The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-05-08
DECAPITATION IN GERMANY.
An American Doctors Account Of .
Murderer's Execution In the
kaiser's Domain.

While travelling in Germany last
summer DR.. Herman Westphal, OF Bal
timore, had an opportunity of COM
pairing the German mode of execution,
beheading, with the method of hang
Ing, adopted generally in the United
| States.
The scene of the execution was
Flensburg, a town in Schleswig-Hol-
stein, says the New York Sun. The
criminal was Franz Deppe, who had
murdered seyen-year-old girl. The
travels from place to place in Prussia
when his services are required.
At six a. m, July S, DR.. Westphal
presented himself at the prison gate
He was admitted and escorted to the
room where the execution was TO &C.
cur.
Here were gathered the first states
attorney, his secretaries and other
witnesses. The attorneys who de-
! Tended the murderer were also pres
ent, wearing black skull caps.
On table were spread the legal
papers in the case and small cabinet
which contained two candles and n
crucifix. Near one end of the table
was the head block, separated from
the body block by about one and one
hat inches, the space being filled by
a zinc receptacle, intended to catch
the blood from the decapitated trunk;
white cloth covered the executioner's
broad ak.
81 had nerved myself for a horrible
scene," said DR.. Westphal, in speaking
of the beheading, land, seeing the
preparations, l regretted that l was
to be a witness. The faces of all the
prison guards were pale and tense.
There was no noise, no whispering,
not the slightest movement as the
prison bell tolled the appointed hour.
A few moments later the door at the
| further end of the room was thrown
open and admitted the condemned.
"Deppe stopped for moment and
looked defiantly at the group. He was
clad only in shirt and trousers. His
coat was thrown loosely across his
shoulders. Urged by the guard near
est him he stepped up to the table
where stood the states attorney.
"The condemned man then heard
read the affirmation of the sentence
and was shown the signature of EN-
peror William at the bottom of the
document, in which the emperor de-
clined to interfere with the sentence
of the law. The states attorney asked
the condemned if he had anything to
confess. Deppe replied:
81 have nothing to confess
"These were his last words. Herr
Reindell, the executioner, wearing a
| frock coat and silk hat, made slight
signal. The states attorney ex-
claimed: DO your duty and on the
instant two assistants seized the con.
| demned and laid him PROSTATE on the
block table.
"As his body fell into position with
| his head on the block intended for it
one of the ASSISTANTS fastened his hands
in the condemned mans hair and
stretched his neck out on the block
holding it steady.
Herr Reindell whisked off the white
cloth which covered the AK on the
table, lifted the implement of death
and, with one preparatory swing to
give his muscles full play, brought ii
down upon the barred neck just above
the shoulders.
THE act was so quickly, so skilfully
accomplished that the murderer
head was cut off at one stroke, and tn e
assistant, who had not released his hold
upon it, had laid it beside the block
while the other witnesses and myself
were still straining TO meet the climax
with back swing of his ak the
executioner laid it on the table, and
turning to the first states attorney
said:
"'Mr. First States Attorney, the
sentence has been carried out
There had been no struggle, moth
ing sensational, exactly 81 seconds
| elapsed between the time the states
attorney said, DO your duty and the
time when Deppe's head was laid on
the block. Instead of horrible spec
ldClc, SuCH Us L once Witnessed IN q
Maryland county town when a man
was executed by hanging, the decapi-
tation was speedy, painless, believe,
and absolutely clean. 1t was conduct
ed with calmness and decorum.
There was no spirting blood. OF
course blood flowed, but the witnesses
could not see it.
while | stood, somewhat aghast at
the rapidity of it all, the executioner
rinsed his fingers in bowl of steam
ing water and dried them upon white
napkin handed him by one Of the at
PENDANTS, bowed politely to the off,
Gals and withdrew. Herr Reindell,
was told, receives 200 marks, or about
$50, for an execution.
He is assisted in giving the deadly
stroke with certainty by the fact hat
the blade and handle of the broadax
are hollow and filled with quicksilver.
This lowing downward adds to the
weight and steadiness of the blade. {"
Judging from his own observations,
DR.. Westphal says that beheading is
L..