The southern press., 1851-08-07
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| RRLH5UM.
ExEcUrios or Cossr BocAasls 49, The exc
cution Of Count Hippoiyts visart de Bocsrme
cond emDed for poisoning the brother Of his wif;
with essential oil of Tobacco. took plaoe u
Mons. In Belgium. on Friday, July lG. II wa,
not till the previous day that either the con
demued or the pubIic Of Mons wss made aware
OF the time fixed for the event. About six IL
the morning M. G0dding, governor of the prison
repaired to the cell Of The unhappy Count, and
Informed him that his appeal to the court oI
Cessation had been rejected. The frat effect OF
this intelligence ON the convict was a profound
stupcfaction. A moment afterwards he ex-
clAmed--s Impossible" His face, ordinarily
pale bcame Immediately suffused with blood.
and his lin bs trembIed violently Presently he
began to speak Of the possibil lies Of yet re-
ceiying a pardon. The governor told him that
he had little 10 hope for from that extreme re-
source. He was then left in his CELL under the
guardianship Of the three keepers. who had
never left hun 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 tho udg-
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.
qnillity. have but one more request 10
make said the count, "be kind enough TO take
care that the blade Of the guilotine is well
sharpened. have read of executions where
much suffering has followed the neglecs of this
precaution, and the thought of that makes me
tremble." The procureur told him he would
observe his request AZ the last wish Of dying
man. The magistrate on leaving said, aYou
have now no affairs to occupy you but those of
kk al ~ =.
the counts response. NJ. Able andre, Chap
lain of the prison, and NJ Descamps, Dean of
st. Wandru, were sent for: the latter brought
with him the Archbshc p 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. 1t 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 dinDer-Scupe du lait, pullet
and some caulfower, and pound of cherries
were brought, Of all which be ate readily At
later hour he betrayed real emotion At in
tervals he wept, and at last consented to listen
to the consultations of the priest At o'clock
he confessed A few minutes before, he had
seen through the grating NJ. Mlthys, the sur
geon OF the military hospital, who was passing
by the prison. He called this gentlemen in
supplieatng 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
respecting the sharpness Of the knife, and beg
ged him TO see it personally. The surgeon left,
promising to come on the morrow.
From this moment tile condemned manifested
no sign of emotion nor fear From time to time,
however, he inquired respecting the hour, and
went ike child, and sat on the knee of one of
his 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, will give each of you 100000
francs if you will let me escape" At 10 o'clock
the procureur again visited him in his cell. AZ
ter their departure he asked for &c me refresh.
ment. One Of the keepers offered him some
guafrettes and biscuits, with glass of wine.
These he refused, saying that he felt unwell,
end would prefer capon and more cherries
From this moment until the hour when the exc.
cutioner was TO prepare him for the scaffold, he
sat in his cell talking with his confessor and
maintaining all the GOODNESS and resignation of
manner which characterized his demecnor on the
trial. AT midnight the erection of the scaffold
began, and by six in the morning the suns rays
were reflected from the polished blade Of the
engine of DEATH From commendabe feeling
of the solemnity of the occasion, all the proprie-
tors of cafes hotels, and shops closed their estab
lishments, and the blinds of private houses were
likewise drawn down. An immense crowd as
sembled TO witness the execu.io- and waited in
profound silence in front of the prison. A
little after six, the executioncr entered the
counts cell and the preparations were completed
without the least departure on the part of the
condemned from the sang frod which he had
hitherto maintained. "Are you my executioner =
said he, "Yes, M. lie Comte." "Ahw This was
his last word before ascending the scaffold He
was accompanied to 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. Hav.
ing inhaled for moment the scent of bottle
of toilette vinegar offered him by the dean of
st. Wandru, he embraced him and the arch.
bishop, kissed the crucifx for the last time.
walked steadily mp the steps, and placed himself
on the board, to which the assistants of the exc
cutioucr were waiting to fasten him with straps.
During this operation, which lasted five minutes
he turned his head several times and looked at
the crowd. Then to one Of the men, who, being
nervous was hurried in his manner, |
he said, "Not so fast, there is time enough"
and an instant afterward, Slacken this thong |
so much precaution is not needed" All prepara-
ton being COM le'ed, he regarded the knife for
a moment with a look of Mingled curiosity and
astorishment, and then laid his head on the
cushion. The executioner gave the signal,
dull, heavy sound was heard, and Hippolytc Bo-
carme, having suffered the judgment Of man,
passed to the presence Of his God.