A FRENCH EXECUTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1648, 18 October 1887, Page 3

A FRENCH EXECUTION.

The author of the triple murder of the Rue Montaigne was executed on the Place de la R< quette, Paris, on August gist. An immense crowd assembled to witness it. When the time arrived for his execution, the condemned man was sleeping so soundly that he had to be shaken twice before he woke. He started, sat np in bed, and, staring around, realised what was about to happen. For some momenta emotion deprived him of the power to speak, but after M. Beauquesna had told him that the heinous nature of the crime made it imposeib'e for the President of the Republic to pardon him, Pranzini exclaimed, ** Gentlemen, it Is a crime you are about to commit; I am innocent.” Then in a reproachful voice, he added, “I only asked to be allowed id see my mother, and even that is denied me.” I Meanwhile the prison warders had been I dressing him, and as one of them helped him on with his boots Pranzini said, " Merci bien ” in a tone as if he had been speaking to the M, Beauquesne inquired whether he wished to be left alone with the chaplain. “ No, thank you,” he replied, " let the Chaplain do his duly ; I will do mine. Pranzini was led out of his cell and handed over to the executioner and his assistants. While they were making the necessary preparations, the prisoner said, “I only wished for one thing, a reprieve of thirty days, which I implored M. Gr4vy to grant me, He has refused it me. God is great. I am happy to die, rather than hare my sentence commuted to penal servitude. Then, turning towards the Chief of the Detective Police, he added, ” Why, M. Taylor, you must not try to hide yourself. It is you who are the cause of all this. It is wicked what you have done. You will be cursed, . ou » He did not complete the phrase, but a minute after he exc’aimed, El die innocent; all is When all was readv for leading the prisoner to the scaffold,'AbW Faure, the chaplain, asked him if he would like anything to drink. “ JSon, raon cher ,” answered Pranzini in a patronising tone. On passing through the prison gateway the condemned man walked erect, with a firm step; and, shaking off the assistants who wanted to support him by holding his arms on either side, be cried petulantly, “Do let me alone.” Nevertheless, before reaching the steps, he daggered more than once but recovered immediately. With his foot on the first step he turned to Abbi Faure and kissed the crucifix which the chaplain placed on his lips. Once on the scaffold he was seiied by the executioner and his assistants, who, in an incredibly short time, carried out the sentence of the iaw, The body had been removed, and the guillotine was being taken down, when the crowd, breaking through the cordon of police, rushed towards the scaffold, and, screaming, struggled towards the spot where the blood had fallen on the ground. Reaching the spot, they rubbed their handkerchiefs, their hats, and their hands in the crimson mud. It was a revolting spectacle, the climax of which was reached when a youth with his fingers all red amused himself by seeking to wipe the poudt'6 dc ftz off the faces of some gaily-dressed women, who ran away screaming, Pranzini s remains were taken to the Ivry Cemetery, but instead of being buried were handed over to the medical authorities.