Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-02-20
The German Executioner.

Oluent times, and IN some portions OF
Germany up to the sixteenth century,
the municipality under whose jurisdic-
ton tho sentence was secured or the
accuser or his adherents executed the
death warrant. Since 1878, when the
first case of capital punishment took
place under Emperor William. the
duty Of severing the criminals head
from his body with a broadax devolves
upon Executioner Krauts, who carries
on the business of knocher in the city
Of Berlin. His field of action is not
confined to Prussia, but extends all
over Germany, whenever not interior
ing with the prerogatives of the soy.
ereigns of the other states.
The death penalty has always existed
in Germany, but from the time that
Emperor William became prince re.
gent Of Prussia to 1878 it remained in.
operative. The murderer generally
received a ~life-sentence to the pen
item ;iary. with the prospect of event
ual delivery always in view. But
Hoedel's attempt upon the life Of the
emperor caused him to take u different
view Of the punishment to be visited
upon such criminals. Hoedel's execu-
ton was entrusted to krauts, who
since then may be considered the i'm
perial executioner of Germany.
This man lives in q small house of
three rooms on Wilsnacker street, in
Charlottenberg. One Of these rooms
is occupied by his wife and three chill
dren as u sleeping-room. the other q
kitchen. and the other Krauts' apart
ment. He is very fond Of Gis children,
spending his leisure moments in anus
ing them. To the unsuspecting visitor,
the little group would impress him as
the family of an ordinary tradesnian.
There is nothing in the appearance of
the man that would give the impress
sion that no would accept the position
OF public executioner. He possesses n
powerful frame, broad shoulders and
strong limbs, and has a g~ood-natured
face. His short, bristly, red mustache
and his square jaws, though, show a
man Of determination.
In conversation he is conservative
and cultivated, replying without hesi-
tation to all questions concerning his
disagreeable calling, but with the APP
parent wish that the interviewer should
understand he is only the instrument
to execute the law of the state. He
evidently is frequently subjected to
tbaoA u-a So. L.
so prompt that they show either this
or preparation. In his own sleeping
room are kept the instruments of his
offietal employment, the broad-ax and
block. While examining tho block
KSauts points out to his visitor the
deep nick which was made when
Lieske. the socialist. suffered death for
the murder of DR.. Rumpff, of Frank
fort.
After every execution Krauts re-
pairs the injury the block has received,
r~epainting 1t, sharpening the broad-ax,
and repolishing the leather straps with
which the criminals are bound.
The history of these instruments
present a horrible record. The Ak has
a very broad and glittering blade, with
q hLhuAC "a CoAldiIIs mo Ii
scription: Manufactured by j. Gross
mann, Berlin" Then follows the
dreadful list CT names of those who
have persisted by its sharp edge, with
the name, place, and time of execution.
The list contains thirty-two names, be-
ginning with the socialist, G.. NJ. Hoe
del, Berlin, Aug. 16 1873. The same
year Krautz executed Il murderer in
Bulzow, Pommerania. From 1850
he was not called to perform duty, it
doubtless being considered that the
two executions would suffice to deter
other socialiStic demonstrations for Il
time, In 1881 Krauts' offices were re-
CURED four times; twice at Koeslin
once in Gels, and once at Dortmund.
In 1882 he took four journeys into diff
ferent portions of Germany in com.
pany with his implements of punish
ment. In 1888 Berlin was mainly the
scene of his official work. The whole
sale murderer, who b%utchered his wife
and five children. was tho first victim
of this year. Then followed young
Sobbe, who murdered a letter-carrier
and afterward robbed the body. SO
tho horrible list has gradually
increaed until it has now
reached thirty-two. and with the
exception of Remsdors, kuechler, and
Liesko-the two former accused Of a
conspiracy to blow up the monument
concentrating the un~ification OF Ger
many at Niederwald during tho un-
yelling cercmonies-all were common
murderers.
Besides the engraved list upon
Krantzs' broaday. he has another con-
tanned in q large book which lays on
on a table with a green velvet binding.
\ shield upon the cover contains his
name and title in gold letters. Julius
Krauts, Scharfrichter." Upon tie first
page written on strong grayish paper,
is his motto. Tout homme utile est
respectable" Every useful man is
respectfully To this he points in
vindication as some overinquisitive
questioner seeks TO get at tho bottom
Of his feelings. Beneath the motto is
a drawing representing n wheel, a
sword and an TX, Under this is the
date of his first execution. the page be-
ing finished with the old German exe-
cutioners' device. dating back to
1749:
Hangen, Koffep, radderan, LIST klein sund
| uyo.x,s ,t,t ,xf~ laht1tan latnan ptanap nv