EXECUTION OF HOEDEL.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 124, 26 February 1879, Page 3

EXECUTION OF HOEDEL.

On August 17th, at six o’clock in the morning, Hoedel, the regicide, who made an attempt on the life of the Emperor of 'Germany, was led to the scaffold temporarily erected in the prison yard. No one was present but the President anti members of the State Court of Beilin who conducted the trial, the Public Prosecutor, delegates of the municipal and police authorities, and the customary twelve witnesses empanelled for the occasion. Hoedel, followed by the warders, was ■dressed in the costume worn by him on the day of the attempted assassination. At the* urgent request of the clergyman who was walking by his side, Hoedel, on leaving his cell, threw aw r ay the stump of a cigar which he had intended to smoke to the very last. With rapid_ steps he ascended the scaffold, and with some ■curiosity scanned the executioner, a very handsome man, dressed in black, with the Iron Cross, the highest military distinction in the Prussian army, attached to his breast. Once more the verdict was rend to the doomed man, as well as the Crown Prince’s order confirming the sentence. On the termination of these formalities, during which he demons:natively ■spat around him to show his utter disdain, aloud, ‘Bravo! Vive la Commune i” The Judge stepped forward, •showed the document to Hie headsman in ■order that he might convince himself of the correctness of the respective signatures, and then said, c ’ Executioner, I hand over the culprit to thee for final justice.” At this moment the bell tolled out its dire tones. In pursuance of a command. Hoedel hastilv bared the upper psrt of his body. The button of his shirt refusing to loosen, one of the headman’s assistants tore it off. He was thereupon seized and fastened to the block, after a bandage had been placed over his eyes. He offered no resistance whatever. The executioner, who had been quietly standing bolding the axe behind him, then advanced, and with one powerful stroke that cut the air like lightning severed the head from the body. Death must have been instantaneous, for no convulsions were noticeable. The remains were immediately laid in a coffin and covered with his coat. Hoedel found his resting place in Hie small churchyard in the prison where those put to death •are buried. The whole tragic ceremony lasted scarcely ten minutes. A deep sigh of relief ws heard to issue from the spectator’s, whose breath had been held in terrib'e suspense. The Judge shook hands witn the executioner, and thanked him for his performance of the terrible task. Accounts from those present agree in ascribing to Hoedel unprecedented boldness and destitution of a’l In.man susceptibilities. Some assert, however, that the precipitation with which he hurried the final moments of the execution was merely caused by dread lest his physical powers might not endure the strain on his nerves. During the whole time lie was standing on the scaffold he had a fomed smile on his lips that most strangely contrasted with the ashy pale hue of his features