The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-09-05
IDAHO WORLD.
DECAPITATION.
HORRIBLE SCENES AT THE EXECUTION OF THREE GER
MAN CRIMINALS.

of three murderers, Henry Schaf1er, Pc.
ter Kopp and Francis Newman. The
crowd present consisted mostly of pris-
oners, their wives and children. But for
the scaffold the scene would have look
ed more like an American barbecue than
an execution, for all present were eat
ing, drinking, singing and chatting mer,
rily. There were on the grounds nu-
merous vendors of pies, cakes, apples
and liquors, and even an Italian with a
trained monkey attracted numbers Won
dering spectators. The executioner and
his assistants hurried somewhat rudely
to the rear of the platform. Schaffer,
herculean man with high shoulder
and very stout neck, tried to look in
different and even defiant His two
companions were evidently almost un-
manned by their terror. Their faces
looked deadly pale, and they were hard
ly able to stand on their feet AT this
moment the wretched Klein who had
been in the charge of two officers un-
der the scaffold, was led upon the plat
form. He wore the gray uniform of the
convicts, and was heavily ironed. He
was evidently terrified and shed copious
tears. After he had been placed near
the Judges, in front of the armchair,
theexecutioner approached Schatfer and
told him audibly to sit down on the
chair The old murderer stepped almost
iaurtily to it and atdown In the next
moment his hands were united, and then
his arms were fastened securely to the
chairs arms and his legs to the legs of
a chair. The doomed culprit still tried
to die game, but the sight of the vast
crowd seemed to dazzle his eyes, his
breast heaved convulsively, and his face
turned almost purple. The President
of the court now stepped forward TO
read the death warrant. Schaffer's res
piration became more and more spas
modic. He cast wistful chances toward /
the executioner, who stood near him,
and who, as soon as the priest ceased
reading, rapidly stepped up to him |.
The culprit's neck was barred When
the executioner touched his skin, Schaf-
fer gave start aud uttered low,
gurglng sound; then his eyes were
bandaged One of the assistants seiz.
ed him by the hair and drew the head
of the struggling criminal, while the
executioner took the sword from the
morocco case, poised the flashing blade
closely to theright side of the culprit's
neck, and then deliberately cut into it.
At the moment when the sharp edge cut
into his living flesh, SchaiIcr gave
convulsive start and drew up his legs;
but it was soon over, for the hcadsman's
sword passed surely, though somewhat
slowly, through the flesh and vertebrm,
with horrible sound that was audible
to a considerable distance, and shocked
the bystanders to- theirinnermost. When
the head fell off, a stream of blood rose,
perhaps, three feet into the air from the
trunk of the decapitated man. 1t was
a CHASTITY sight, every one turned pale,
while the two wretched conspirators.
who had witnessed the doom of their !
accomplish, turned white in their faces,
and cordials had to be administered to
them to prevent them from fainting {
away. Next the corpse was united,
and together with the head put into |
coffin. The blood was wiped up with '
rags, the headsman dried his sword with
a towel, and then sharpened it with u '
piece of steel. When all was ready he C
turned with an imperious gesture 10 h
Kopp, and exclaimed, "Now, you step i
this way" The unfortunate man tot u
tered to the fatal chair, more dead than t
alive, and the same proceedings were o
gone through with as before The man q
noaned audibly during the reading of
the death warrant, and when the exc c
cutioner barred his neck he began tu e
scream most piteously His yells which b
made the blood of the hearers freeze. a
lid not cease until the sharp blow Of D
he headsman cut into his living flesh t
lie gave dreadful start when he felt a
he first sharp touch Of the cold metal a
The executioner didnot cut very straight Il
or the blade came ont near the shout II
er, aud the head had to be torn off Of
newman was overpowered by it and m
ell into long swoon. Hartshorn was u
administered to him, and when he re- o.
woke to consciousness he too was led al
the fatal chair, and dispatched in the OF