The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-05-16
Hanging a Haniac.
P1rrruL sorsEs OF THE EXECUTION

Joseph Waltz, who was hung at Cats
kill, N. Y, on Friday. FOR the murde,
OF Joseph Holehsr, seissors-griuaer
and who, only on the day proceeding
his execution, mashed in tho skull Of
tho keeper placed in tho cell to watch
him, was undoubtedly q maniac, q
maniac, however, whom it woul have
been dangerous to allow at large, aud
who would have been IN unsafe inmate
even for an insane asylum. In his con
fession of the murder of Holcher he
states that his victim came to the house
of his (Waltz's) father to pass the
night. The evening was spent in plea
SAINT conversation, and after all had g,uo
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 the
German. He opened his Testament to
read, but soon laid it down and "resisted
the spirit until it oyercame him." He
then went cut of doors aud got hatohet
and crept softly into the guests reon,.
Another struggle Of conscience against
the murdorous impulse took place, but
it vas eoo feeble and he killed the old
man in his sleep. IIo says iu subse
quent confession, Il struck very hard !,
but 1 aeemed to have no strength" He
then buried the corpse, aud broke the
scissors. grinders poor apparatus to
pieces and buried and hid the fragments.
Ho committed SO naay 6ollies as to
attract suspicion to hisaself, and after
he wah arrested he took the officers to
the place ! where the body was buried,
and made voluntary confession of tho
crime. He felt no Ferorse for what he
had done and no fear az to his own fate.
II I f==l9aJe ==sllsJ VeFo too peor to employable
counsel TO defend 5hisa, and ks was Dos
vieted. His execution was delayed for
some time: and Gen'l Dix made some
esfolt to gain information as tn his
freutal condition. He waa satisfied that
Waltz was not so insane AZ to be moral
ay irresponsible, aud therefore refuse d
to interfere with the execution of his
seateuce- On Thursday Waltz gave
another terrible proof of his holnicilal
madness. Ho had been violent all day.
aud somo time before Had threateae d
the life of his keeper, Charles Ernest.
Bot tho latter did not believe in his
insanity aud did not fear Ills violence i.
HIS confidence proved bis ruin, for
about two o'clock, ac he was lying on a
lounge in tho cell, Waltz attacked him
with an iron bar he had torn from the
floor aad crushed his Bkull in aevoral
places. He possessed himself Of the
victims revolver aud keys, but made no
effort to escape. Having gratified his
murderous impulse, he sat down on the
floor iu tho corner, growing and muttor
ing like wild beast. He made no
resistance to the jaisers who came in and
chained him, with tardy decision aud
sagacity. Ernest was general favorits
Is the village, and there was mom en-
tary attempt to lynch his slayer, bat the
Sheriff succeeded in preventing it:
Up to the moment o f the execution,
the conduct Of the doomed man did not
differ from what it had been since he
was frat arrested. He muttered, or
rather growled, and most of the time ho
was crouchad 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
It 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 was then that of an utter
idiot, and lacked even the slightest gleam
Of intelligence. Suddenly, and without
relaxing his gaze at the wall, he gave .
fierce, hoarae howl, apraug to his feet
and seized his mother by the hand in a
threatening a,aunor. Tho officers had
anticipated mischief, and Constable
Whitcomb, who was watching the pri
sonor's movements, forced him to loos
his hold on his mother, and the lady at
once retired, grief-stricken at her aon 8
sad condition.
tTha most nitifll snnna Of tha dau