The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-09 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION OF THE GREEK
BRIGANDS.

The lest (the 18th) comber of the official correspondence
on the Athenian massacreo contain. the following report
addressed to Mr. Erskine by Mr. Watson, Secret.ty of Iler
Majesty.. I,Ratt,m, upon tile execution on the morning of
the 20th of June of live of the brigands belonging to the
Arvaniti band, who were condemned to death on the 22nd of
May

"Ma. WATSON TO Ma. ERsKINE.
"Athens, June 20, 1870.
" ' '

"Sir,—l attended the execution of five of the con.
demned brigands of Takoe' band, which was carried
out between half-past six and seven o'clock this morn-
ing in the apace called the Polygon, at the upper end
of the Champ de Mare.

"From daybreak people were walking thither, and
when I arrived there with Count della Minerva, at five
o'clock, the hill immediately above WAS crowded to the
top.

"A hollow square was formed around the guillotine,
and was lined by thr-e companies of infantry, one of
artillerymen, and a troop of cavalry, the whole under
the Commandant de Place. The Procureur du Roi,
the Italian Minister and myself, some officers of the
Royal Oak and Jaseur, the King's chaplain, and some
of the jury who had found the prisoners guilty, were
admitted within the square.
The crowd was quint and perfectly orderly till
half-past six, when a general shout from those on the
hill announced the coming of the prisoners. They
came each separately in a carriage, each with two sol-
diers, preceded by the two exicutioners in another
carriage, and escorted by a troop of cavalry. As soon
as the executioners had seen that the guillotine was in
order, the first carriage came into the square and the
brigand Costa was made to alight, when hie sentence
was read over to him and he was handed over to be put
to death. As his legs were being bound he requested
that he might not be put to pain; and as he was being
tied to the guilt itine he turned to the crowd on the
right and begged them to forgive him as he hoped tip be
forgiven of Col As he was tilted forwards he
was answered by a yell of execration, and in two
seconds more the knife hail fallen and his head had
rolled into the basket.

"Next came Alexis, the brigand accused of having
murdered Mr. Herbert, I watched his demeanour
narrowly, and though he did not now exhibit the scorn-
fulness which made him so remarkable at the trial, he
showed to the Net that he possessed the utmost courage.
Like Costa, he turned to the bystanders and asked
them to forgive him, as they hoped for salvation. They
were awed by the sight they had seen, and not a voice
replied to Alexis; yet his bright eye never once quailed,
not even at the sight of his companion's headless trunk.
The next two brigands executed--with one of whom
came their confessor—had been taken before the ex.
cursion to Marathon. The first of these uttered a
piteous cry of horror at the sight below as his head was
being fitted to the block ; he said nothing to the croaff.
The seconi had to be lifted out of the carriage by the
execntioners, and as his miserable emaciated form was
stretched at full length he uttered a cry for forgiveness.
"The last of th, se who suffered was Photi ; he, too,
had to be lifted out of the carriage, and lull by the
two men while his sentence was being read over. He
seemed to be suffering great pain, and repeatedly
begged of the executioners to be careful to avoid hurt-
ing his leg. Ho was at length adjusted, mai turned
with his face to the ground, and had scarcely uttered
a moan when the string was pulled, and the fatal knife
fell for the fifth and last time.

'1 have, &c.,

"R. G. WATSON."