Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-03-17
A BRUTAL EXECUTIONER,
SCHNEIDER HANGRD TO A
STAKE.

He Struggl d Tried to Es-
cap, hut the Ekid.SslOved Hang.
man Bore Aim Down. to His Mis-
cradle Dec b.
VIENNA, March 17.-Though the trial
OF the Schneiders. Franz and Rosalie, for
the murder of servant girls, attracted to
the court rooms such crowds as have
seldom been equaled at any trial ever held
here, the execution OF the man this
morning seemed to excite but little
interest.
At $50 small crowd collected out
side the gloomy law courts in Landes-
gericht strasse, attracted by morbid
curiosity. They could see nothing of the
execution. All approaches to the build
ing were strongly guarded and the court
rdIhlled with militia.
The gallows upon which executions
takes place III other countries was con-
spicuous by its absence. In it's stead a
bread white stake was firmly imbeded
in the ground in the angle of the court.
The stake was surmounted by large
spike. A detachment of military was in
| a Gordon short distance from the stake.
Their duty was to keep back eighty
privileged spectators of the execution.
These consisted of officials, barristers
and reporters.
At o'clock Seyfried, the the execu-
tioner with his assistants, entered the
court yard. He was followed by the
Judges before whom Schneider and his
wife were tried, and number of the
highest officials. Then came Schneider,
his strong frame trembling and his face
ghastly pale. His features had lost
their look of ferocity and by his every
manner, the man who strangled with
his strong hands weak and defenseless
girls showed that his brutal nature was
subdued and that he was in an agony
OF fear at the tate awaiting HIM. He
was attended by priest who sought to
administer the consolation of religion to
him, but Schneider's mind was dazed
with fear and it is doubtful il he heard,
or at least understood, was being said.
When the condemned man had reached
point in front of the stake the execu-
tioner, who wore high silk hat, fine
clothes and kid gloves, stepped up to
him and dexterously pinioned his hands.
The executioners' assistants. two horse
slaughterers, then seized Schneider and
placed him directly in front OF the stake.
l
the ground and fearful scene fol-
lowed. He Immediately kicked his legs
in every direction, and tried frantically
to escape from the grasp of the men who
held him. But his efforts were useless.
Then he shrieked, "Oh, no, in Gods
name, I'll say nothing"
This scene did not last long, however.
Seytried rushed up a set OF steps, stood
behind the stake, threw the free end of a
silken loop, which was attached to the
stake, around Scbneider's throat, in fact
Iassoing him as he was held aloft by
assistants. No black cap was used,
the executioner making his hands
do the duty in its stead. Az the
moose was passed around Schneider q
neck, the two horse slauyhterers
dropped him and Seyfried pressed
his left hand heavily over the jaw
and mouth of his victim, while his
right hand covered the forehead and
eyes. At the same time the assistants
grasped the hanging man by his arms
and legs and pulled him downward with
all their strength. Held in this position
Schneider was unable to move and was
strangled to death.
The doctors in attendance say that he
was dead in four minutes. The face O
the dying man could be seen between
the fingers OF the executioners and ever,
change in the color Of the flesh was dis
cernable. 1t was horrible sight ant
many OF the spectators were compellee
to turn away.
After Schneider had been suspended fl
minutes Seytried, who, during the who'll
scene was perfectly cool, twice laid hi
ear against Schneider's face until HI
was convinced that the man wa
u dead and the law satisfied. Then h
relaxed his grip OF the head and descend
ed the steps, joining his assistants, who
in the meantime had let 20 of tn
legs and arms and Schneider's body wa
left hanging from the stake.