The Morning herald., 1878-09-13
THE HEADSMAN'S AXE.
THE BARBARoUS MANNER IN WHICH
HOEDEL WAS BEHEADED.

HoEDEL WAS BEHEADED.
The correspondent Of the New York
World writing from Berlin, thur describes
the mode which Germany used to punish
Hoedel for attempting to take the Emper-
or's life.
The prisoner, conducted by three war
dens. walked with firm step to the foot
of the scafold and stared impudently
around at the assembly. Councillor Holl-
mann, who was charged with supeIintend-
ing the execution, took his place at a ta-
BILE and read loudly the sentence Of death
and death-warrant.
At the conclusion Hoedel spat upon the
ground and cried, "Bravo" The,hagistrate
now turned to tall, strongly built man
about thirty.fve years of age, handsome,
with small mustache and neatly, and
indeed elegantly, attired in a fine linen
shirt with waiscoat and trousers of black
broadcloth. This was Herr Krantz, the
executioner.
The old headsman, w. Reindel, who
had grown rich through the exercise o.
his minor function of dog-catcher to the
city, was not longer equal to the serious
labor of striking off a mans head at a
blow, and so passed over his axe-or rath-
er a duplicate of his axe-to the younger
man.
No such implement having been needed
for more than decade, the department Of
justice found itself compelled to resort to
the Market Museum. An axe had been
ordered year ago by the director Of the
museum, an exact duplicate of that Rein
del had employed, and which the museum
was unable to secure, owing to the fancy
price the old headsman placed upon his
weapon.
This axe was borrowed, Herr Grossman,
the cutler, of whom one had been ordered;
being unable to get one ready in time; it is
large weapon, good deal like butchers
cleaver in appearance, with very keen,
straight edge. 1t was ground to the sharp
ness Of a razor the afternoon before the
execution.
Holding up the warrant that the heads
mar might see the Crown Princes sigma
ture, Councillor Holman said to him:
"Note this document, and now receive
from me the tinsmith, Emil Heinrich Max
Hocdel, delivered to you to be beheaded'
"Come this way" said the headsran to
Hoedel, who ran lightly up the steps lead,
ing to the platform and threw off his coat
aud waisceat. At this moment the chapel
bell began tolling; he gazed in its direc-
ton, then looked round upon those pres
ent with an ironical sneer.
Thowing down his braces, Hoedel began
to unbutton his sshirt, but could not unfas.
ten one of the buttons. One of the war.
dens went to his assistance aud turned it
down beneath his shoulders, leaving the
neck and the upper part of the breast bare
Meanwhile two other keepers had tied
the condemned mans arms and ankles.
They then carried him, pinioned and
helpless, to the block, which was of stout
hardwood, with hollow TO receive the
neck, and painted blood-red. Laying
him on it face downwards, strong leath-
ern band was fastened over the back of
the bead, so that it could not move, and
clearly y>defned mark was offered for the
9Radsman's blow.
Opening leathern case, on which were
in gold the figures 1878' Krantz took out
the glittering new axe, and taking his aim
with an almost imperceptible glance,
swung the weapon and brought it Kissing
down on the band of flesh between the
leathern fastening and the turned-back
shirt. Only one blow was needed. 4
The blood sprang out OF the immense
wound; the neck vanished ESQ it seemed
and there was left the trunk, which
twitched spasmodically few times, and
the head, which looked as if 1t had been
shorn off just at the chin. A very slight
contraction or movement of the skin of the
skin of the forehead was noticed. ''
The whole operation lasted about two
minutes and a half A coffin was brought
out, into which the still bleeding remains
were pitched; it was placed in a hole all
ready dug in a corner of the prison yard;
the earth was filed in and all was over.
THE Frederick Daily Times states that
on Saturday evening last Miss Lester,
about II years Of age, daughter of an EN-"