A Tail Yarns

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 130, 2 June 1888, Page 3

A Tail Yarns

'■ — -• We have observed several wonderful stories of late respecting the skill of the Chinese executioners, who it is said, can strike off the heads of their victims so skilfully that the poor fellows themselves never discover their lops until a moment or two after they are dead. We recall to mind, however, the story of a German executioner who far surpassed the Chinese in professional dexterity. Upon one occasion it happened that a criminal who was condemned to death had a singular itching to play at ninepins, and he implored permission to play once more at his favorite game before he died. Then, he said he would submit to his fate without a murmur. The judge thinking there could be no harm in humoring him, granted his last prayer and upon arriving at the place of execution he found everything prepared for the game, the pins being set up and the bowls all ready. He commenced his favorite sport with enthusiasm. After a while the Sheriff, observing that he showed no inclination to desist, made a sign to the executioner to strike the fatal blow while he Btopped for a bowl. The executioner did so, but with such exquisite dexterity that the culprit did not notice or feel it. He thought indeed that a cold breath of air was blowing on his neck, and drawing himself back with a shrug, his head dropped forward into his hands. He naturally supposed that it was a bowl he had grasped and, seizing it firmly, rolled it at the pins. All of them fell, and the head was heard to exclaim, as it rebounded from the further wall: " Hurrah ! I've won the game."— Exchange.