Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-28
THE SECRET EXECUTION.
4 Thrilling Tale.

4 Thrilling TalG.
On the 7Lh of May, 1777, the public
executioner of Colma was imprisoned for
having left town without the permission
of the authorities; he was brought up Sc
veral times for examination before the ma
pistrates, and here is the account that he
gave of his absence
He said that one evening at the end of
April, he was alone in his house-hIs
wife and assistants being out-occuPied
in some duty of his Office, such as repair
ing hand cuffs, or putting gibbet toge-
ther when he heard a loud knock at the
door He opened it without hesitation,
an executiouer could scarcely be timid,
expecting some messenger from the ma
gistratc, no other person ever visited his
condemned dwelling. Instead of the fa-
miliar form he expected, he saw before
him three men enveIoped in cloaks, whilst
a carriage slowly advanced, surrounded
by six or seven others. The executioner
saw all this at a glance, he was astonish-
ed, but not frightened.
You are the public .excculioner %
said one OF the strangers.
" Yes, monsieur" was the reply.
' Are you alone ? We wish to speak
20 you in private"
6 am quite alone will you walk in,
gentlemen %
He thought they were messengers from
some neighborinT tribunal, and drew
back to let them enter his house. But he
had scarcely finished speaking. when
these men sprang upon him and bound
him hand and foot, so that he could not
move single limb, and placed him in the
carriage The three men whom he had
seen first, got in also, whilst the others
mounted their horses and set Oft at full
speed. They preserved profound ST
lence whilst they were passing through
the town, but as soon as the smoothness
of the way would allow their voices to be
heard, the man who first addressed him.
touched the arm OF the executioner and
said,
g Listen to me, you have nothing to
| fear, you will receive no hurt. You are
only required to perform an act of justice;
and we will answer for your safety, pro-
vided that you do not attempt to escape,
or try TO penetrate mystery with which
it is not necessary that you should be
fully acquainted. No question of yours
will be answered everything you re-
quire will be given you, and when your
task is accomplished, You shall be brought
back to your home. and receive two hun
dred louis as compensation for your
trouble"
The executioner breathed more freely
after he was told that his life would be
spared, though he still suffered ex-
tremely, not being able to move his
limbs.
g am going to remove the bonds and
gag" said the voice, ''and You will no
longer be subjected to any personal re-
straint, except bandage will be placed
over your eyes in the day and removed
at night; but this is only on condition
that YOU are perfectly o5edient, and do
not speak. At the first cry you dare ut,
ter you are dead man."
He felt the muzzles of two pistols, and
the point of poignard touching his
breast, which easily convinced him that
he had no choice but to submit implicitly;
and as soon as his mouth was free, and he
got permission to speak, he swore with a
thousand oaths that he would obey them
in all things. and would abide by the
conditions they imposed on him.
" In that case" said the p rson, ''you
have nothing to fear"
From this moment not a word was
spoken. They often changed horses. but
always in some retired place. where they
were expected. Although the blinds of
the carriage were firmly closed, his eyes
were bandaged at the first appearance of
day, and the same menaces repeated in
case he should endeayor to discover in
what part of the country he was. He was
otherwise well treated; they gave him a
share of their provisions and wine, which
were both excellent. They sometimes
alighted. but always in forest or some
place, where they would run no risk of
being observed by passers by. This
continued for two days. 1t appeared to
the poor executiouer that during this time
he had crossed the Rhine, and ascended
several mountains On the evening of
second day. after they had been ascend
ing a rising ground for some time, the
carriage stopped. He heard a draw
bridge descend, and he knew from the
sound of the wheels that they had eros
sed deep moat. Although it was per-
fectly dark, the bandage was again pla-
ced upon his eyes whilst they entered as
it appeared to him, into a large conrL yard.
The door of the carriage was opened, and
two men taking the executioner by the
arms led him up several steps He