Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21

Finding the municips materially inerfered with the show
the people soon began occupy the and mppost the
adjacent walls and the roofs Of the neighbong houses while
the nfanty having piled arms wazsd and danced to keep
Soon after daylight the hamnerns ceased and the pre-
partitions appeared TO be completed and shortly afterwards
strong bodies Of cavalry began take up their positions in all
ne streets Leading Aio the Place The first Of the Off
Ger commanding these was to clear the square entirely all
people who had collected In rear Of the infantry and
them along the adjacent Streets an order was also
given TO dslodge the people out Of the trees and from The
walls and and this caused much grounding and
swearing of all concerned. Some msriment however was
excited Dy the discovery OF in the Trees and their
descent superintendent by the dragons below gave
Tor the exercise of much not decent wit amongst the
troopers struck that in their manner Of dealing with
crowd there much harshuess on the part
Of the troops and iitaby and freuness often exhibited
by persons doubtful Of their authority, and very unlike
the calm good humored superiority with which
Presently two general officers with their staff and
each followed by mounted "jocke lads dressed as English
grooms OF whom one well by bis fair complexion and
honest round face the wilderness Of bis tops and ahe and
the general superiority of bis turnout by his firm and
easy seat on horseback, evidently native Of own
country.
About hour after sunrise three caeches came rapidly
down the road, passing Windows each carrisge contain
Ing three persons the condemned and two police officers
he troops opened out and the were landed at the foot
OF the platform Il may be we'll to describe the general ap
pearance Of the scaifod. EH s,s{
On platform about twelve feet square and seven feet
above the ground erected the upright posts between
which 10 suspended the They somewhat resemble
narrow galows scarcely than foot between the posts
The axe, which Is not unlike hay knife, though much
heavier ard BROADER is drawn up the top Of the pos be-
tween which it In grooves and held suspended by
loop in the hayads, passed button at the bottom.
The edge of the hangs suspended not horizontal
or at right angle with the post, but diagonal giving the
instrument fearful power in conjunction with its weight
and long fall Of sheang through resisting substance Of
many times more opposing force than human neck On
the centre of the platform stands ame large box, much
resembling soldiers armchss about six feet long by two
and half wide, and probably much high One end OF
this abuts upon the upright posts, at the other end small
frame, like truck connected about its centre with the chest
BY hinges and with strap and buckle, to make fast to the
mans body. Eaa
The prisoners having dismouuted were placed in ane
the ground facing the guIone, their Pnioned They
were very different in appearance Feschi had most SIMS
ter and erocious expression Of face rende more 50 BY the
scars scarcely healed apparently inflicted by the bursting Of
his barrels He plainly dresaed and appeared like
workman Of the better class his age about thirty fve
Morey advanced in le perhaps seventy bald
head was partly covered by black cap revealing the white
hairs behind and at the sides he was coPuen large
figure dressed completely in black, with mild intelligent
face, and altogether very genemany air and manner
Pepin was small, ,hin-faced, Insignificant man.
Pepn was chosen Arst for execution Having been de-
prived of his and kkerchie and the collar Of his
shirt turned down. be led by the eIecuoner up the steps
Of the platform. He assembled with air Of considerable
bravado, shook himself and looked round with much conf
dence and spoke words which could not catch, and
which the execuoner appeared disposed to cut short Hav
ing advanced with his breast against the truck, to which his
body was rapidly strapped, he then tilted down, truck
and all, upon bis face and the truck moving upon small
wheels casters In grooves upon the chest he moved
rapidly forwards, till his neck directly under the chop
per- whe the ropebeing unlocked from the button the
fell with loud and awful chop" the head rolling down
upon the bare platform After the separation Of the head the
body moved with much convuve energy, and had it not
o.lo
connected with the raised PLATFORM would probably have rolled
down the lower stage The executoner then held the
head to view for moment, and suspect from some laugh
ter among the troops made facetous remark The lid OF
large basket aongsde the chest then raised and the body
rolled into it.
Morey the next victim He ascended the steps eby,
and required much assistance he also supported during
the process of sapping him. His bald head and venerable
appearances made favorable impression upon the spectators
and elected the only expressions and sympathy observable
throughout the executions.
Feschi last and most unnerved Of the three
He appeared throughout in anng condition. and hung his
head in pitable state Of prosaton Very little consdera
ton shown him. rather he pushed and thrust about
in way which was indecent if not Disgusting whatever
might have been his crimes Some little difficulty occurred
in placing his head conveniently under the axe, feco
ing motion of the prisoner He certainly the least brave
Of the three. The execuoner having rolled his body into
the larger basket with the Others took up that containing the
three heads which having empied upon the bodies ne gave
the bottom Of the basket ocuar tap, which, being
panied with lifting Of his foot behind, and probably
funny and seasonable observation created good deal of
riment amongst the spectators.
The guotne is apparently the most mercfu but certain
y the most terrible to Witness Of any form of execution in
civilized Europe The fatal chop, the neck the spoung
blood very shocking to the feelings and demorazng
such exhibitions cannot fail to generate ept Of eocity
and love Of bloodshed among those who witness them It
uncommon at this period in Paris execute sheep
and calves with the gullotine and fathers Of families would
pay small obsin such gratifying show for their
children In such may trace the old eaven Of
the first revolution, the germ Of future ones
The fate Of poor DR.. Guilotne singular He
the machine which be had invented from feelings
Of pure philanthropy made the instrument Of the most hor
BILE butcheres the aptness Of the invention VIGOROUSLY in
crossing the number Of the victims who fell by it. and he
died n extreme old age with the bitter reflection that bis
would be handed down posery in connection with
the detesabe erocies which have stained the
annals Of mankind. IN tss
RECKLESS vILLANY.
10 the Of the Michigan conspiraors, trial
Detroit Jacob olyer testified that Flley, the Prices, and
himself moved the track Michigan Centre the 18th
10Th of August last and that the train Off that Fey
and the Prices said they did how many might be
killed that il witness said word about il they would kill
him that in September witness and Filley laid stick
twelve feet long foot wide, and eight inches thick
the track over cuver that the train injured and
detained that Fitch the day said it good trick;
another in September helped Fley py up the switch
bar but the train threw il back its place, and damage
done Fey said the object inure the company