The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-12 00:00:00

MILITARY EXECUTION IN PARIS.

Sureau, the soldier of the 51st Regiment, who was re-
cently condemned to death by a courtenartial, for the
murder and robbery of an old woman named Gauthier,
on the 29th of May last, was executed on Monday. At
4 o'clock in the morning a priest went to his cell in the
military prison, Rue du Chercho-Midi, and awoke him.
Sureau jumped instantly from his bed, and on being told
that his last day had arrived ho broke out into impreca-
tions against certain persons for not having—as he
alleged they might have done—procured him a commu-
tation of punishment ; but after a while he, on the exhor-
tations of the chaplain, became calmer, confessed to him,
and expressed regret for his crime. He then wrote this
letter to his mother :—" Paris, Sept. 8, 6 o'clock in the
morning. My dear mother,—l write to you at the mo-
ment at which I am about to he executed for the crime
I have committed. I greatly regret not having seen you.
I pardon those who have abandoned me. I have no time
to say more; they are waiting for me to do the job I
Adieu, dear mother. Your son, L. F. SUREIII." The
man was then taken to the chapel, where mass was said.
When it was over he said to the prisoners present, " My
friends, avoid brandy and bad women! It was when in-
t ixicated with brandy that I committed my crime
Adieu ! lam about to expiate my fault I" He after-
wards expressed a desire to have something to eat, and a
breakfast was provided for 'him, of which he partook
heartily. lle was then conveyed in a cellular van to Vin-
cennes, and on his way he passed before the hou,n in
which his crime w.?,s committed. Not fewer than 6,000
soldiers of the garrisons of Vincennes and Paris were as-
sembled in the Champ de Manasivres to witness the exe-
cution, and several Prussian, Bavarian, and Belgian offi-
cers were present. The troops were drawn up in a vast
square, so that each man could see clearly all that took
place, and four soldiers, four corporals, and four sergeants,
all the oldest of their grade, were formed into a platoon
to shoot the criminal. Several officers, deputed by the
court martial, arrived shortly before the prisoner, and
were received by a roll of the drums. Shortly after
the cellular van was seen at the extremity of the
ground, and it caused a thrill of emotion to run through
all the ranks. It advanced slowly—so very slowly that
it was fully 10 minutes in reaching the platoon. Eight
o'clock having been fixed for the execution, the van was
not opened until that hour boomed forth from the clock
of the old fortress. Sureau then descended with a firm
step, but when he saw the platoon of old soldiers, looking
stern arid terrible, he seemed stricken with stupefaction.
When he had somewhat recovered, which he did in a
few moments, a gendarme offered him a pocket handker-
chief to bandage his eyes, but he twice refused it. He
then, addressing the platoon, requested them to tell
their comrades to keep from drink and bad women.
Afterwards, taking off his jacket, he said, "I have been
a soldier, like you, and am so still I Take a good aim
at me—do not tremble !" And, putting his hand on
his breast, he said, "Fire here ! do not miss me I" He
was then placed on the spot indicated for him, and the
judgment condemning him was read aloud. As this
was dove ho knelt, and the priest with him. When
the reading of the judgment was concluded one of the
officers deputed by the court martial cried, "The judg-
ment must now be executed !" The priest, therefore,
kissed the criminal on the forehead and retired, and
the man exclaimed, in a firm voice, "Aim well ! Do
aot miss me I and take care not to hit; my head !" at
the same time folding his arms on his breast. An adju-
tant who was in command of the Platoon then struck
his hands together, and immediately the 12 muskets of
the men were levelled at the criminal. There was a
moment's pause. The officer again clapped his hands,
and at the same instant a report was heard, and the man
fell, pierced with 12 balls. It was taken for granted
that he was killed, but the surgeons on going up to him
found that he was still alive, his frame being agitated
by spasmodic movements, and his eyes being wide open
and starting from their sockets. A sergeant who had
been placed in reserve with a loaded musket was ac-
cordingly summoned, and he gave the man the coup de
grace by discharging the musket in his ear. The troops
then filed off slowly before the body, which was left
on the ground. The Mayor of Vincennes afterwards
drew up a minute of the man having been executed in
his commune ; and the body was conveyed in an artil-
lery
waggon filled with etra‘w to the cemetery to be in-
ttTred.

FRENCII WINES.—Mr. Oliveira, M.P., has arrived in
Paris ; he is accompanied by several friends, who are
devoting the recess to the accumulation of freAll infor-
mation iu reference to the
wines of the various districts
of France, and an inquiry into the probable reduction of
French duty upon English goods—with a view to lay
these facts before Parliament next session. The Cham-
ber of Commerce of Montpellier, the Tribunal of Com-
merce, and the Consultative Chamber of the Society of
Agriculture of the Htrault have, in the most flattering
manner, invited Mr. Oliveira to abanqu,et on Saturday
next, and offered to place at his disposal every informa-
tion upon a question of such interest to the vine culture
of France. After leaving Montpellier, these gentlemen
intend to visit Dijon, Beaune, .Epernon, and other wine
districts.—Ralignani.