Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-27

On the Gath inst, Michael Beaudien was hung
At Toledo for The murder Of Antoine Upal.
Both parties were French, and The murder was
committed in July 1867 Beaudien was tried
three times and found guilty at each, but
bis counsel succeeded IN obtaining new trial
twice once, if we recollect right, after the pris-
oner had been sentenced Beaudien lived with
a woman, not his wife, was jealous of Upal,
and shot him through a window in the night
after The party bad been having drinking
spree together.
Beaudien protested his innocence during two
years imprisonment, and met his fate without
an Indication Of fear The execution took
place in the hall Of the Jail in the presence Of
some fifty persons, including the ply ysioians,
priests, reporters, and invited witnesses. Quite
a crowd Of men and women gathered outside
the Jail yard, though they had no opportunity
to catch the slightest glimpse Of the execution.
The last scene is thus described by the Blade:
Atprecisely one o'clock, Beaudien, attended
by the priests, was taken from his cell and
walked in his usual manner to the scailold; step.
pug uNuil WHICH, nc hUttleu NQWu WIFI his
back to the witnesses, with the priest at his
side; the latter iervently prayed in French, and
the prisoner repeated the words in a low tone.
Beaudien was dressed in a suit of white; coat
and pants. After few moments spent in this
manner he arose. Alter kissing the platform
where the priest had kneeed, he Immediately
took hold of the rope aGd kissed it twice.
Sheriff Kingsbury, after making few re.
marks in regard to the solemn duty he was
about to perform, proceeded TO read tho Death
Warrant; during the reading, Beaudien stood
upon the drop. Being asked whether he had
anything TO say he replied that he had moth
to say in particular "If it is Gods pleasure -
said he, II should thus die, | am willing to
please him. He then said few words to the
Sheriff. in low tone (not audble) to those in
front. Ills arms were then securely bound by
the Sheri fl and Deputy Sheriff Merrill, and
white gloves were drawn upon his hands--the
priest meanwhile talking TO him. Then he
stretched his hands as if the gloves seemed
strange to them; and the cap was drawn oyer
his face, not word being spoken in the mean
time. The rope was then adjusted about his
neck, and all those around him stepped off the
platform. Nothing then was heard but the
suppressed whispers of the crowd and the low
voice of the priest in prayer
Nota limb trembled in the white figure alone
on the fatal drop he stood perfectly motion.
less a moment, when the spring clicked a
heavy "thug'' followed, and the body of Beau
dien swung still and liieless from the fatal rope
There were only few slight motions of the
chest and hands visible Bsauden had suffered
the extreme penalty of the law
The drop fell at 80 minutes past l clock (;
there was but little motion Of any kind to be
seen in any part of the body, and It soon hung,
motionless white figure, in ghastly contrast to
the black beams of the scaffold, rendered more
so by the dim light of the corridor coming in
with reluctance at the high, barred windows
The physicians in attendance carefully examin-
ed the body from time TO time, and when it had
swUng Is minutes, they agreed that life was
positively extinct After hanging hearty half
an hour the body was cut down and placed in
the cotiiu.
We never saw such an exhibition Of coolness
in any man ds Beaudien exhibited on the scat
fold. Not a muscle quivered, not a finger
trembled; the cold grey look of his eyes in his
last moments assumed despairing sort of ear
nestness before the cap shut out the outer world
from him forever, but his voice was quiet and
unchanged, and to all appearance there was no
particle of fear in his composition. His death
in this respect presented a strong contrast to
that of Ward
We were informed that when interrogated as
TO a confession, he replied, that he had confess
ed himself to the Priests and that was enough.
The words spoken in a low tone to Sheriff
Kngsbury on the scafiold, were to the effect
that he had given his body to the Priests and
he desired to have decent burial in the Catholic
Cemetery.