The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-16 00:00:00

OF
ORSINI AND PIERRI.

PARIS, Saturday, March 13, 6 p.m,

At half-past 5 o'clock last evening the warrant to ex-
ecute the sentence of the Court of Assize upon Orsini
and Pierri, convicted of the attempt in the Rue Lepeps.
tier was reoeived by the Prooureur-General.
punishment of De Radio is commuted into penal earn-
tude for life.
Since their condemnation it was judged proper to em-
ploy the strait-waistcoat with the three convicts as a
precautionary measure against any possible act of vio-
lence either on themselves or on those placed in contact
with them. The reprieve of De Radio rendered that
restraint no longer necessary, and the Governor did not
delay a moment in giving orders to free him from it.
Since the the prisoners wed' transferred from the
Conci e condemned prison known as the
Nouveau B. e, in the Place de Is Roquette. You
feel long before you emerge on to the Boulevard that
you are approaching the great receptacle of the dead;
mom than half the upper part of La Roquette is filled
with the shops of dealers in tombs, headstones, coffins,
and funeral garlands in endless variety. For the last
two nights the Place de la Roquette and the streets con-
tiguous were covered with a multitude, who braved the
intense cold and wet to witness the execution; the
crowds that held vigil the whole of last night were al-
most beyond calculation.
This morning the weather was bitterly cold, and the
ground wet, from the snow which had fallen. The sky
was covered with clouds of a slate colour, and wader
that dismal canopy dark gray mists, transparent like
funeral crape, were drifting about. Many of the spec-
tators had brought their breakfasts with them; they
had their loaves under their arms and their pipes in
their mouths. Some men were grave and serious, and
spoke in a law tone of voice; others jested and laughed ,
and many observed that the prisoners well deserved
their fate. About 15 paces from the gate of the prison
the scaffold was erected, and on it rose the instrument
of death, the name of which recalls so many terrible as-
sociations. There it stood on its platform like a ladder,
without steps—the block, with the hold for the bead to
enter, at the lower end; at the upper the heavy knife of
triangular shape, with its edge like a racer's; hard by it
the shell for the body after decapitation, and in front
the basket for the head; the cord by which the blade is
kept suspended, the framework, painted a dull red, just
discerned in the dismal glimmering of a winter's morn.
lug, all presented s most hideous spectacle.
At 5 o'clock the sound of bugles and drums was heard
in all the passages issuing on the Place de la Roquette.
In a few minutes several squadrons of cavalry were
heard advancing, the men wrapped in the blue or white
cloaks, and the Dragoons' helmets gleaming in the lamp-
light. The place of execution was occupied by cavalry,
as well as the space which rims round both prisons. In
less than half an hour numerous detachments of infan-
try, preceded by squads of Sergens de Ville to clear the
way, took possession of all the points of the Faubourg
St. Antoine, issuing on the Roquette, and whoever
chanced to pass in that direction was obliged to show
satisfactorily that he was going on his lawful occupation.
The armed force called into requisition on this occasion
was calculated at over 5,000 men; they were under the
immediate command of a General of Brigade.
Precisely at 6 o'clock Orsini and Pierri were awoke
from their sleep by the governor of the prison, who an-
nounced that their last hour was come. The Abbe
Hugon, chaplain of the Roquette, and the chaplain of
the Conciergerie, were present. The wretched men ap-
peared calm when the news, which could not have taken
them by surprise, was announced to them. They heard
mass and received the Communion with respect, if not
devotion. Soon after they were taken to the room called
de la toilette, for the change of dress. It is not large.
On the present occasion it contained, besides the chap-
lains and the governoriof the prison, about 30 persons, the
principal among whom were the greffier, or clerk, repre-
senting the Court of Assize and the huissier, or usher
who was charged with reading the sentence on the
scaffold. The remainder were apparently police agents.
When the convicts entered the ehanibre de toilette they
were placed at different extremities of it, with their
backs turned to each other. There were two assistant-

