THE EXECUTION OF GRETE BEIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 213, 5 September 1908, Page 15

THE EXECUTION OF GRETE BEIER.

SAXON GIRLS EXPIATION. Grete Beier, the Saxon burgomaster's daughter, who -had so little-regard for -the lives of others, showed on the morning of July 23 that she herself could at any rate look death in tbe face without flinching, lt was half-past six as she wus led out for execution from her cell into the courtyard of Freiburg Gaol. In the centre of the open space stood the guillotine, whlcli had been brought from Dresden ou the previous day. Close by were grouped the executioner, his two assistants, and other officials concerned In tbe carrying out of the capital sentence. Ranged up at some distance away was a crowd of 200 persons, to whom out of a thousand applicants tickets had been granted for the grim spectacle. The condemned girl had been allowed to spend some hours with her mother, who is serving a long sentence for complicity in her crimes, and was brought to her cell from a neighbouring prison in charge of two warders. The night had been passed in prayer with ministers of religion, and the murderess is said to have displayed deep. contrition. She now walked past the line of spectators with an absolutely steady gait and perfect composure of feature. Her inconspicuous figure was clad lv a simple dark •blue dress, cut out at the neck, and her carefully ordered hair was ornamented with a black bow. A momentary flush spread over her pale cheeks as she became aware of the number of witnesses to her shameful death. As the representative of the Public Prosecutor read out the death-warrant iv. trembling voice, she stood quite calm before him, with her hands lightly clasped in front of her. The spectators were unable to discern either a twitch in her features or a tremour in her body. When the official had finished the document, and called upon the executioner to do his work, she did not wait to be led, but mounted the live steps which led to the guillotine with a light, alert tread. Standing erect, she was quickly strapped on to the bascule, which was then swung Into horizontal position. At this moment she opened her lips for the first time, and iv a clear, sharp voice exclaimed, "Father, into Thy hands I coiu-

Mit my spirit." She was apparently about to speak further when the knife fell. The entire ceremony, from the moment of her leaving the cell, lasted only three miuutea.

A large crowd had assembled outside the gaol, and it was expected up till the last moment that a reprieve would come.

There is some criticism of the action of the authorities in admitting so many as 200 witnesses. In Prussia, where executions are still carried out with the axe, the uon-offielal spectators are usually confined to a dozen.