Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-29
AN AUSTRIAN EXECUTION.
Pulling the Condemned Man by tn
Heels t. Tighten the Rope.

The Vienna correspondent OF the Lon
don Daily Telegraph gives an account Of
the execution of sponga and the other
murderers OF Chief Justice Majlath, which
shows a somewhat peculiar method Of
dispOsing of condemned criminals. Sixty
persons were allowed TO witness the exc
cution, which took place in q small court
yard inside the prison. Three posts about
eight feet high and four feet apart were
erected in the centre. At the top of each
post was a small hook, and at the bottom
pulley. The three men were brought
out at ! precisely and placed each with
his back against one Of the posts. They
were not blindf0lded. Each Of them was
attended By a priest. In front Of them
the troops and spectators formed an irreg-
ular semi-circle, while in the centre stood
the. Judges of the last Court Of Appeal, in
ordinary morning dress. Some little time
was occupied by the reading Of the SEN
tence, a most unnecessary formality
which had been gone through already in
presence Of the three criminals the preyi-
GUS day at the Court Of Appeal. On sig
nal given by the public prosecutor the ex-
ecutiOn was then proceeded with.
SpOnga, who was placed to the left, was
the first to suffer the penalty OF the law.
Two steps were placed at the foot Of the
post, which the convict was hidden to
mount, his hands being then pinioned to
his left thigh. He looked pale, but kept
his nerve and asked pardon of the Majlath
family and Of the authorities. A screen
Of wood was put between him and the two
others, after which the chief eXecutoner
mounted a ladder and. taking out Of his
pocket rope with a loop at both ends,
passed it round the culprit's neck, and,
securing knot under the left ear. tight
ened it. Meanwhile, one Of the assistants
tied his feet together with another rope,
and passing it through the pulley kept the
other end in his hand. The chief execu-
toner then gave the signal, and with the
aid Of another assistant the convict was
lifted by the rope attached to his neck
about six inches and hung on the hook at
the top Of the post. The attendant hold
ing the rope attached to his legs simulta-
neOusly pulled with force, while his chief
placed his hands on the criminals mouth
and eyes. Death ensued in about two min
utes-not, as some accounts state, in sew
enteen.
The execution of the others then took
place in the same way. The man Pitely,
who was the principal author Of the crime,
had rutianly cOuntenance, beetle-brOwed
and OF sallOw complexion. In his case
death resulted in half a minute. The last
Of the three, by name Berecz, was a big,
stumbling fellow, with a NeWgate SLOUGH,
an eagle nose, and an Oriental cast of
cOuntenance. He lost his nerve and had
to be supported to the stake. He kissed
the cruciiX and called upon the Almighty
to curse his Judges. The President Of the
| Court Of Appeal thereupon ordered the
drums to play, so as to drown his voice.
Death with him was instantaneous, but
his face, unlike that of his accomplice,
was fearfully distorted. The principal
priest in attendance then knelt down, and
/ the spectators, with uncovered heads. lis
tened to a short prayer for the souls of the
departed. Within fifteen minutes three
doctors had successfully examined the
bodies with stethOscOpes, and declared
life TO be extinct. The bodies were left
hanging half an hour, and then removed
to a dIssecting room.