Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-08-26
Execution of Count Bocarme.


The execution of Hippolyie Visad de Bo-
carme, condemned for poisoning the brother
OF his wife with essential oil Of tobaccn, took
place at Mons. in Belgium. on Friday, JuIy
18th. About six in the morning. M. God.
ding repaired TO The cell Of the Count, and
informed him ths, his appeal TO the Court
| Of Cessation bad been rejected.
The first effect OF this intelligence on the
convict was profound stupefaclion. A mo-
ment afIerward he exclaimed--.'Impossiblen' en'
His face. ordinary pale became Immediately
spffused with blood, and his limbs trembled
violently Presently he began to speak OF
The possibility of YET receiving a PARDON
The governor told him that be had lille 20
hope from that extreme resourse.
The p2ocureur read TO him the judgement
ofthe Court ofCassation. and the rejection
of his appeal, and told him the day and hour
fixed for execution. This terrible su-
nouncement was received With the mqsll qsll geI.-
nough TO take care that the blade Of the gull
lotine is we'll s'arpened. have read Of ex,
ecntions where much suffering has followed
the neglect Of this precauiiop, ard the
thonght Of that makes me tremble."
The procureur told him he would observe
his request as The last wish Of dying man.
The magistrate. on leaving said: "You have
DOW 90 affairs to occupy you but those OF
your soul" THAT is the priests affair"
was the Counts response. The condemned
was left alone with The Archbishop; but not
withstandiug the urgent entrealies, he re.
refused To confess.
At a late hour he betrayed real emo
tion. AT intervals he wept, and at last con-
sented TO hasteo to the consolation OF the
priest. At 4 o'clock he confessed.
From this moment the condemned mani
tested no signs Of emotion nor fear. From
time TO time, however he enquired respec-
ting The hour, and wept like a child. and sat
on The knee OF one of his keepers. from whom
he had conceived an affection. In the even.
ing. without any preparation, and as il sud.
denly struck with the thought, he exclaimed,
81 will give each Of you 100000 francs II
you will let me escape"
From this moment until the hour when
the executIoner was to prepare him for the
scaffold, he sat in his cell talking with his
coniessor and maintaining all the coolness
and resignation OF manner which character.
ized his demeanor on the trial.
A little afier six, the executioner entered
the Counts cell, and the preparations did no,
sffec; the prisoner. 'Are you my execution
e,!' "Yes, NJ. lie Com,e." "Ah1 This was
us idsN "ofu OCtutC dSCcuutUR tuC SCdIOtus
Having inhaled for moment the scent of
bottle or toilette vinegar offered him by the
Dean Of 81. Wandtu, he embraced him and
the Archbishop, kissed the crucifx for the
last time, walked steadily up the steps, and
placed himself on the board, TO which the
assistants Of the execurioner we're waiting to
fasten him with straps.
Then to one Of the men, who being some
what nervous was hurried 10 his manner. he
said. "Not so FAST there is time enough"
and an instant aforward. "Slacken this thong:
so much precaution is Lot needed"
All preparation being complete, he regar-
ded the knife for moment with look Of
mingled curiosity and astonishmenf, aud
then laid his head on the cushion. The ex-
ecutouer gave the signal. dull. heavy
sound was heard, and Hippoyte Bocaime,
having suffered the judgement OF man, pass
ed TO the presence Of his God.