Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
Ratibor. Germany. February 81, 1914.

A N event that mas Just occurred IN InlS olu
~ sian town will remind the civilized world that
4 the brutal medieval method of execution by the
axe is still practised in Germany.
Still more startling is the fact that this medieval
punishment is inflicted upon women.
= Two young women Josepha Kubacka and Franzska
thinner have been beheaded in the prison here.
Josepha Kubacka was condemned to death for the
murder of her husband She alleged that he iltreated
her brutally. She was convicted of putting poison In
his coffee
The other woman Franziska thinner convicted
of numbering her stepmother. She also employed
poison committing her crime. In her defense was
stated that the older woman had abused her and kept
her without food.
Both women were condemned to death after long
trials in which their lawyers pointed out eoquenty
that the capital punishment of women had been prac
ticaly abolished in most civilized countries and set
forth all the philosophical and scientific arguments in
favor Of such course.
The execution was fixed to take place between sunset
of day and sunrise Of the next The scene was the
hall the ancient baronial castle which now serves as
the Jail of Rabor The executioner was local butcher
for his dreadful task because OF the skill acquired
in choppng up animal bodies with his axe and cleaver
in his daily occupation
The executoner came to the castle at four o'clock In
the morning when it was still pitch-dark The hour
chosen to prevent a crowd from gathering about the
prison. In accordance with official regulations the exc
cutoner full evening dress He carried the imple
Of his dreadful office in long black bag. 1t Is
peculiarly shaped axe having long heavy blade
it's length Is twelve inches 1t is very heavy, that the
executoner may deal irresistible blow with 1t, and to
add to its weight 1t falls, quantity OF quicksilver
through the hollow handle. 1t is carefully designed
to enable the to make accurate stroke with it.
A block of solid oak placed in the centre of the
castle hail. Before 1t arranged black cushion, on
which the condemned would kneel The top of the block
higher the side the cushion so that 1t
would throw the neck resting upon into prominence
The executioner covered his face with black mask
before the prisoners brought into his
Josepha Kubacka the first brought from her CELL
She struggled earfully and required the efforts OF
four stalwart keepers to carry her to the block
The keepers had offered her brandy in accordance
with custom expecting that this would deaden her
To nrda hafnr han hut CHI afuqpd
All the she fought the keepers like tigress, al
though her hands tied behind her back. clergy
accompanied her holding crucihx before her and
urging her to repent and pray for forgiveness She
paid heed to him, but kept shriekng: Il don't want
to die If hadn't killed him. he would have killed me"
When the keepers had carried her to the block, 1t
necessary to throw her head 1t and hold her
in that position Her long rudy hair was drawn for
ward and her round full neck then lay exposed and
free from distractions on the raised part OF the block
The eXecutioner took part until the neck was in
the position he desired. Then he raised his de-
liberately 1t fell quickly, the stroke ending with
dull crunchng sound. The remains were removed into
an adjoining The sawdust which had been
literally scattered round the block was swept up and
renewed. All in readiness for the next execution
The second woman, Franziska thinner, behaved very
been increased by hearing the others shreks. When
she brought about she nearly feless, and the
keepers obliged to carry her limp body to the
block. In reply to the mnisrations OF the clergyman,
she moved her lips family
The keepers placed her limp form on the block and
the executioner performed his task.
Those who invited to witness the execution, in
Guiding newspaper correspondents, doctors and a
Der of prominent citizens agreed that whatever might
be said against beheading, 1t certainly the most
terrifying form of the death penalty that could be imag
ined.
To the foreign witnesses the scene was most aston
tragedies of the Tower of London, about which they
had read