Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-03-05
From the London Times.
The Execution of Verser...A
Thrilling Scene.

From the London Times.
The Execution Of Verger...A
Thrilling Scene.
The chaplain undertook the office of in
forming Verger that his appeal had been
rejected, and his petition to the Emperor
was equally unsuccessful, thst no other
hope remained, and that all that was now
left him was to prepare for death. The
wretched man raised himself; he held his
head down for some instants, and turned it
about bewildered, as if he had awoke from
some terrible dream. When he became
conscious of what was passing, and the dis
NAL words that hope was no more were full
ly comprehended by him, he cried-"Im-
possible, impossible!" The chaplain re-
peated that it was too true, and that all was
over. At once he became excited, and in
his excitement rose to fury. 81 will not
diep he shouted. ait is impossible that
my appeal and my pardon are both refused
impossible! l cling to my life; my life
is my own, and you have no right to take
it from me-"
The chaplain endeavored to calm and
console him, but in vain. He refused to
listen to his prayers; he broke out in vio-
lence, and reriled the priest with language
similar 10 that which he used before the
Court of Assize. The director of the pris-
on at length interfered. Verger cried
''give me but an hour-an hour-but one
hour-no more. l must write-I must
send an express to the Emperor" The di-
rector told him it was impossible. "Impos-
sible! no, I will not die! l will not-I
will defend myself to the last! You may
murder me in this cell, but from it I will
not STIR"
At these words he threw himself again
on his bed, chung to it with head, hands
and feet, and resisted all attembts to lif,
him. The jailors had to be called in, and
they were obliged TO put on his clothes by
main force. During the operation Vergel
made great resistance, but finding all bis
efforts in vain, he all of sudden relaxed
and fell into state of prostratioR.
At Il the executioners entered the cell
and put on him the dress of the scafold.-
Verger underwent this last operation with,
out making movement or uttering word
he only shrank little when the cold steel
that cut the hair from the back of his head
touched his neck. The chaplain again ap
preached him, and with tears in his eyes
and tremulous voice, once more exhorted
him to think of his soul.-He at first lis
tened TO the priest in silence, and then re
tired with him to the corner of the CELL
He knelt, joined in prayer, and probably
confessed, for the chaplain pronounced ab
solution.
Eight o'clock sounded, and at the las
stroke, he issued from the cell and proceed
ed to the scaffold. He appeared calmer
and almost resigned to bis fate; neverthe
less, when bidding farewell to the director
of the prison and his assistants, he once
more implored for an hour to write to the
Emperor. At a few minutes after eight
he issued from the prison gate, when al
once the scafold, in all its hideous reality
met his eyes. During the short passage
he was supported by the chaplain on one
side, and on the other by the director o.
the prison and the executioner. As he
moved he was heard to utter the words
'Amende honarable-Jamais:: plus tard.'
He mounted the steps of the platform slow
ly, and on reaching it he appeared as if he
wished to speak, but any words he uttered
were not heard distinctly. 1t is thought
they were Nive Jesus-Sauve la France.
sauoeP Empereur.' He was again exhort
ed by the attendant priests. He knelt or
ground, and once uttered some words-i'
is hoped repentance for his crime, and
prayer to heaven for pardon.
He slowly rose, cast glance in the dis
tance, took the cruciix in his hands and
kissed,the image of the Saviour; gazed fol
an instant on the cold and clear sky above
flung himself into the arms of the Able
Hugon, and then surrendered himself to
the executioner. He was fastened TO the
plank, and his neck placed under the in
strument of death. At the given signal ii
fell, flashing in the cold light of the morn
ing, and all was over.
The morning was bitterly cold. 1t had
frozen during the night, yet many persons
must have remained on the ground to wit
ness the dreadful ceremony.