The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-15
DECAPITATION IN GERMANY.
AN American Doctors Account of a
Murderer's Execution in the
Kaiser's Domain.

While travelling in Germany last
summer DR.. Herman Westphal, of Bal
Ttjmore, had an opportunity of COM
T3aring the German mode of execution,
1behenhing, with the method of hang
Ing, adopted generally in the United
States.
The scene of the execution was
Elensburg, a town in Schleswig-H ol
stein, says the New York Sun. The
criminal was Franz Deppe, who had
murdered a seven-year-old girl. The
.eN"cutioner was Herr Reindell, who
6ratels from place to place in Prussia
eaytpa his services are required.
At six a. m, July 5, DR.. Westphal
pre-, ented himself at the prison gate.
lie was admitted and escorted to the
T0&.n where the execution was to oc-
cuT
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 a table were spread the legal
papers in the case and a small cabinet
which contained two candles and
crucifiX. Near one end of the table
was the head block, separated from
the body block by about one and one
haf inches, the space being filed by
a zinc receptacle, intended to catch
the blood from the decapitated trunk;
a white cloth covered the eXecutiOner's
broad AK.
81 had nerved myself for horrible
scene" said DR.. Westphal, in speaking
of the beheading, "and, seeing the
preparations, l regretted that L was
30 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
q. 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
Hooked defantly 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-
ciined to interfere with the sentence
of the law. The states attorney asked
the condemned if he had anything to
confess. Deppe replied:
I have nothing to confess
S'These were his last words. Herr
Reindell, the executioner, wearing a
froclI coat and a silk hat, made a 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
5lock table.
"As his body fell into position with
mis- hend 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,
Adding 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 it
down upon the barred neck just above
tie shoulders.
The act was so quickly, so slilfully
accomplished that the murderers
kiead was cut off at one stroke, and the
assistant, who had not released his hold
npon it, had laid it beside the block,
while the other witnesses and myself
were still straining to meet the climax.
with a 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