Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-28
WnAr a wlAMlNGrONI4N bAW.


precipitation hn DHhtzics seE-
many, Thirty Years ago.
swell, / never want TO see man
banged" ejAculated one OF number of
citizens in down town oftice Monday
afternoon, 81 the reporter locked in on
his daily round nd in reply to the usual
salutation, What's new 2 told the story
OF the verdiot in the Williams murder case.
"It'5 u wonder TO me-" added another,
"huw any human being can deliberately,
although iurpInpu, consent to his fel-
low BEINGS deata.n
"Aow would you like TO see an execu-
tion-to ste u man bchenGud," one of the
company suddenly added.
~ saw four or Ave people beheaded at
Dantzic."
"Tell us ell about it," the reporter
cried leading the man WITH the horrible
"Reminiscences By thg lapel CT the coal 70
an open place in front o. the audience
whers ho might tell everything I'M
hindereG and with that ready descriptive
power 30 Often met with among The Ger-
rlanS.
The narrator stated how that be vas
boy at the time, II was then customaTy
10 have pubic executions in Germany.
And theE was Always BY dscSpltation.
The condemued criminal as the time
drew near FOR tho execution, WAS taken
from the il and placed in dray. This
wss drawn ali around tao city followed
by detachment of infantry. A mGiil d
dunn beating in slow measure increased
the dismal horrors of the occasion. The
spiritual adviser attired in long black
gown sat in the wagon along With the
condemned wretch.
remember wall continued the speaker
aeeing woman beheaded. She had
poisoned her nnshaud and children. AS the
death procession wendell its way slowly
through tho chief streets OF the city, in
AID cut, making II ooolpists circuit Of it.
the mourn'Ii noIes OF the drum gathered
thousands in its woke, Il was the custom
TO follow the dray and with numbers of
streets were liaed black with sight
seers. In feet an execution was one of
our gala dRys. We took our lunohes
along snd followed the cart TO the plaza
Of execution outside the city walls. IT
was grassy hollow surrounded on Ill
sides by gentle ascent, forming an
Bctual smohitheasFe with seating accom-.
modations FOR the whole population OF
Din.zic il the burgbers and their fami-
lies ielt iuclined 20 view the spectacle.
| The heaGBMsn'g block was Just the
same as thosa you see in bGioher's shops
hega, just tho sGort section OF q tree
deposited en- the Il y worn grass. Theirs
we're very few proliminGri1s. Ia fact, I
believe we were all too busy chatting
about other matters to notice she prepare
lions. The dray stopped. Tho military
| formed hollow sGusre. The dismsl
drum ceased its throb5ing. Tho woman,
not in any way manacled, stepped down
from the drsy, escorted by the heads.
mans two assistants. The prisoner was
affixed all in white. Her long, dark heir,
fell to her waist. Ii dropped loose for
the purposes of oertBin part of tine re.
pulsive ordeal. The sherif'a myrrnidons
rolled the block into position. There
was deep scoop in its centre of the size
Of the human face. The poor woman
attended by the compassionate priest,
walked firmly forward. She turned sud
denly half arouad, aud snatNhirg one OF
her white gloves off, threw it angrily il
the shegif's face.
However, this was only an incident Of
the occasion. The next moment she
knelt imposing her face in the hollow oil
the block. The assistants on either side
each took an arm placing the wrists il
locks attached TO tho sidss of the block
Il was but an instant that the tall sheriff
who is always al such times by the de
msnds of custom, also headsmNn, dressed
in what is now correct evening costume
all black, with swallow. tail, and beau
tiful red rose in the lapel of his coat
stepped forward. A heavy broad axe Of
adze, flitsered in his hands. He bent
forward over his PROSTATE victim. Thu
axe was not flourished with any museu
lar display. In fact it was not raiset
above his shoulders. The movement
was more like The drop guillotine-liks, q
while held in both hands, the nipple
meaJ's own weight and fac edge disnsm
bered tae head from the body. The AZ
was laid aside, and catching tho li:ele7
head By its long hair the sheriff held i
out at full length turning to each point O
the compass thus exhibiting to the CON
cousse, as the law directs, that he hsl
done his duty.
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