The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-05-16
Hanging q Maniac.
PIT1EuL ScENEs OF THE EXECUTION.

Joseph Waltz, who was hung at Cats
kill, N. T., on Friday, for the murder
OF Joseph Holshsr, scissors-griuaer
and who, on.y on tho day proceeding
his execution, mashed in tho skull Of
the keeper placed in the coil TO watch
him, was undoubtedly a maniac, a
a maniac, however, whom it woul have
been dangerous to allow at large, aud
who would have been an unsafe inmate
even for an insane asylum. In his con
fession Of the murder of Holoher he
states that his victim came to the house
of his (Waltz's) father to pass the
night. The evening was spent 10 plea
SAINT conversation, and after all had quo
to bed, young Waltz, as his confession
states, was seized with an unc ontroll
able impulse, which he took for the
prompting of an evil spirit to kill tho
German. He opened his Testament to
read, but soon laid it down and .sresisted
the spirit until it oyercame him" He
then went out of doors aud got hatche.
and crept softly into the guests room.
Another struggle Of conscience against
the murderous impulse took place, but
it vas TOO feeble and he killed the old
man in his sleep. IIo says in a subse
qusnt confession, IL struck very hard !,
but l seemed to have no strength" He
then buried the corpse, aud broke the
scissors. grinders poor apparatus to
pieces and buried and hid tho fragments.
He committed SO macy Eollies az to
attract suspicion to hiaaself, and after
he was arrested he took the officers to
the place where the body was buried,
and made voluntary confessioa of tho
crime. He felt no renaorse for what he
had done and no fear az to his own fate
Ills family were too poor to employ.able
counsel to defend hirs, saa he was 80 a.
vieted. Has execution was delayed for
some time: and Gen' Dix made some
effu,t to gain information as tn his
meutal condition. He was satisfied that
Waltz was not 80 insane ar to be moral
" irresponsible, aud therefore refuse d
to interfere with the execution of his
sentence Ga Thursday Waltz gave
another terrible proof of his homicilal
madness. He had been violent all day.
aud soma time before had threateae d
the aife of his keeper, Charles Ernest.
But tho latter did not beliov in his
insanity aud did not fear his violence :,
His confidence proved bis rain, Ger
about two o'clock, as he was lying on a
lounge in the cell, Waltz attacked him
with au iron bar he had torn from tho
floor aud crushed his skull in nevoral
places. He possessed himself Of tho
victims revolver and keys, but made no
effort to escape. Having gratified his
murderous impulse, he sat down on the
floor in the corner, growing and mutter
ing like q wild beast. He made no
resistance to the jaiscrs who came ia and
chained him, With tardy decision aud
sagacity. Ernest was general favorits
r. the village, and there was mom en-
'ary attempt to lynch his slayer, but the
Sheriff succeeded in preventing it:
Up to the moment the execution.
the conduct of the doomed man did NO.
differ from what it had been since he
was first arrested. He muttered, or
rather growled, and most Of the time ho
was crouched silently in corner. He
stared vacantly at his keepers, and
would answer no questions. At 0
o'clock his mother was led into his cell
II was thought that she might bring
him to consciousness of his position
but those who held this belief were dis
appointed. For few minutes after sh 0
entered he continued gazing at the wall.
His expression 1aa then that of an utter
idiot. and lacked even the slightest gleam
Of intelligence. Suddenly, aud without
relaxing his gaze at the wall, he gave q
fierce, hoarae howl, pprang to his feet
and seized his mother by the hand in a
threatening a,auncr. Tho officers bad
anticipated mischief, and Constable
Whitcomb, who was watching the pri
sonor's movements, forced him to ZOOS
his hold on hi IS mother, and the lady at
once retired, grief-stricken at her son $
sad condition.