at little table cell and looked down through
tae WINDOW VITO to the grass plot front Of the
hope and what fear for some glimpse oil good Tor.
tune, some fruit OF pity, something that would stay
creeping over him Then he would sit at twil,rat
IN the window and smoke his huge German pipe
enyeioping and losing himself in the clouds OF
AN OLD DOG -EARED GERMAN BOOK,
read 1t with an intensity tnat was almost despera
tion Suddenly he would rise with a nervous
duickness, and with his eyes fixed persistently on
some distant imaginary spot would walk stupidity
across the foor or down the hail. fumbling with
arranging or disarranging some hing, anythiny
Ihis was The only outward evidence OF the
away last June. however, he grew weaker and
the forces OF nature which had hitherto borne h m
up away e refused to tax about
the efforts which 1t was rumored were being made
&c secure for him Communication OF sentence and
sel's ability to ward of the blow became less his
faith in the mercy or an alpowerful and forglving
thought can be obtained from the following letter
addressed by him 10 the Under SherifY, Charles j.
this it Will be seen that his strength and Courage
were both fast ebbng away. IL Is cOpied IiteraIiv
% tue
ling attempts to spell out English sounds would ex-
Gle smile, the mrth in them now would oe very
ghaStly In its nature.
.MEssNERs LETTER.
aoa pess oar %e for nv wdns to Won in
FOR wish you wou make sope to for Ike very wei
moch dro6le against my Nature for 70 think any
Book mos SO anal no s1w q read
Strange People who to not know. Wien was hire "a 4
Your s.S excuse me for not 'DsHs
The following postscripts were enclosed, written
on small slips OF paper
Yon plies grand Drink liquor morning for nv
mot as was som time SSo you v6 know ySa
to. r r GAhrnr1You pese and kip TIA! IoT ySqse
Yesterday visited Messner in his cell and TALKED
with him a long time. He asked me TO read the re.
port IN regard to HIM publ shed in the HERALD Of
appearance OF hts own words cer0aifm. Then ne
talked about his health and about his crime lie
memory Is pretty much all gone now; [
can't think well any more but Know chat some OF
them VINO swore against me swore iaise. Tney
swore NY ilie away ala not intend to Kill wife.
say so now, when know That must tell tue trutp
l loved my VILE and was proud or her. Yes was |
she was not pretty woman, but she was reauti-
fully iormed-asS any OF the ncghbors-and was |
proud OF her and loved her. But sne brought me |
here, and want 10 say 10 all OF you that YOU must
take warning by me and ' ~
NEVER MARRY OUT OF YOUR NATION
My wife was Irish ana was German ana Iris, |
anu German cont agree. My father has been dead |
many, many years, but remember what he told mo |
when W was young that should never marry out
Oh my own nation. Them turning to the Under
sneril, lie sald:-Mr. Campbell, you know that book
you brought me to readp IL was two years ago
1 nat DOCK was English, but 1t was true / read It
ana understood II, every word and you know what
,o.u Jou apvut IL theu. The condemned man