The republic., 1851-08-07
From Galignani's Mssssnga, July 81
or couus Al. 8ocarnae

II was rumored at Mons on Friday that the
Count de Bocarme was TO be executed on the tol-
lowing morning. The public did not at first be-
heye that the sentence would be carried into effect
so soon; bat the orders sent TO the gendarmerie'
and the revelations of the employees OF the prison.
proved that the rumor well founded Friday
was market day, and the inhabitants OF the ADA
cent villages who attended 1t eagerly spread the
important news ON their return home.
At six O'Clock on the morning Oh Friday the dl-
rector of the prison of Mons went to the cell OF the
condemned and announced to him That his appeal
had been rejected by the court OF cessation. Count
de Bocarm@ was plunged into stupefachon on hear
ing this ss Ii is impossible :" he calculated And
il was observed that the blood rushed 10 his tenn
ples and that his face, ordinarily pale, became ex-
cessively red After pause OF some moments, he
began 10 speak Of his petition TO the King for par
don. The director told him that be had little TO
expect from that quarter. straight waistcoat
was then put on him, and he was left under the
care of three turkeys, who had been charged TO
watch him since his condemnation.
After while the condemned asked to see the
Procureur de Roi That functionary went to the
prison at eight O'Clock, and read to him the Judg-
ment of the court of ssation, by which his ap-
peal was reievdd. and the day and hour OF his ex-
ecution fixed. The count received the terrible IN
telligence with the most perfect calm 81 only ask
one thing" said he to the Procureur du Roi, "and
that is that you will take that the fatal knife
shall be thoroughly sharpened. have read that
in certain executions the knife had to be dropped
several times, because 1t was not sharp enough;
and the very thought of that makes me shudder ("
The Procureur du Roi promised to comply with
what he considered the last wish OF a dying man.
And he added, that the condemned had now moth
ing else to do earth than 10 occupy himself with
the salvation of his soul.
The Abbe Andre, chaplain OF the prison, and the
Abbc Deschamps, dean Of st. Wandru, were sent
for. The latter was accompanied by the Arch
bishop Of Cincinnati, lin parfibs,) who is distant
ly related to the Bocarme family. The count was
lsft with fhe arch hilf
preate's exhortations he refused to confess This
was about midday; and it was resolved TO leave
him for time to his reflections. At one O'Clock
he asked for dinner. basin OF SOUP fowl, and
some caulihowers were supplied. In compliance
with his request, pound OF cherries were alter
wards brought, and he ate the whole. Somewhat
later in the day he displayed emotion, and wept
seyeraI times. AT last he consented to receive
spiritual consolation and at four O'Clock confessed.
a httie before. he saw, through the ratings of the
parlor, DIR. Mathys, an assistant surgeon OF the
military hospital, and he duplicated him In fant
voice to come and speak to him. ''Doctor," said
he, ''come, pray you, you have been SO KIND TO
me, and have SO much need of you now"
.'Monsicur le COMPETE replied DIR. Mathys,
"the regulations of the prison prevent me from
complying with your requests" "Oh, it ia only
for a moment that ask you to come" '.Ill ask
the permission OF the director OF the prison." "Ah,
thank you," replied the count, sand endeavor to
learn if the knife be sharp. have read that peo-
pie suffer after the head is cut off, Tell me, Is that
sso?" The doctor answered that that q vulgar
Aerror, for that death instantaneous. "Come
and me again" said the count al will return
TO- morrow" answered the doctor.
Z The condemned from this moment gave way to
no emotion. From time 10 time, however, he asked
that o'clock it was, and seated himself like child
the knees of one of the turnkeys, to whom he had
ken liking. In the evening he all at once said
1.-THE turnkeys, as if by sudden inspiration-'I
III give each fyou l0O,000f. if you will allow me
escape" The Procureur du Roi and his clerk
Slrned at 10 o'clock in the evening to the prison
tr the departure, the condemned asked for
,fthing to eat. One of the turnkeys presented
yith some biscuits and glass of wine and wa
dxies
From this time up to the arrival of the execu-
tioner the condemned remained In conference
with his confessor, and displayed the same pro.
found calm as he did before the court of asszes.
At midnight the construction of the scaffold com
menced by torchlight, in the Grand Place of the
town. The executioner, an old man, presided over
the operation A number of persons assembled
from curiosity, but easily kept in order by a
few soldiers. At one O'Clock the scaffolding was
terminated Several trials were made to see that
the knife worked well; and early in the morning II
was CREASED. At the moment q considerable crowd
was assembled and they looked on with mute hor-
ror. In the morning, most of the houses, hotels,
and shops opening on the square, had their win
dows cosed most of the shops IN other parts of the
town were also shut up. Five or six gendarmea
sufficed to keep the crowd at distance from the
scaffold. The most profound silence was main
tanned
The executioner and his assistants went at six
O'Clock to the prison, and proceeded to make the
toilet of the condemned The count displayed the
most perfect sang roid and said to the executoner
with a sad smile-" Is it you, then, who are to exc
cute me3'' "Y Yes Monsieur lie COMPETE "Ahn
The condemned did not utter another word unit
he reached the scaffold. He conveyed to it ir
closed cart such is used for prisoners, and wal
escorted by sixteen gendarmes, under the com
mand of lieutenant.
The Archbishop of Cincinnati, in episcopal cos.
tune, and the Dean of Wandru, were with him IL
the vehicle. On arriving near the scaffold he de-
scended without support. At his presence an i'm
mense murmur rose from the crowd. He walked
with his head erect and firm step TO the scaffold
His features were pale but calm. His beard, which
had not been cut since his trial, was long. His
shirt was open on his breast He wore black trow
sers, white stockings, and had on paten
leather shoes. His hands were tied behind hi
back.
At the foot of the scaffod he respired vial O
vinegar, and embraced the Archbishop and ths
Dean of Snnte Wandru. He then kissed the cru
cifx, and ascended the steps without visible emo
ton. On reaching the platform he placed himsel
near the plank, and the executioners proceeded to
strap him TO it, This operation lasted nearly five
minutes and whilst it was in progress he severa
times turned his head round to look at the crowd
One of the executioner's assistants having begun
to attach the bands very hastily, he said, 'Don't
be so quick; have half an hour to spare"
To another, moment later, he observed, "Don
fasten the bands SO tight; it is useless
He then looked up at the knife with sort of as
tonished curiosity. When he fastened to the
plank he calmly placed his head in the groove
the executioner then made signal, and the knife
fell. Five minutes later cart, in which were tn,
bloody remains of the condemned, placed on straw
In a coffin left the square.
In the sitting of the Chamber of Representative
of Belgium, Friday, the following letter to th'
President read
an. LIE PREsIDENT beg of you TO express t.
my colleagues the regret which feel in abandon
ing my relations with them, but circumstance
force me to address my resignation to the Cham
ber. CoUNT VIsART BocARME."
CThe writer of this letter is the uncle of tn,
wretched man executed
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