The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-14
EXECUTION OF VERGER, MUIR.
DERER OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF
PARTISAN WIFI, SCENE


PARTISAN AWFUL SCENE.
ttrom the Paris correspondent of the London Tmes.]
Orders were given on Thursday for the
execution to take place on Friday the Both
and on that morning at half past o'clock
the criminal cxpiatcd his guilt on the scat
fold.
The order of the court for carrying out
its sentence was received at the prison of
La Rooucttc at midnight The bearer
,cas the exccutioncr himself. At O'Clock
this morning the scaflold was already
erected in front of the prison. In spite Of
the silence which had been observed as to
the day of the execution, and the early
hour at which the preparations were made
an immense crowd assembled on the spot,
and so carly as o'clock a considerable
number ofcarriagcs were arriving. Before
I O'Clock the Place dc la Roqucttc and the
streets adjoining were ENGINEERED. The
whole Of yesterday Vcrgcr passed in
state Of fcvcrish rcstlessness; his agitation
increased as the day wore on. He fro
qucntly asked questions about what was
going Oh in the Couct of Cessation, and
maniicstcp ntcnsh anxiety as to the result
OF his appeal. AS night came on he began
ia entertain hopes Of its success from the
fact Of his having received no news of the
proceedings; about ten o'clock he asked
those who watched with him in lis cell
how many days were usually accorded to
conyicts after the rejection Of their appeal
i'll Cessation. This question lie repeated
a. the hour waXcd later. OF the Court lie
at last began to entertain misgivings: hut
he still clung tcnaciously to the hope that
his safety would come from the Emperor
and that the capital sentence would be
committed 10 perpetual Punishment He
threw himself upon his pallet but for some
time he found little repose. His agitation
was extreme, and his slumbcrs were fever
/ iSh till two o'clock when nature being cx-
haustcd he fell into profund sleep which
was unbrokcn by the noise made by the
worlmcn preparing the scailold. 1t lasted
till half past o'clock, when the director
Of the prison, the Inspector general the
chief Of police and the chaplain (Abbc HUI
gon) came 10 awaken him and announce
the terrible news that his last hour was
approaching and that he must prepare for
death! TWAS the chaplain who undertook
the Office Of informing him that his appeal
/ had been rejected, that his petition to the
Emperor had bee equally unsuccessful that
no further hope remained, and that all that
vas now left him was TO prepare for death.
4 The wrctchod man raised himself on his
pallet he held his head down for some
instants. and turned it about bcwidcrcd.
a. if he had awoiie from some terrible
dream. When he became conscious of
what was passing, and when the dismal
words that hope was no more were fully
comprchcnded by him he cried "lmpossi.
Die! impessible!s The chaplain repeated
! that, unfortunately, il was too true, and
that all was over. At once he became OK.
cited, and his excitement rose to fury. u
will not dic!' he shouted. I'll Is impossi.
! bic that my appeal and my pardon arc both
rclrscd--impossiblc! impossible! | cling
70 life; my life is my own, and you have
no right to take il from me-" The chap
lain cndeayorod to calm and console him,
but in vain. He refused to listen to his
prayers; he broke oGt in violence, and re-
yilcd the priest with language similar to
that which he used before the court Of As
size The director Of the prison at length
inlerlcrcd. Ncrgcr cried, Give me but
an hour, an hour, but one hcur-no more.
| must write-l must send an express to
the Emperor The director told him it
was Impossible. impossible! no. | will
not die! | will not will defend myself
to the last! You may murder me in this
cell, but from it | will not STIR At these
words he threw himself again on the bed,
clnng to it with head, hands and feet, and
resisted all attempts to lift him. The Jail
ors had to be called in and they were
obliged to put on his clothes by main force.
During the operation Vcrger made the
greatest resistance, but finding all his eff.
forts VAIN he all of sudden relaxed and
fell into state OF prostration.
AT quarter to eight the executioncr EN-
tered the cell to put on him the dress of
the scallold. Verger underwent this last
: operation without making a movement or
: uttering a word; he only shrank little
when the cold steel of the scissors that cut
the hair from the back of the head, touched
: his neck. The chaplain again Approached
him and with tears in his eyes and trem-
ulOuS voice once more CXhOrted him tO