The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-05-10
A GERMAN DECAplTATlON.
AN AMERICANS ACCOUNT OF \
MuRDERER's EXECUTION.

The Criminals Head Severed From
the Body by Single Stroke of the
| Axe-The Execution Apparently
Painless.
While travelling In Germany last
Summer DIR. Herman Westphal, of
baltimore, had an opportunity of COM
lparing the German mode of execution,
lbeheading, with the method of hang
ling, adopted generally in the United
States.
The scene Of the execution was
Flensburg. a town in Schleswig- Hol-
Istein. The criminal was Franz
Deppe, who had murdered seven
lyear-old girl. The executioner was
Herr Reindell. who travels from place
to place in Prussia when his services
are required.
| At a. m, July 5th, DR.. Westphai
presented himself at the prison gate.
He was admitted and escorted to the
room where the execution was to oc-
tcur.
Here were gathered the First
States Attorney. his secretaries and
lother witnesses. The attornies who
defended the murderer were also
present, wearing black skull caps.
On table were spread the legal
papers in the case and small cab.
met which contained two candles and
a crucifix. Near one end of the table
was the head block, separated from
the body block by about ~ inches,
the space being filled by zinc re.
ceptacle, intended to catch the blood
from the decapitated trunk; a white
cloth covering the executioner's
broad axe. !.
Il had nerved myself for horrible
scene" said DR.. Westphal, in speak
ing Of the beheading. land, seeing
the preparations. regretted that
was to be witness. The faces OF
all the prison guards and officials
were pale and tense.
There was no noise, no whisper
ing, 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 con
demned.
"Deppe stopped for a moment and
looked deflantly at the group. He
was clad only IA shirt and trousers
His coat was thrown loosely across
! his shoulders. Urged by the guard
nearest 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 doc.
ument In which the Emperor declined
to interfere with the sentence OF the
law. The States attorney asked the
condemned if he had anything to con
fess. Deppe replied:
az have nothing to confess
"These were his last words. Herr
Reindell, the executioner. wearing a
frock coat and a silk hat. made a
slight signal. The States attorney
exclaimed. DO your duty and on the
instant two assistants seized the con.
demned man 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 1t steady.
Herr Reindell whisked of the
white cloth which covered the axe or
the table, lifted the implement OF
death and, with one preparatory
swing to give his muscles full play
brought it down upon the barred neck
just above the shoulders.
1.-THE act was SO quickly, so skilful
ly accomplished that the murderer's
head was cut off at one stroke, and
the 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 axe the
executioner LAID it on the table, and
turning to the First Attorney said:
"'Mr. First States Attorney, the sen
tence has been carried out
There had been no struggle, no
thing sensational, exactly twenty-sev
en- 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
j of horrible spectacle, such as
once witnessed in a Maryland county
town when a man was executed by
hanging, the decapitation was speedy
painless, believe, and absolutely
clean. 1t was conducted with calm
ness and decorum.
j, There was no spouting blood. Oh
course blood flowed, but the wit
nesses could not see it.
j, while stood somewhat aghast a,
the rapidity of 1t all, the executionel
rinsed his fingers in bowl of steam
white napkin handed him by one of the
attendants, bowed politely to the Of
ficials and withdrew. Herr Deindell
was told, receives 200 marks, OF
about $50 for an execution.
He is assisted in giving the deadly
i.stroke with certainty by the fact that
the blade and handle of the broadaxe
are hollow and filed with quicksilver
This flowing downward adds to the
weight and steadIness of the blade
i Judging from his own observations
DIR. Westphal says that beheading Ii
more humane, yet more terrifying
than hanging or electrocution, and
that conducted decorously and with