St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-21

execution is word whispered as to the
preparations, and then these Journals
are suddenly informed that the prisoner
is about to die, and permission is given
them to send a reporter forthwith. In
nine cases out of ten these intimations
come too late to be of any value to news
paper men. This, of course, is what is
desired, for German officialism hates ev-
.erything in the nature of-publicity, and
always likes to keep the lynXeyed fin de
steele reporter at arms length.
On my arrival at the jail discovered
that the time-honored trick had worked
as successfully as usual. In the court
yard of the prison, which served as the
place of execution, found about fifty
people waiting. who were evidently on
the same errand as myself. Among
these were only three newspaper men,
the little official trick shutting off the
rest. There were also present. in adj
dition to half dozen armed warders,
the states attorney and his secretaries,
the judges and the jury who conducted
the trial of Schmiedicke, representa-
tive Of the municipality of Berlin, and
also representative burgess of the vii
lage of Motzen, the scene of the crime
There has been no doubt of the guilt
of the murderer, for Schmiedicke was
clearly convicted of having slaughtered
whole family in order to rob his vic
Tins of paltry sum of 20 marks. The
crime Mortified everybody, and the
felon's own wife, with whom up to
that time he had lived on comparatively
good terms, was the first to turn against
him, and by her evidence shatter to
pieces his clumsy alibi. Everybody
present at the execution was handed a
paper clearly setting forth the facts of
the crime and the penalty.
AT five minutes to the states attor-
ney directed everybody TO stand or sit
at the exact position regarded by of
ficial red tapelsm as in accordance with
the ceremony about to occur. He him.
self set the example by seating himself,
as the direct representative Of the
crown, at the head of table placed at
the end of the courtyard, close to the
entrance. The table left but a narrow
space for the entrance of the criminal.
1t was draped with black cloth, and
everything on it was decorated with the
same sign of mourning and death. The
writing materials, Bible and law books
were craped, and even the acts and
documents were bound with black
thread, and the tapes attached had
heavy black seals.
To the right of the states attorney
sat the judges, in their sombre robes of
office. and to the left the secretaries and
the newspaper representatives. AT the
end of the narrow yard were two tables
also draped in black. On one of these
lay three brOadSwordS, unSheathed.
The bright rays of the morning sun
glinted and cleaned upon the shining
strips of steel. and the black handles of
the weapons were long enough to allow
OF their being grasped by two sturdy
hands. On the other table lay basin
of water and three snowy white towels,
each edged with the all-pervading black
About two feet further away, near
the wall, stood the low block.
In striking contrast to all its sur
roundings. the dread log of wood, which
was to be the last resting place of the
neck of the criminal while still in life,
was draped with bright scarlet cloth.
This was quite new and spotless. as if
1t had been specially purchased for the
occasion. To the right hand leading
against the wall was a bench, also
painted black, upon which the coat and
shirt of the murderer was subsequently,
thrown.
At the stroke of 8 o'clock the bell of
tne prison began 10 TOLL the solemn
death knell of the convict. Half min
ute later the executioner appeared
wearing his scarlet hood with bear
arms and shouldering cleaning axe
as the insignia of his CHASTITY office.
Reindel, the headsman, is stalwart,
well proportioned man, who stood fully
six feet in his shoes, had strong face,
and wore heavy beard. He seemed
by his carriage to combine the dignity
of a tambour major with the heavy
tread of one of the Kaiser's colossal
Cuirasslers. Reindel has served twenty
years in the army, and was always con-
sidered a most exemplary soldier. Be
ing an expert with the sword and
giant in strength. Reindel was appointed
to the post of headsman, just as other
faithful servants of the emperor are
given positions as gamekeepers, SER
wants OF gendarmes. The office is sup
posed to be an honorary and a digni-