Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-07

stationed as to prevent the curious from
traversing the road through which the
cortege was to pass. On every tree OF
the Bouvelvards and gardens adjacent
commanding a view Of them, there
were perched from 10 to Is persons.
The dead walls along the Boulevards
were also crowned with crowds. We
think it would be falling short Of the
number to estimate at $4,000 that of
the curious who had taken their station
from the extremity Of the Luxembourg
garden to that part OF the Boulevard
which adjoins the place of execution.
| The crowd would have been still more
considerable, had not the precaution
been taken Of closing the external bar
riers.
Now and then Morey looked out of
the door of his vehicle, to see whether
the scaffold was yet in sight. A few
moments before the arrival Of the cor.
tege, the commissioners Of the police
on the Place st. Jacques allowed that
portion fthe crowd which was near.
est to very wide circle formed round
the guillotine to take their station with.
in that circle, which was instantly FL.
led with three thousand persons.
The three vehicles soon made their
appearance, followed by those Of the
executioner and his assistants. All
eyes were then fixed on the doors OF
the vehicles containing the condemned
which had been left open for them to
to be seen by the public as much as
possible.
They all three descended with the
same calmness they had shown during
the preparations.
Pepin was the first to descend from
his vehicle.
He mounted the scaffold with firm
step, and exhibited in his entire deport.
ment, a degree Of calmness and resig.
nation that formed strange contrast
with the weakness and irresolution dis.
played by him during his trial. On
reaching the fatal scaffold he bowed to
the assembled multitude, resigned him.
self into the hands Of the executioner,
ant in another moment ceased to live.
TIE appearance ofthe next prisoner
(Morey) who assembled the scafiold, ex.
cited an intensely painful feeling among
the populace. His age, his physical
lnfirmities, and his venerable gray
hairs, seemed to command respect, in
spite even Of the terrible charges a.
gainst him, and the conclusive evil.
dence Of his guilt which he was now on
the point ofexpiating with his life. In
consequence of his extreme debility, he
was actually lifted on the scaffeld by
the exccutioner and his assistants, by
whom he was strapped to the fatal
board. The knife then descended, and
almost before the countless and breath.
less multitude could perceive the sig.
nal given for its fall, the wretched cri.
minal was hcadlcss corpse.
1t was now Fieschi's turn to brave
the embrace of death, with which he
had long boasted his readiness 10 form
companionship. He mounted the steps
leading to the scaffold without the
slightest symptom of faltering or wav.
erlng, attended by the ecclesastic who
had accompanied him from the prison.
Arrived on the platform, he whispered
few words in the ear of his rev.
erend attendant, and then embra.
ced him warmly. He then said
few words to the crowd, but on ac-
count of the distance we were able
to distinguish only the phrase, 81 die
iearlessly--l have declared the truth"
AS soon as the priest by whom he was
attended had Quilted the platform, the
executloner performed the melancholy
office, and Fieschi joined his comrades
in guilt and misfortune, in another
world.
Fieschi, though he twice saw the
axe raised, colored with the blood of
his accomplices, never showed the
slightest emotion of fear or horror, but
continued 10 converse with those ar.
round him till the assistant executioner
laid his hand upon his shoulder as IN.
dlcating that the fatal moment for him
had arrived. Fieschi, accompanied
by his confessor whom he had entrcat.
ed not to leave him till the latest mo.
ment, came forward without hesitation
and requested permission to address
the spectators. NJ. Vassal, the com.
mlssary of police, consented, but de.
sired that he would be brief. He i'm.
mediately mounted the steps with ex.
traordinary rapidly, and placing him.
self IN the attitude of an orator, pro-
nounced the following words with a
clear and firm voice.-"I am about TO
appear before my God. / have told