Prisoners and Tobacco

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 64, 8 November 1886, Page 3

Prisoners and Tobacco

V^ When the prisons come to be reformed, says the Pall. Mall Gazette, we trust that some kind legislator will insist upon adding tobacco to the small indulgence permitted to the condemned. Under its soothing influence they would walk to the noose with firmer steps, and in a more philosophic spirit Take the case of Vesehi, the Corsitjaiij one of the convicts whose execution in New Caledonia was 'reported 'a- few days ago. He was. asked on the morning of the fatal day if he wanted anything. He aaid, " No," but grumbled at the quality of the tobacco he had been supplied with. He stood perfectly, cool efaewing his tobacco, while Mosca his fellow convict, was being guillotined. When his turn oame, after expressing contrition iii a firm voice, and warning 1 the kneeling hundreds of convicts in front of him, he turned to the executaouer with a "Now, then!' A ghastly sight met the eyes of those present on the fatal platform. Yesehi's severed head as it fell in the basket •under the knife, was seen in horrible ©ontor-tiens chewingaway at the "quid" lie had preserved in his mouth. So do all true lovers ,of the weed pay their tribute, faithful, to its charms even after deaths .