The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-12
:.
A Horrible GaH0ws Scene.

FRANCIS Ept was hanged at Coshocton,
Ohio, a few days ago, for the murder, in
November last, of Abraham Wortheinler.
The Cincinnati Enquirer gives the follow
ing account of the horrible incidents at
tending the execution:
Just as the bells in the church steeples
tollcd one Ept stepped out of lis cell. His
bands were shackled with handouts, and
he walked with firm, steady tread.
Sheriff Lennon had hold of him bv the
elbow, but he had need of no assistance,
and he walked up the steps leading to the
galloWs platform far steadier than many
man has walked to the marriage altar.
Father Epping followed close behind him,
chanting in low tone the prayers for the
dying. After standing on the platform
few moments, both knelt down and fin
ished the prayer. The good priest then
stepped aside, and Sheriff Lennon, ad.
vancing, said to Ept: "Have you any,
thing to say?' " Nothing" was the re-
Spouse: "Nothingy" interrogated the
Sheriff, and Ept shook his head. He was
then placed on the door of the trap and
the work OF pinioning his arms and legs
was commenced. At this moment every
man present seemed as white as sheet,
and not one there but was far more agitat-
w eAioii eAiO man oNC1 " liOSC uCttll CuUC
OF eternity was fast drifting 1t took fully
three minutes to pinion the diving wraci,
and yet in that time he never ;evincedAy
culver of lip, tremor of muscle or blanch
of cheek, the slightest emotion. Like
clay in the hands Of the potter, he stood in
the hands of the Sheriffs. AS soon as he
was strapped securely the fatal moose was
lifted from a peg on the wall, where it had
been hanging, and its removal caused
the rope to slacken and. touch Ept on
the cheek. Sheriff Lennon, after a
couple of attempts, placed the moose over
Epts head, and he, by raising his chin
and moving his head, helped the Sheriff
in his work. AT this low murmur of
half admiration: for this exhibition of
pluck ran over the crowd, and exclanla-
lions Of SAINT he gamep,', were heard
The next moment the fatal black cap shut
out daylight forever from the vision of tile
murderer, and second later, or precisely
seven minutes: past one, the trap was
sprung and Francis Ept was dangling in
the air. All held their breaths for mo-
ment; some faint at heart turned their
faces away from the CHASTITY sight just
then low moan was heard issuing from
Ept's breast, and in a second later his
piercing cries of anguish filled the air
The moose slipped around in such man
ner that its knot was over the hanging
mans chin, and the fall not having brok en-
his neck, but merely for a moment stunned
him, he was now, amid the agony Of death,
crying for relief, Let me 60, let me go!''
he shouted in German, "Oh, have mercy
on me, oh, have mercy on me! Oh God,
the Father, have mercy on me!' ooh,
let me go, let me gOv' ooh, Mother of
God, help me!' Father Epping, Gu,
the rope and let nle go!,' Cries of horror
sprang' from the audience while the
Sheritts and Father .Epping ran to the
edge of the scatfold platform. ."Shoot
him and put him out OF his misery" sug.
gested a by-stander. " Oh, shoot f;ine
shoot mer' calculated Ept, who was nov
fully sensible; II was ten. =. wears ;
soldier; shoot me, and don't hans
me like a dog.' pull him up!'
said one Of the Sheriffs. Two strong mc1
seized hold Of the rope and draggcl
the dangling victim, hand over hand t.
the platform. Here he was placed in :;
chair, while his cries, means and plea:
for mercy would have melted the heart o
stone. Courage, my son, said Fathel
Epping; think Of the suferings Of oul
Redeemer, and be man. '.Oh, Father
Epping, for Gods sake cut the rope anc
save me-" prayed the quivering wretch
Thus he cried until the trap had been re
adjusted, and then he was again lifted Oh
to it. Now his nerves were unstrung, a.
we'll they might be, and he was almost a.
a rag. He never ceased begging fo
mercy, and, in the midst of one Of hi
cries, the trap was sprung, and this tim,
the work was effectively DONE His or,
for help was cut short by a quick snap
that indicated that his neck had dislocated
and, after swinging to and fro like hl
man pendulum, slight tremor passe(
over his body, and the, soul Of Franco
Ept was with its Maker. Drs. johnson
and 1ngraham made examinations of hi
pulse every few minutes, and in twenty
three minutes. life was pronounced extinct
and he was lowered on the mattress. Thu
Coroner thentook charge of the body, an,
found that the neck had been broken. y; :.
Ept's character was that of mean, low
cruel man, as his killing of his benefacto
showed. Should. any other evidence b
wanted to substantiate this statement tn
following will suffice: On the 6tli Of las
February he deliberately took a petpig
con belonging to Sheriff Lemons it'll
son, and roasted it alive in hot stow,
merely because it afforded pleasure t.
some of his fellow prisoners.