The New York herald., 1879-07-04
Execution Of Nimrod Spattenhube for
the Murder of John Ivison.
A LOVE TRAGEDY.
Sad End of Young German Emigrant's
Career in America.
r E AID Y TO DIE.
[pr TELEGRAPH TO THE HEpA1pI

=
LEBANON Pa. July 3, 1872
Nimrod spsttenhuber. young German. who was
twenty yoars of age May Is last. was hanged
by the Sheriff in the Jail yard of this quiet little
borough to-day before quite crowd of people. Two
years ago Spattenhuber arrived in this country full
of life. hope aud ambition His home had been in
Nieder-Staetten. wirtemburg. Germany. where he
was born and had with q fair education learned the
trade of brewer. The story of Spartenhuber's
crime is love tragedy in the lower walks
Of life. When he arrived in America he met
with misfortune that is common to many young
Germans. Jovia and idle companions led him
astray. His exhuberant Imagination had pictured
America land OF plenty. where money could almost
be picked up from the streets. In this he was dis
appointed He went on a tramp and finally appeared
here in Lebanon in the autumn of 1877 Here he
the first and only young woman he ever loved
in America. Her name Kate Harp. She was
comely and industrious. just Jwenty-one years Of
age and with very pleasant manners. She the
stepdaughter of one Kleinsmith, German junk
dealer here. Spattenhuber sought and obtained
employment from Kleinsmith. and finally the
affection ripened into ardent love between himself
and Miss Harp. who returned the feeling with all the
ardor of most intense passion. new life opened
to spattenhuber and he was prepared to settle down
to actual business with q view of making q man Of
himself.
LOVE AND JEALOUSY.
A cloud, however, arose and obscured the horizon
of his happiness. John Ivison. alias John Nivergau,
friend of the Kleinsmith family. He had been
absent for q time business. He was
suitor for Kate Harp's heart and hand.
but Kate did not love him. She said
Ivison was old enough to be her father. He was
forty-fve and she but twenty-one. When Ivison
learned that new had appeared on the scene he
became exceedingly jealous, and when he knew that
Kate returned the young Germans love he became
very unhappy. Kate Harp never loved Ivison. but
this did not deter him from making her numerous
presents and in many other ways manifesting most
tender regard for her. Spattenhuber was poor and
afraid that Ivison would succeed in inducing her
stepfaher not only to control Kate in Visions favor
but to discharge spattenhuber.
A LOVERS TRAMP.
The young lovers put their heads together and
they resolved to leave home. They had no means to
travel by rail and money to invest in a marriage
certificate. They resolved to be man and wife, how
ever. and their bridal trip by pike and dusty
highway. Their love in barns and wayside inns
made them happy as if they dwelt in palace
cars and the best hotels. They absent
four months and when they returned to Leb-
anon Kate's family had removed to Harrisburg
along with Ivison. The young couple then took
rooms at q cheap lodging house kept by Harry Peo-
pies. in this borough. Shortly after their arrival
deputed him to bring her to Harrisburg; that the
young couple were not married and that the best
thing Kate could do WAS to go home. She at once
refused. spattenhuber greatly incensei at this
and he told Ivison to go home and attend to his
business.
DIPLOMACY AND HOMICIDE
Ivison was determined to have the young woman
and determined to make Spattenhuber drunk in
order that having thus humiliated him he might
induce Kate to desert him. On the night of Decem-
Der 70. 1878, Ivison, Spattenhuber aud Peoples
together in the atters barroom. They drank great
deal Of whiskey together and finally fvison drop
o remark that insulted Shattenhuber, but quickly
perceived his and made an effort to rectfy it,
Spattenhuber was drunk and would not accept
Ivison 8 explanation. Words led to blows, and when
the conflict was over John Ivison dropped to the
floor mortally wounded. He had been stabbed
eral times in the abdomen with caseknife. Ivison
died almost immediately. and spattenhuber was
that inflicted by Ivison with wooden chair.
MURDER.
He was penniiess and friendless. Counsel was as.
signed to him by the Court. Spxatenhuber could
not understand word Of English. Kate Hart was
allowed to testify before the Grand Jury, but in
court. She could not tell the fury OF the jealous
disposition of Ivison and how he had followed
up and bounded her lover from the very start
of their courtship. January IL, after
ballots. Spatenhuber found guilty of murder in
the first degree contrary to general expectation On
the first ballot ve of the jurymen in favor of
verdict Of guilty of murder In the second degree.
Counsel for Spattenhuber Immediately filed reasons
for trial. claiming that Spattenhuber did not
kill Ivison with malice premeditation; that 1t
the result of brawl; that Ivison first assaulted
self defence.
SENTENCE AND RKpRrEvE. ~
motion for new trial overruled, and the
young German lover sentenced to death. Gov
ernor Hoyt issued warrant naming June the
day OF execution The gallows was erected and the
telegram sent to the Governor signed by
District Attorney Adams. who prosecuted and
convicted Spattenhuber. stating that there
sufficient reasons TO grant rcpreve in order that
the might be brought before the Board of Par.
dons. Governor Hoyt at once granted thirty day
reprieve, this received the jail while the
condemned man was receiving his last attentions
from Father Kuhlman, the attending priest. The
crowd dispersed and the gallows taken down.
VAIN EFFORTS TO SAVE A LIFE.
number of lawyers appeared before the Pardon
Board. but they could accomplish nothing. An ad-
ditional and voluntary affidavit was presented.
sworn to by woman of Lebanon. declaring that
ened cut the heart out of Ivison. This virtually
decided the and the Board refused to do any
thing. w. NJ. Derr. leading lawyer here then went
the Supreme Court. in session ut Harrisburg. and
made final effort. but could not accomplish any
thing.
When this made known to the prisoner
q few days ago he simply said he was prepared to
die He heard of his first reprievc with smile, and
he received the final decision that he must die.
He was weak. pale and emacated. The Sisters of st.
Joseph were unremtting in their attentions as was
Father Kuhlman. Spattenhuber made many friends
in the jail. A few DAYS ago he was interviewed by
the HERALD correspondence and he very earnest
and sincere in expressing himself the effect that
he guilty of murder In the first degree; that
what he did he provoked to do by Ivison: that
they had fight andtha lvison struck first lie add
m.tted that possibl )somc time before the tragedy
he might have said that he would Kill Ivison II he
did not stop interfering with him and his love.
But. said the young German, that was said
many other things said by young men in the
heat of passion who romantic in their love
affairs"
HOURS.
Yesterday and the day before Spat,enhuber was in
very good spirits. He resigned to his fate, and
he mingled innoccntly a child among his fell
low prisoners. He went so far to lead in
song and chorus of the Fatherland with few of
his fellow Germans in Jail. Remembering that he
would not be ON earth on July 4. he asked
Sheriff Deininger for pack of Chinese
frecrackers. With these little explosives he
amused himself yesterday in the Jail yard
occupying the spot upon which his gallows
was erected this morning. He bade many OF the
prisoners goodby and then retired to his cell. At
fve o clock he seated himsclfeat small table and
wrote q letter TO his love- 1t was In German and IL
was the last letter he wrote earth. When he had
finished he handed IL to the Sherif's son. IL was
addressed 'sTo my beloved Kate" He ate q light