from Rouen, the other from Caen,
besides him of Paris. These lost no time in preparing
the convicts for the scaffold. Diming the dreadful opera-
tion Orsini remained calm; and, though he was not so
loud or contradictory as during his trial, Pierri WAS
somewhat excited. The strait-waistcoat somewhat in-
terfered withhis gesticulations, but he hardly oeasedtalk-
ing for a moment. When the executioner was pinion-
ing him he asked that the fastenings should not be
drawn too tight, as he had no intention of escaping. The
cold touch of the steel on his neck when the scissors cut
off his hair, so as not to interfere with the guillotine, for
an instant appeared to thrill through him; but he re-
covered himself when he found his beard untouched. He
thanked the executioner for letting him die with his
face as became s man. When the hood, to which the
veil which covers the features of the parricide is sus-
pended, was put over his head, he is said to have laughed,
and attempted a joke about the figure he must cut. At
this moment he turned his head and perceived Orsini;
he saluted him gaily, and asked how he was getting on.
He was interrupted by Orsini, who was himself under-
going the same operation with the same sang frond as if
he were under the hands of a valet dresaing for arrty, with
the words, "Be calm, becalm, my friend. Pierri's
tongue ran on, however. The assistant proceeded to strip
him of his shoes, for in pursuance of the sentence they
were to proceed to the scaffold barefooted. The man
appeared to hesitate, but Pierri encouraged him to pro-
ceed, and assisted him as much as he could still talking.
The operation being over, and the toilette complete, he
turned toward the turnkey and asked to be allowed to
embrace him. This request was complied with. The
moment of moving now came and the Abbe Hugon cried
out " Courage!" " Oh! lam not afraid—l am not
afraid," he said, "we are going to Calvary," and in •
sort of feverish excitement he repeated to himself,
"Calvary, Calvary."
Orsini was, on the other hand, as calm and tranqui
as his fellow-convict was excited. He spoke little' but
when the governor of the prison and some of the officers
approached him he bade them in • low tone of voice
farewell. The turnkey of his cell announced to him in a
tone of regret that his last moments were come. Orsini
thanked him for his sympathy. His hair was also cut
away from his neck, but he underwent the operation
without flinching. At the moment when the hood was
put on his head, his face, which up to that moment was.
calm and impassible, became flushed for • moment and
his eye lighted up.
The prison cloOk struck 7; before the last sound died
away the door leading to the scaffold opened as of itself.
The Abbe Hugon entreated Pierri to profit by the few
moments still left to collect his thoughts and assume a
calmer attitude. He promised to be calm, but said he
should chant a patriotic hymn ; and it is said that he
actually began to sing the well•lemown " Mourir pour la
Petrie." Leaning on the Abbe Hugon he mounted 15
steps of the scaffold, still repeating the verses of the
song.
Orsini was supported by the chaplain of the Comfier-
genie, and his calmness never abandoned him for a
moment. When he appeared on the platform it could
be seen, from the movement of his body and of his
head, though covered with the veil, that he was look-
ing out for the crowd, and probably intended addressing
them. But they were too far off. The greffier then
directed the usher to read the sentence of the Court
condemning the prisoners to the death of parricides.
The usher, who was an old man, over 60, was evidently
much moved at having to perform this duty, and he
trembled as much from emotion as from cold, as he
read the document, which no one listened to.
After this formality was terminated Orsini and Pierri
embraced their spiritual attendants, and premed their
lips on the crucifix offered to them. They then gave
themselves up to the headsman. Pierri was attached to
the plank in an instant. He was executed find. The
moment his veil was raised, and before his head was.
laid on the block, it is affirmed that he cried "Vivo
t Italie—Vire to Republgue l"
Orsini was then taken in hand. His veil was raised,
and his countenance still betrayed no emotion. Before
he was fastened to the plank he turned in the direction
of the distant crowd, and, it is said, cried" Vice to
Prance t" It was but five minutes past 7 when the
second head fell into the basket. A cold ahudder ran
among those whose attention was fixed upon, what was
passing on the scaffold, and for an instant,„there was
deep silence. It passed off, however, very AOOll. When
all was over men went to their work, and parties who
had gone together to the spot from distant quarters of
the town hastened home to breakfain. The morning
was becoming clearer every moment. The troops began
to move as if about to leave the ground. The guillotine
was lowered and taken off; the crowds gradually
thinned; some few group. still lingered about the spot',
but the cold was bitter, and the snow began to fall, and
ins few hours the place was deserted.
The number of deaths from the attempt for which
these wretched men suffered now amounts, I am
as-
sured,to 14.

I sin-just informed that De Radio is to be sent to
London to give evidence against Bernard.
I have reason to believe that the demand which the
French Government has made on that of Sardinia for
the extradition of Mr. Hodge, who, it is alleged, was
implicated in the attempt on the Etuperor's life, has
been refused. It appears that an extradition treaty
exists between France and Berdinia, one of the clauses
of which provides for the extradition of subjects of a
third Power, though not • contracting party, if the
sanction of that Fewer can be obtained. The sanction
of England has been requested in the case of Mr. Hoofge,
and refused by Lord Derby's Government In tbe
meantime Mr. Hodge remains in prison, and is well
treated.

Printed and published for the Proprietors by Joins
BARTLETT ATILINB, Of Pordintn Hill, Dorchester,
Printer, at the Offloe of The ad Cosseyarreas,
Church Street, Dorchester.— Tuesday, Mania leeb,

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