The daily gazette., 1878-09-13
The Bsheadiog Of Hoeds| ,
A Barbarous Execution of a Bar
barous Criminal.
A MEDIEVAL MODE OF pttNIsytmrNr
WHICH GERMANY USES FOR
STATE oFFENsEs.

ueoo al" Ills ihotner llau hacked Ill pieces
and thrown into the river French teach
er named Gregy, was executed, had the
axe fallen on guilty wretch's neck-at
the capital, that is, for there were few
executions in the provinces. The old
emperors invariable practice was to COM
mute the sentence when death warrant
was handed 10 him, and lie would
have spared Hoedel's life hail not the
crown prince and Prince Won Bismarck
pressed him 10 remember that clemency
here might encourage the socialist assas-
sins elsewhere as well as in Germany.
1t was on the afternoon of Thursday
that Hoedel, who occupied cell in the
city prison, was informed that the law
was to take its course. He bit his lips
and turned deadly pale then muttered
to keeper who stood by him, "They're
only trying to frighten me-" "Not so,"
said the keeper; ''that's really your
death sentence" He asked to be allow
ed to write an appeal for mercy, but was
told that 1t was too late; then he asked
that he might be executed on the Kreuz-
berg, well-known hill in the suburbs,
associated with revolutionary proceed
ings of 1S4S. He was told that he might
order for his comfort whatever he pleases,
but he declined to avail himself of the
privilege of "the headsman's banquet"
as it is called, though (for the first time
since his incarceration) he asked for ci-
gars subsequently he took bottle of
wine and some beer.
AT $3.50 p. N. the condemned man was
removed in prison-van to the peniten-
tiary at Moabit, in the northwestern sub
urbs, and lodged in strong cell. The
Lutheran chaplain, DIR. Heinickes, ac-
companied and passed most of the night
chatting with him. Chatting is the prop
er word, for when the pastor attempted
to turn the conversation towards religious
subjects Hoedel interrupted him rudely.
The condemned man spoke very freely,
while smoking. "Had been placed mn
der other circumstances" he said, 81
might perhaps not have come to this !;
brought up differently might have been
another man." Then he added: 81 must
play out my part to the end as began
it." Towards morning he fell asleep
and was sleeping soundly when, at $50
he was awakened-to die. Hardly was
he prepared for the scaffold than he
thrust his cigar in his mouth. "You are
free to do so if you wish," said the clergy
man, ''but l would rather you did not
take the cigar with YOU" "Very well,
won't them" said Hoedel, off it's any
pleasure to YOU"
The scatfold was erected in the prison
yard, where about fifty persons, magis.
trates and lawyers, municipal officials
military and members of the police force
besides some reporters, were gathered.
The prisoner, conducted by three war
dens, walked with firm step to the foot
of the scaffold and stared impudently
around at the assembly. Councillor Holl.
mann, who was charged with superin
tending the execution, took Misplace at {
table and read loudly the sentence OF
death and death warrant. At the con
clusion Hoedel spat upon the ground anC
| cried, "Bravow The magistrate now
turned to tall, strongly built man abou
| thirty or thirty five years of age, hand
some, with a small mustache, and neatly
indeed elegantly, attired in fine line 1
shirt, with waistcoat aud trousers of blaci
broadcloth. This was Herr Krantz, tn,
executioner. The old headsman, w
Reindel, who had grown rich through
1
catcher to the city, was no longer equa
| to the serious labor of striking off a man'
head at blow, and SO passed over hi,
axe-or rather duplicate of his axe-tt
the younger man. No such implimen
having been needed for more than a de
cade, the department of justice found it
self compelled to resort to the Marke
| Museum. An axe had been ordered
year ago by the director OF the museum
an exact duplicate of the axe Reindel hat
employed, and which the museum wa!
| unable to secure, owing to the fame,
price the old headsman placed upon hi
weapon. This axe was borrowed, Herr
Grossman the cutler, of whom one hal
been ordered, being unable to Get ont
ready in time it is large weapon,a goot
deal like butchers cleayer i'll appear
ance, with very keen, straight edge. IL
was ground to the sharpness of a razor
the afternoon before the execution.
| Holding up the warrant that thu
headsman mi ght see the crown princes
signature, Councillor Holman said tt
him:
| "Note this document and now receive
from me, the tinsmith Emil Heinrich
Max Hoedel, delivered to you to be be
| headed"
"Come this way, said the headsman
to Hoedel, who ran lightly up the three
steps leading to the PLATFORM anu threN
off his coat and waistcoat. AT this mo
] ment the chapelbell began tolliDg ht
| eazed i'll It's direction, then looked ount
upon those present with an ironica
sneer. Throwing down his braces, Hoe
del Ii gan to unbutton his shirt, but coult
not unfas ten one of the buttons. One o
the wardens went to his assistance ant
turned it down beneath his shoulders
leaving the neck and the upper part o
the breast bare. Meanwhile two othel
keepers had tied the condemned mans
arms and ankles. They then carried him
pinioned and helpless, to the block, which
was of stout, hard wood, with hollow t.
receive the neck, and painted blood-red
Iaying him on it face DOWNWARD,
strong leathern band was fastened ovel
the back OF the head so that 1t could no
he moved, and a clearly defined mari
was offered for the headsman's axe.
| Opening leather case, on which were
IN gold the figures "1S7S," Krantz tool
ouT the glittering new axe, ana takinf
his aim, with an almost imperceptloit
lplance, swung the weapon alott and
brought it Kissing down upon the pahe
lof flesh between the leathern fastening
land the tdrned- back shirt. Only on'
Ihlow was needed. The blood sprang on
of the immense wound; the neck van
isbed $50 it seemed) and there was LET
ltbe trunk, which twitched spasmodlcail,
faxy times, and the head, which looked
Las IF II had been shorn off just at the chm
ton. or