The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-09-26
THE BEHEADING OF HOEDEL.
A Barbarous Execution in Germany in the
Medieval Mode.

Berlin Cor. New York WorId.1
The scaffold was erected in the prison
yard, where about fifty persons, magis-
trates and lawyers, municipal officials.
military officials and members of the
police force, beside some reporters. were
gathered. The prisoner, conducted by
three wardens, walked with firm step
to the foot of the scaffold and stared
impudently around at the assemblaee.
Councillor Holman, 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 80 or 35 years of
age, handsome, with q small mustache,
and neatly, indeed elegantly, attired in
fine linen shirt, with waistcoat and
trousers of black broadcloth. This was
Herr Krantz, the executioner. The old
headsman, W. Reindel, who had grown
rich through the exercise of his minor
function of dog-catcher to the city, was
no longer equal to the serious labor of
striking off mans head at blow, and
so passed over his ax-or rather a du-
plicate of his ax-to the younger man.
No such implement having been needed
for more than a decade, the Department
OF Justice found itself compelled to re-
sort to the Market Museum. An ak had
been ordered year ago by the 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 heads
man 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 large weapon, good deal like a
butchers cleaver in appearance, with q
very keen, straight edge. It was ground
to the sharpness of razor the afternoon
before the execution.
Holding up the warrant that the
headsman might see the Grown Princes
signature, Councillor Holman said to
him:
"Note this document, and now re-
ceive from me the tinsmith Emil Helm
rich Max Hoedel, delivered to you to be
beheaded."
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 it's direction, then looked
around upon those present with an
ironical sheer. Throwing down his
braces, HOedel began to inhibition his
shirt, but could not unfasten one of the
buttons. One of the wardens went to
his assistance and turned it down be-
meath 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, hard wood, with a hollow to re-
ceive 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-defned mark was
offered for the headsman's blow.
Opening a leathern case, on which
were in gold figures 1878, 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 between the leathern fastening and
the tulrned-back shirt. Only one blow
was needed. The blood spurng out of
the immense wound; the neck vanished
Gas it seemed), and there was left the
trunk, which twitched systematically a
few times, and the head which looked
as if it had been shorn off just at the
chin. A very slight contraction OF
movement of the forehead was notice
able. The whole operation lasted about
two minutes and half A coffin was
brought out, into which the still-bleed-
ing remains were pitched. It was placed
in hole already dug in a corner of the
prison-yard. The earth was filed in
and all was over.
Journalism for Women.
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