San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-11-02
BEHEADLNG OF Hooded.
4 Darbayous Execution Ia GermaNy Ia the
uetiiaerdt Mode.

A BarbdTVHs Execution va GerMdWU Ia the
Netii0erdi Mode.
A Berlin correspondent of the New
York World writes as follows:
The scaffold was erected in the prison
yard, where about fifty persons, magis-
trates and lawyers, municipal officials,
military officials and members of the
notice force, besides some reporters,
were gathered. The prisoner, conduct
ed by three wardens, walked with firm
step to,the foot of the scatfold and stared
impudently around at the assemblage.
Councillor Hollmann, who was charged
with experimenting the execution, took
his place at table and read loudly the
sentence of death and death-warrant. At
the conclusion Hoedel spat upon the
ground and cried, "Bravo!" The mag
istrate now turned to tall, strongly
built man of about 30 or 35 years of age,
handsome, with small mustache and
neatly, indeed elegantly, attired in n fine
linen shirt with waistcoat and trousers
of black broad-cloth. This was Herr
Krantz, the executioner. The old heads
mar, w. Reindel, who had grown rich
through the exercise of his minor func-
lion of dog-catcher to the city, was no
longer equal to the serious labor of strik-
ing off mans head at blow, and so
PASSED over his ax--or rather dupli-
cate of his ax-to the younger man.
No such implement having been needed
for more than decade, the Department
of Justice found itself compelled to re-
sort to the Market Museum. An ak had
been ordered year ago by tie director
Of the museum, an exact duplicate of
that Reindel had employed, and which
the museum was unable to secure, owing
to the fancy price the old headsman
placed upon his weapon. This AK was
borrowed, Herr Grossmann, the cutler,
of whom one had been ordered, being
unable to get one ready in time. 1t is
Il large weapon, a good deal like butch
er's cleaver, in appearance, with very
keen, straight edge. It was ground to
the sharpness of razor the afternoon
before the execution.
Holding up the warrant that the heads
man might see the Grown Princes sig
nature, Councillor Holman said to him ::
"Note this document, and now receive
from me the tinsmith Emil Heinrich
Max Hocdel, 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 and threw
off his coat and waistcoat. At this mo-
ment the chapel-bell began tolling; he
gazed in its direction, then looked
around upon those present with an iron
ical sheer. Throwing down his braces,
Hoedel began to unbutton his shirt, but
could not unfasten one of the buttons.
One of the wardens went to his assis-
lance and turned it down beneath his
shoulders, leaving the neck and the up
per part of the breast bare. Meanwhile
two erkeepers had tied the condemn
ed mans arms and ankles. They then
carried him, pinioned and helpless, to
the block, which was of stout, hard wood,
with hollow to receive the neck, and
painted blood-red. Laying him on it
downward a strong leathern band was
fastened over the back of the head, so
that it could not be moved and clearly
defined mark was offered for the heads
mans blow.
Opening a leathern case, on which
were in gold figures "1S7S, Krantz took
out the glittering new AK, and taking his
aim with an almost imperceptible glance,
swung the weapon aloft and brought it
kissing down on the band of flesh be-
tween the leathern fastening and the
turned-back shirt. Only one blow was
needed.
The blood sprang out of the immense
wound; the neck vanished Gas it SEEM
ed, and there was left the trunk, which
twitched spasmodically few times, and
the head, which looked as if it had been
shorn off just at the chin. A very slight
contraction or movement of the skin of
the forehead was noticeable. The whole
Oneratinn lnStoI nhn,,t trvn minutes and