The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-15
The Science of the Gu,llotine.

Inc science OF TIC
"a A correspondent of the New York
Times who witnessed the execution of
s.s Verger. the murderer of the Archbishop
Of Paris gives graphic description of the
science of the guillotine:
= - The scaffold is erected about eighty
80 feet from the front door OF the prison,
on four permanent blocks of stone, in the
:, center of The roadway leading from the
Ss'l prison to the Street. The square is plant
ed with trees. On both sides of the road
way stood double file of soldiers with
presented arms. When Verger issuel
~ sfrom the gate supported by the execu-
ssf'a toner and the chaplain, and saw standing
- before him the fatal instrument, his force
:. forsook him. and he sank down 1t was
ss. this passage of eighty feet that was
terrible for the criminal, for he knew that
the moment he assembled the steps before
= him his head would fall.
gH4 Yerger was hurried along to the fatal
adl steps, On the way he did not cease to
repeat ..Lamb of God, who tnketh away
-. the sin of the world pity me!'' lie also
81. cried picc Jesus Christi" The scaifold
was at an elevation of about fives feet from
zas the ground. Arrived on next to tho last
i. step, he fell on his knees on the floor of
~ the scalfold, pronounced afew words of
prayer, and then. addressing the chaplain,
said: "My brother, ! charge you to make
aanende honorable in my name to all my
superior eeclesiastics whom have oifYld-
seed or made sorry; tell then that demand
.a'spardon of them as pardon them myself.
s. offer my life in expiation of my faults
He then kissed the crucifx and turned
sssand gave hasty embrace to the chaplain;
sfsi bat he never rose to his feet. AS he at
sSstempte9 to do so the eXecutioner, who
stood behind him, pushed him forward on
- to the slab which carries his head under
e.usthe knife. This slab, which is SO placed
as to receive the body as the criminal rises
from his knees an the last step or floor of
- the Scafold, is new invention, used now
"a only for the third time. 1t receives the
knees to the upper part OF the chest, OF
necessity leaving the neck and head pre-
jecting beyond. AS the criminal falls up
on it, instead of being obliged to tie him
there as was formerly the custom, an ope-
ration that was sometimes difficult if the
prisoner saw fit to struggle, springs now
This slab slides easily iu grooves, and a
slight pressure on the person of the crlml-
nal pushes it forward and places his neck
in the notch into which the knife falls. A
man is on the other side, ready to seize
his head as it passes in order to steady it,
while another stands ready to pull the
rope which lets the knife fall.
The knife is in form like the knife OF q
straw-cutting box, only much heavier
1t is placed diagonally in the two up.
rights, along the sides of which it gllde'
like q saw-mill gate; its diagonal position
gives ita saving motion in cutting through
the neck. It falls about twelve feet, ano
ESQ nicelyis its weight adapted to the ferct
required, that it not much more than cuts
off the head without superfuous noise
xsThe moment the knife falls the spring;
relax By a quick movement, the body Ii
Arolled off on to bascute at the Side
ssswllieh, in turn, tumbes the body on
aboard, at the end of which stands two mel
ready to seize it aud slide it into close
carriage, which stands ready backed W
szefor the purpose. In like manner the maj
Nswhich is charged with the holding OF th'
head lets it drop into basket at his feet
S~seizes the basket, and hands it to maj
Szoff the scaffold, who Immediately places
win wagon with the body; the door OF tn
wagon is closed precipitately, and at onc'
moved off the ground. All this is but tn
work of an instant.
-@s When Verger was pushed forward OF
rthe board he raised up his shoulders as
Ito try to release himself from the clamps
His head was bare, and as he did SO h
turned his face upwards sufficiently to TAX
a Jast hurried look to the side where
stood. I shall never forget this last glanc
of the criminal His face was then inject
ed, no doubt from being pushed forwar'
so suddenly on the board, and this move
s~ment served the double purpose of bring
ling the body fat aud of sliding the hea'
under the axe The little wheel at tn
ss top of the upright turned half round ant
the knife fell!
The whole affair was accomplished Wit
esuch rapidity that great majority OF tn
audience did not know that it had occurr
ed Indeed, its rapi0ity was its mos
frightful feature. From the moment tn
condemned man issued from the gate I'll
his body had left the ground was.but on
,gminuse by the watch! The assassinatio
4swas not less magnifciently performed tina
the expiation!
THRILLING RoMANcE-Sold. Som
time since Cincinnati paper received an
printed the first chapter of what promis
ed to be a thrilling romance, in the ez
pectation of being provided with the cor
L.