The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-09-19
BEHEADING H0EDEI,,
DEITIfO fOFTIEE EMPEROR'S WO ULD-
BE LlSS-ISSIN.

Notified Of His Doom First Frightened
Then De1ant--The Fatal AXo--A Neat
Stroke Tho Mediaoval Modo Of Pun
lshment Which Germany Usos For
State OffenseS.
BERLIN, August 20.-Hoedcl's exe-
cution was something quite out of
the common, even for Berliners,
Not since February, 1865, when
Louis Grothe, q young man who
with his mistress and his mother
had hacked in pieces and thrown
into the river q French teacher
named Gregy, was executed, had
the axe fallen on Il guilty wrctch's
nock-at the capital, that is, for
there were Il few executions in the
provinces. The old Empcror's in
variable practice was to commute
the sentence when death warrant
was handed to him, and ho would
havo spared Hoedels life had not
tho Grown Prince and Prince Won
Bismarck pressed him to remember
that clemency here might encourage
Socialist assassins elsewhere as well
as in Germany.
1t was on tho afternoon of Thurs-
day that Hoedel, who occupied q
cell in the city prison, was informed
that the law was to take it's course.
He bit his lips and turned deadly
pale then muttcrcd to II keeper
who stood by him, "They'ro only
trying to brighton mo-" "Not SO"
said tho keeper ''that's really your
death sentence" He asked to be
allowed to write IN appeal for
mercy, but was told that it WAS too
late; then he asked that he might
be executed Oh the krcuzberg, a
well known hill in the suburbs,
associated with the revolutionary
proceedings of 1S48. He was told
that he might ordor for his comfort
whatever ho pleased, but lie declined
to avail himself of the privilege Of
"the headsman's banquet" us it is
called, though Qor the first time
since his incarceration) he asked
for cigars; subsequently he took n
bottle of wine and some beer.
At $50, p. M, the condemned
man was removed in a prison van to
the penitentiary ut Moabit, in the
northwestern suburbs, and lodged
in strong coll. The Lutheran
chaplain, DR.. Hcinickes, accompanied
him and passed most Of the night
chatting with him. Chatting is the
proper word, for whenever the pas
tor attempted to turn tho conversa-
lion towards religious subjects
Hoedel interrupted him rllely.
The condemned man spoke very
freely, while smoking "Had L
been placed under other circum-
stances" ho said, II might not have
como to this; brought up different
ly I might have boon another man" )"
Then he added: 81 must play out
my part to the end as l 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
when he thrust his cigar into his
mouth. "You are free to do SO if
you wish" said the Clergyman, 'but
I would rather you would not take
that cigar with you" every we'll,
I won't, then," said Hoodel, eff it's
any pleasure to you"
The scaffold was erected in the
prison yard, where about fifty per-
sons, magistrates and lawyers,
municipal officials, military officials
and members of tho police force,
besides somo reporters, were gath
cred. The prisoner, conducted by
three wardens, walked with q firm
step to the foot Of the scaffold and
stared impudently around at the
assembly. Councillor Holman,
who was charged with suporintend-
ing the execution, took his place at
o table and read loudly the SEN.
tence of death and the death warrant.
At the conclusion Hoeael spat upon
the ground and cried, "Bravo !"
The magistrate now turned to
toll, strongly built man, about thirty
or thirty-fve years of age, hand
some, with small mustache and
neatly, indeed elegantly, attired in q
fine linen shirt with waistcoat and
trousers of black bloadcloth. This
r ~