A MURDERER ON BOARD WAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 2641, Issue 2641, 15 June 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MURDERER ON BOARD WAGES.

M. OE Maupassant's new took is a pleasant rambling description of a-cruise alunif the Riviera. It concludes with an amusing story of the principality of Monaco. According to M. de Maupassant, the " great Pacific monarch" of the little promontory, " reigning peacefully over his happy little flock of subjects," had once a criminal—a murderer—within his gates. Justice was called for. Ho was unanimously condemned to death. But theu arose a "difficulty. The country possessed neither guillotine nor executioner. The Prince tried to borrow one from Paris. Paris sent an estimate of 16, 000 francs for theloan of the wood work and practitioner. The monarch of Monaco reflected that the operation would cost him dear : the assassin was not worth that price. Sixteen thousand francs for the head of a wretch like that ! Never ! But the Italian Government also sent in an estimate, amounting to no less than 12,000 francs. It would be necessary to impose a new tax—a tax of two francs a head. The Supreme Court deliberated long. At last they determined to commute the sentence of death to that of life-long fmprisonment. But they did not possess a prison. It was necessary to tit one up, aud a gaoler was appointed who took charge of the prisoner. For six months all went well. The captive was comfortable enough. The Prince, however, is economical, and when they handed him the bill of the expenses incurred in the creation of this new function, the cost of the prison, the prisoner, and the watchman he made a wry face, aud reflecting that this might go on for ever (theprisoner was young) be requested his Minister of Justice to take measures to suppress the expense. The gaoler was discharged. The prisoner, thus invited to guard himself, could not fail to escape, which would solve the question to the satisfaction of all parties. It became the duty of a palace scullion to carry him his meals., but the captive made no attempt to recover his liberty. Finally, one day, as they neglected to furnish him with food, they beheld him tranquilly appear at the palace to claim it ; aud from that time he saved the cook the trouble of the walk to and fro. He never slept away a single night. The situation became a little puzzling—not for tho convict, but for the judges. The Court reassembled, and invited the criminal to leave the State of Monaco, lie refused. He paid : " lam your prisoner, judged and condemned by you. lam faithfully fulfilling my sentence. I remain here." The Supreme Court was floored. The Prince was in a terrible rage, and deliberations were resumed. They then decided to offer the culprit a pension of six hundred francs if ho would leave the State and live, elsewhere. He accepted. He has rented a little plot five minutes' walk from the kingdom of his former Sovereign, and lives happily upon his property, despising all potenates—as well he may.