The southern press., 1851-08-09
BELGIUM.

porous. But II now appears that the money "
paw this dividend was borrowed 7"
~ BELGIUM.
ExEcuTIoN OF CoUNT BocARME.-The exc
cution of Count HippoIyte Visart de Bocarme.
condemned for poisoning the brother of his wife
with essential oil of Tobacco, took place sfl
Mons, in Belgium. on Friday, July Is. 1t was
not till the previous day that either the con
demned or the public of Mons was made aware
of the time fixed for the event. About six in
the morning M. Godding governor of the prison,
repaired to the cell of the unhappy Count, and
informed him that his appeal to the court Of
Cessation had been rejected. The first effect OF
this intelligence on the convict was profound
stupefaction.. A moment afterwards he ex-
Claimed Impossible" His face, ordinarily
pale, bcame Immediately suffused with blood,
and his limbs trembled violeptly. Presently he
began to speak Of the possibiltie Of yet re-
ceiyng pardon. The governor told him that
le had little 10 hope for fsom that .extEsHe rs-,
source He was then left In his cell, under the
guardianship of the three keepers, who had
never left him since his sentence. He shortly
asked to see the procureur, who visited him in
company with an officer of the court, at eight
o'clock The procureur read to him the judg-
ment of the court of Cessation, and the rejection
of his appeal, and told him the day and hour
fixed for his execution. This terrible announce
ment was received with the most perfect tran
quillity. 81 have but one more request TO
make,' said the count, be kind enough to take
care that the blade of the guillotine is vel
sharpened. have read of executions where
much suffering has followed the neglect of this
precaution, and the thought of that makes me
tremble." The procureur told him he would
observe his request as the last wish of adying
man. The magistrate, on leaving said, You
have now no affairs to occupy you but those of
your soul" That is the priests affair" was
the counts response M. Able andre, Chap
lain of the prison, and M. Descamps, Dean Of
! st. Wandru, were sent for; the latter brought
with him the Archbishop of Cincinnati, distantly
related to the Bocarme family. The condemned
was left alone with the Archbishop but notwith-
standing the most urgent entreaties, he refused
to confess. It was then about noon, and the
clergyman thought it better to leave him to his
own reflections for few hours before making
another appeal to his conscience. At o'clock
he requested dinner-Soupe an lait, puet
and some caulihower, and pound of cherries
were brought, of all which he ale readily. AT a
later hour he betrayed real emotion. At in.
tervals he wept, and at last consented to listen
to the consultations of the priest. AT 4 o'clock
he confessed A few minutes before, he had
seen through the grating NJ. Mathys, the sur
geon of the military hospital, who was passing
by the prison. lie called this gentlemen in d
supplicating voice, and, appealed to him by his
former kindness to come to him now that he so
much needed his support. M. Mathys replied
that the rules of the prison forbade the inter-
view, but he would apply to the governor. He
questioned him further through the grating
4 respecting the sharpness of the knife, and beg
ged him to see il personally. The surgeon left,
promising TO come on the morrow
From this moment the condemned manifested
no sign of emotion nor fear. From time to time.
however, he inquired respecting the hour, and
went like a child, and sat on the knee Of one Of
ms keepers, for whom he had conceived an affec-
ton. In the evening, without any preparation,
and as If suddenly struck with the thought, he
exclaimed, q will give each Of you 100000
francs If you viii LET me escape" At 10 o'clock
the procureur again visited him in his cell. Af.
ter their departure he asked for 81 me refresh
ment. One Of the keepers offered him some
guaffrettes and biscuits, with glass Of wine.
These he refused, saying that he felt unwell,
and would prefer a capon and more cherries
From this moment until the hour when the exc
cutioner was 10 prepare him for the scaffold, he
sat in his cell talking with bis confessor and
maintaining all the GOODNESS and resignation OF
manner which characterized his deme nor on the
trial At midnight the erection Of the scaffold
began, and by six in the morning the SIMS rays
were reflected from the polished blade Of the
engine Of death. From comnendable feeling
Of the solemnity OF the occasion, all the proprie-
tors'of cafes hotels and shops closed their estab.
Iishments, and the blinds Of private houses were
| likewise drawn down. An immense crowd a 3
sembled to witness the executio- and waited in
profound silence in front OF the prison. A
little after six. the executioner entered the
counts cell, and The preparations were completed
without The least departure on the part OF the
condemned from the sang froid which he had
hitherto maintained. "Are you my executioner 2
said he, ayes, NJ le Comte." aAhw This was
his last word before ascending the scaffold. He
was accompanied 10 the place Of execution by
the archbishop OF Cincinnati and the dean Of St
Wandru, and walked unsupported with firm
step, and carrying his head erect His face was
pale, but calm He wore the bosom Of his shirt
open, and had on black pantaloons, silk stock
ings Of The same color, and new enamled pumps.
His hands were secured behind his back. Hay-
ing inhaled for moment the scent Of bottle
Of toilette vinegar offered him by the dean Of
s.. Wandru, he embraced him and the arch
OlsNOp, klsstu tne cfuclHA iOF tue itrt hnt.
walked steadily up the steps, and placed himselt
on the board. 10 which the assistants Of the ere
cutiouer were waiting 10 fssten him with straps
During this operation, which lasted five minutes
he turned his head several times and looked al
The crowd. Then TO one Of the men, who, being
somewhat nervous. was hurried IN his manner
he said, "Not 50 flst, there Is time enough,
and an instant afterward. sSlacken this thong
so much precaution is not needed" All prepare
ton being conn leted, he regarded the knife for
a moment with look Of mingled curiosity and
astonishment, and then laid his head on the
cushion The executoner gave the signal, q
dull, heavy sound was heard, and Hippolyte Bo.
carme, having suffered the judgment Of man,
passed TO the presence Of his God.
FTTyFoRTy FoRTy.-The people Of Oregon
still maintain that their northern boundarys v no.
thing short of 81 4Os and good many are found