Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-27
fRron the Correspondent ofthe London Tines


from the Correspondent of the London Timesl
EXECUTION OF VRRGER, MURDERER OF THE ARCH
BISHOP OF PARIs-AS AWFUL SCEHE.-Orders
were given on Thursday for the execution to
take place on Friday, the S0th, and on that
morning, at halfpast o'clock, the criminal ex-
plated his guilt on the scatfold.
The order of the court for carrying out its
sentence was received at the prison of La Ro-
auette at midnight The bearer was the execu-
TONER himself AT 2 o'clock this morning the
scaffold was already erected in front of the PTl-
son In spite of the silence which had been
observed as to the dny of the execution, and the
early hour atwhich the preparations were made,
an immense crowd assembled on the spot and so
early as 8 o'clock considerable number of car
riages were arriving. Before z o'clock the Place
de Ia Roquette and the streets adjoining were
encountered The whole of yesterday Vcrger
passed in state of feyerish restlcssness; his
agitation increased as the day wore on. He fire.
quently asked questions about what was going
on in the Court of Cessation, and manifested
intense anxiety as to the result of his appeal.
As night came on he began to entertain hopes
of its success, from the fact of his having re
ceiyed no news of the proceedings; about ten
o'clock he asked those who watched with him in
his cell how many days were usually accorded
to convicts after the rejection of their appeal in
Cessation. This question he repeated as the
hour waxed later OF the courthe at lastbegan
to entertain misgivings; but he still chung tena-
from the Emperor, and that the capital sentence
would be committed TO perpetual Punishment.
He threw himself on his pallet but for some
time he found little repose. His agitation was
extreme, and his Slumbcrs We're teverish, till 2
O'clock when nature being exhausted, he fell in
to profound sleep, which was not broken by the
noise made by the worknen preparing the scat
fold 1t lasted till hall past seven oclock when the
director of the prison, the inspector-gcnera the
chief of police, and the chaplain (Abbe Hugon)
came to awaken him, and announce the terrible
news that his last hour was approaching, and
that he must prepare for death 1t was the
chaplain who undertook the office of Informing
him that his appeal had been rejected, that his
petition to the Emperor had been equally un-
successful, that no further hope remained, and
that all that was now left him was to prepare
for death. The wretched man raised himself
on his pallet, he held his head down for some
instants,, and turned,it about bewildcred, as if
he had awoke from terrible dream. When he
became conscious of what was passing, and
when the dismal words that hope was no more
were fully comprehended by him, he cried
"ImpossibleI IMPOSSIBLE" The chaplain repca-
ted that unfortunately, twas too true, and that
all was over. AT once he became excited, and
his excitement rose to fury. 81 will not die!"
he shouted. 1t is impossible that my appeal
and my pardon are both refused-impossiblc
impossible cling to life; my life is my own,
and you have no right to take it fromme" The
but in vain. BE refused to listen to his pray
ers; he broke out in violence, and reviled the
priest with language similar to that which he
used before the court of Assize. The director
of the prison at length interfered. Nerger
cried 'tGive me but an lour-an hour-no more.
must write-I must send an express to the
Emperor" The director told him it was inn
possible. "Impossible! no! no | will not die!,
will not-I will defend myself to the last! You
may murder me in the cell, but from it I will
not stir."At these words he threw himselfagain
on his bed, chung to it with head, hands and
feet, and resisted all attempts TO lift him. The
goalers had to be called in, and they were oblig-
ed to put on his cloths by main force. During
the operation Verger made the greatest resis-
lance, but finding all his efforts van he all ola
sudden relaxed and fell into state of prostra-
ton. s7a
At quarter to eight the executioner entered
the cell to put on him the dress of the scaffold
Vcrger underwent this last operation without
making movement or uttering word; he only
shrank alittle when the cold steel ofthe scissors
that cut the hair from the back of the head
touched his neck. The chaplain again approach
ed him, and with tears in his eyes and tremu-
lous voice once more exhorted him to think of
his soul. He at first listened to the priest in
silence, and then retired with him to n corner of
the cell. He knelt Joined in prayer, and pro-
badly confessed, for the chaplain pronounced
the absolution. Eight o'clock sounded, and at
the last stroke he issued from the cell, and pro-
ceeded to the scaffold. BE appeared calmcr, and
almost resigned to his fate; nevertheless, when
bidding farewell to the director of the prison
and his assistants, he again implored for an hour
"to write to the Emperor" At few minutes
after eight he issued from the prison gate, when
the scaffoid, in all its hideous reality, met his
eye. During the short passage he was supper
ted by the chaplain on one side, and on the other
by the director of the prison and the execution
er. As he moved he was heard to utter the
words, "Aanentle lsOR0rHble-Jdmdis pin tGrd.'
He mounted the steps of the platform slowly,
and on reaching it he appeared as if he wished
to speak, but any words he uttered were not
heard distinctly. 1t was thought they were,
81 Fire Jesus-ISduTe IL France; Saure y Empe-
remr." He kncIt on the ground, and once ut
tered some words-it is hoped repentance for
his crimes, and prayer to Heaven for pardon.
He slowly rose, cast glance in the distance,
took the crucifx in his hands, and kissed the
image of the Savior; gazed for IN instant on the
cold, clear sky above flung himself into the
arms of the Able Huron, and then surrendered
himself to the exccutoner He was fastened to
the plank, and his neck placed under the in
strument of death. At the given signal it fell,
flashing in the cold light of the morning 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 witness ths dreadful
ceremony.
FRoM UTAn.-The following paragraphs we
copy from letter in the Now York Tribune,
dated Great Salt Lake City, Dec. 4th:
Another Of the Hand Cart trains arrived here