Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-21
Office Of the Marulqnd Spor
THE SCIENCE OF THE GUILLoTTNE.


correspondent of the New York Times, who witness
ed the execution Of Verger gives graphic description Of
the science of the guillotine:
The scaold is erected about eighty feet from the from:
door of the prison. four permanent blocks Of stone
the centre of the roadway leading from the prison tie
street The square is planted with trees On both sides
of the roadway stood double file of soldiers with pre-
sented When Verger issued from the gate support
ed by the executioner and the chaplain and stand
ing before him the fatal instrument his force forsook
him and he sank down. 1t this passage of eighty
feet that terrible for the criminal for he knew that
the moment he assembled the steps before him his head
would fall.
yerger was hurried along to the fatal steps On the
way he did not to repeat Lamb of God who takes
away the sins of the world have pity on me He cried
also, Viue Jesus Christ ~ The scaold ele-
walton of about five feet from the ground Arrived
the last STEP he fell his knees the floor of
the scaod pronounced few words Of prayer and them
addressing the chaplain, sad "My brother, / charge
you make dmende honorable in my to all my
perior ecelesiascs whom have offended made sorry;
tell them that beg pardon of them as pardon them
myself offer my life in expiration of my faults" He
then kissed the crucifx and turned and gave hasy
brace the chaplain but he to his feet AS
he attempted to do the executoner who stood behind
him, pushed him forward to the slab which carries
his head under the knife. This slab, which placed
receive the body the criminal rises from his knees
the last step floor of the scaold is new inven-
ton, used only for the third time 1t receives the
body from the knees to the upper part Of the chest of
necessity leaving the neck and head projecting beyond
As the criminal falls upon it. instead of being Obliged to
tie him there, formerly the custom, operation
that sometimes difficult if the prisoner fit to
struggle springs suddenly seize the body and hold
it firm. This slab slides easily in grooves, and slight
pressure the person of the criminal pushes forward
and places his neck in the notch into which the knife
falls is the other sde ready to sei1e his head
il passes in order steady it. while another stands
ready to pull the rope which lets the knife fall.
The knife is in form like the knife of srsw-cuttin
box, only much heavier 1t is placed diagonaly in the
two uprights along the side of which gdes like
mill gate; its diagonal position gives ii saving motion
in cutting through the neck 1t falls about twelve feet
and nicely its weight adapted to the force required
that it not much than cuts off the head without
superfuous noise The the knife falls the springs
relax by quick movement, the body is rolled off to
bascu at the side, which, in turn, tumbes the body
board, at the end of which stand two ready to
seize it and slide it into close carriage which stands
ready backed up for the purpose In like manner the
who is charged with the holding of the head lets it
drop into basket his feet sezes the basket and
hands it to off the scafold who Immediately places
it In wagon with the body; the door OF the wagon is
closed precipatey, and at OF the ground.
All this is but the work of an instant.
When Verger pushed forward on the board he
raised his shoulders d IL to try to release himself from
the clamps. His head was bare, and he did SO he
turned his face upwards sufficiently to take last hurried
look to the side where stood. shall never forget this
last glance of the criminal His face was then injected
doubt from being pushed forward suddenly the
board. AS he made this movement the executioner
pushed his shoulders hardly down on the board and this
movement served the double purpose Of bringing the
body fat and of sliding the head under the axe The
little wheel at the top of the upright turned half round
and the knife fell
The whole affair was accomplished with such rapidity
that great majority of the audience did not know that
it had occurred Indeed its rapdity its most fright
full feature From the moment the condemned man issued
from the gate till his body had left the ground was but
one minute BY the watch The assassination was not
less magnifcently performed than the expiationl