The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-03-12
THE EXECUTION OF VERGER,

The Paris correspondent of the New York Times
gives lengthy and graphic description of the ex
ecution of Verger for the murder of the Arch
bishop of Paris from which we make the follow
ing extracts.
10 France, the public never know the hour OF an
execution till the midnight before 1.-THE prisoner
never knows II till he is awakened to go TO the
scaffold. There is a wine merchant who lives on
the corner Of the square upon which is erected the
scaffold, in combination with some at the pris
on, who makes it business and profitable one it
is, of waking up people for executions at the mod
crate rate of five francs the head. Anxious to
witness once, the operation of French guotnc,
and especially the Paris machine, which is said to
be the most perfect and the most iearGully rapid
in its operation started, only day or two after
the trial and condemnation Of Vcrger on y voyage
Of observation, to find the mysterious man who
made il business for five francs to awaken stran-
gers for executions An ex-policcman had given
me the secret and the description Of tue kind
of place at which was to make my request. Ar
rived at the Square, entered the house indicated
with some trepidation, from the singular nature of
the errand. 10 the little wine store saw pleas
ant looking man and woman, evidently the master
and mistress Of the place. hal got no further in
my opening speech thNn-"Is this the place where"
when the man smiling, said quickly, AYES, Sir,
walk into the back room will take your name
Sir | have great many applications already, Sir.
You may depend on it, the affair will take place
either Thursday or Saturday mornng-most likely
Saturday. Your name here, Sir, if you please
BY this time we had arrived in the little back
room and found ourselves seated Wis d-Uis on two
stools at rough board table on which was open
ed q register. confess that the cool, business
like manner in which this man took "gentlemens
names who wish TO sec executions rather took the
breath out Of me- There was something abnormal
in the position | occupied just at that moment
which did not comprehend. However signed
my name on the register just below that of Lord
G., another distinguished foreigner" as the wine
man styled his patrons, who is stopping only two
doors below me. 1t was something TO fnd that
had company in the singular business.
paid the fee in advance, for in France the peo-
pie are extremely honest in these small transac-
tions, and true to his promise the man awakened
me in ample time on the morning of the execution.
ing. and first wakening friend, we walked eis-
urely TO the place of execution where we arrived
little before six. 1t was a bright clear and cold
morning all the stars of the frmanent were Wis.
ibe, and sparkled brightly through the clear frosty
atmosphere The Bouleyards were almost desert
cd ; here and there party of early street-sweep.
era or of noisy maskers returning from the mask
ed ball of the Jardin d'Hiver alone disturbed the
ciys deep sleep
After we had passed the Bastille, however aud
plunged into the densely populated Fanbourg St
Antonio, we saw groups OF people hOcking TO-
wards the place Of execution. The whole Eau
bourg, indeed was alive and on foot. The soldier
detailed for the execution bad preceded us ant
as the people had been watching daily for this ex
ecutiOu the noise Of cavalry at that hour OF the
morning suficed TO give the general signal
The gullotine was erected on the Place de 7,
Roguette, small square situated in the street o
that name, and between the prisons of La Roquettt
and Les Jenues Detenues II is within block o
the grand entrance to the Cemetery of Pere Ii
Chase.
On FIRST arriving, not more than three hundred
persons were on the ground The soldiers haC
only just commenced forming the lines and we wer
permitted to approach the guilloine But sool
line after line was developed, and the crowd wa
pushed back and back, until hollow square wa
formed around the fatal instrument at distance O
. hundred and fifty feet at the SIDES and in from
and rear from prison to prison.
We were well placed at the side to the neares
point Of the gullotine, and next to the soldiers
Bot extraordinary precautions had been taken t
guard aginst the crowd and not less than thou
sand soldiers, including three squadrons of cava
~ were on the ground Nearest the scaffold wer