FAMOUS HEADSMEN
OFFICE OF EXECUTIONER HEREDITARY IN FRANCE. The office of Finisher of the Law, otherwise publie executioner, has never been hereditary in England (says the Manchester Guardian), but in France it has been handed down from father to son, or to some collateral descendant, since 1608, when the first Samson was appointed Paris executioner. The principle of keeping the 30b in the family is being recognised again on, the resignation of the latest holder of the office, M. Anatole Deibler, who is to be succeeded by his son-in-law. The first Samson was succeeded by his son and grandson, and the grandson left seven sons, all of whom became headsmen. Various Samsons carried on the dynasty till 1847, when the duties passed to the collateral branch of the Deiblers. The most famous of the Samsons in history was Charles Henri, who executcd Louis XVI, and possibly' also Marie Antoinette. "What a man is that Samson!"- exclaimed Louis Mereier, who voted for the detention instead of the execution of the King, "He has beheaded the most powerful monarch, his Queen .... with a composed countenance. He cuts off the head that is brought to him, no matter whose."
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Bibliographic details
Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 191, 6 April 1932, Page 2
Word Count
196FAMOUS HEADSMEN Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 191, 6 April 1932, Page 2
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