The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-15
Ratibor, Germany, February 81, 1914.

Ratibor, Germany, February 2l, 1914.
|. event that has Just occurred in this cid Prus-
Ian town will remind the civilized world that
HE brutal mediaev method of execution by the
iii practised In Germany.
more startling is the fact that this medieval
1<nt is inflicted upon women.
;roung women, Josepha Kubacka and FranZska
" have been beheaded In the prison here.
/ Kubacka was condemned to death for the
4 a her husband. She alleged that he illtreated
HlRlly. She was convicted OF putting poison IN
blher woman. Franziska thinner, convicted
kdering her stepmother. She also employed
)n committing her crime. In her defense 1t was
hat the older woman had abused her and kept
kout food.
women were condemned to death after long
al which their lawyers pointed out eloquently
n capital punishment OF women had been prac-
abolished in most civilized countries and set
4 the philosophical and scientific arguments in
such course.
|,xecuton was fixed to take place between sunset
law and sunrise Of the next The scene was the
he ancient baronial castle which as
of RatiboT. The eXecutloner was a local butcher,
Tor his dreadful task because Of the skill acquired
Ding Zip animal bodies with his axe and cleaver
ally occupation.
kecutioner came to the castle at four O'Clock in
ulng when It was still pitch-dark. The hour was
to prevent a crowd from gathering about tie
In accordance with official regulations the
wore full evening dress. He carried the tmple-
his dreadful office In a long black bag. 1t Is .
dy shaped axe, having a very long, heavy blade
"a is twelve inches. It Is very heavy, so that the
bner may deal an irresistible blow with Il, and to
Its weight an 1t falls, q quantity OF quicksilver
lough the hollow handle. 1t is carefully designed
Ne the user to make an accurate stroke with it.
lex Of solid oak was placed IN the centre Of the
ial. Before II was arranged black cushion on
he condemned would kneel. The top Of the block
1her on the side nearer the cushion, so that II
ROW the neck resting upon It into prominence.
txecutioner covered his face with a black mask
The prisoners were brought into his presence.
Y Kubacka was the first brought from her cell.
|Qggled fearfully. and it required the efforts Of
Nlwsr keepers to carry her to the block,
<eepers had offered her brandy, in accordance
tom. expecting that this would deaden her senses
ordeaI before her, but she refused this soace.
ray she fought the keepers like ttgress, al
her hands were tied behind her back A clergy
pmpanied her, holding a crucifx before her and
1er to repent and pray for forgiveness She
heed to hdm, but kept shrieking: II don't want
IR hadn't killed him, he would have killed me-"
the keepers had carried her TO the block, 1t
>eBBary TO throw her head over it and hold her
position. Her long. rudy hair was drawn for
ia her round full neck thsn lay exposed and
m Instructions the raised part of the block.
xecudoner took no part until the neck was In
ZION he desired Then he raised his axe de-
~. It fell quickly, the stroke ending with a
mching sound. The remains were removed into
>3ning room The sawdust which had been
If Hcattered round the block was swept up and
~ All was in readiness for the next execution,
econd woman, Franziska thinner, behaved very
nv from the first Doubtless her terrors had
2creRsed by hearing the others shrieks When
brought about she was nearly lifeess, and the
were obliged to carry her limp body to the
IN reply to the ministrations of the clergyman,
Yed her lips family.
eepers placed her limp form on the block and
rutioner performed his task
who were invited to witness the execution in
||newspaper correspondents doctors and num-
nina cftt -l.k-
N against beheadng, 1t was certainly the most
'g form OF the death penalty that could be imag-
foreign witnesses the scene was most aston,
@nd horrifytng re-enactment OF the historic
fy OF the Tower Of London. about which they