The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-07-20
The Last Execution in Paris
Medical DiscussiOn-DOeS Il
man live after being EBeheaded
Terrible Revelation.
Paris C0y7esyondcaoe Boston Post


Paris Coyrespondcaoe Boston Post.
The emotion caused by the execution of
Count de la Pomnerais has not sudsided
even yet. 1t is felt to be the last expert
ment Of the kind which can ever he ventur-
cd upon in Paris The crowd Of more than
a hundred thousand pers0ns-not all OF the
lowest degIcp, as in London, but taken from
every class Of society-were impressed, more
than is ever remembered, with the honor
and utter want of respect, not for the cul-
prA for he was unworthy the smallest mark
HsJhpathy, but for the dignity of human
nature which the filthy spectacle presented.
The return from the place of execution,
along the Rue de la Roquette, was, perhaps
unique in the annals Of criminal condemna-
ton. There was no passion against the
criminal, and yet there was an almost tero-
cious Triumph at his death. The vast con
course of gaping idiots whose dull eyes were
upturncd to behold the dying struggle of
the miserable wretch, who on his side was
gazing earnestly on what he alone could see,
after teasted on the deadly sight, skunk a.
way from the place like the conscience -strick
en- criminals they were and, after having
rushed thither flushed with wine and inde-
cent mirth, gided back pale and wan, like
ghoats hurraying from Pere la Chase, whose
gates swing open for the day just as the
multitude was retiring from the spot. They
say that the whole of the denl5 monde Of
Paris was there. and that the fair tyrant who
lords it so stelny over her fellows, the belle
ARgtojSe, in short, was there in her wicker
basket; and that for the time in her life her
hand was observed to tremble as she jerked
the rens, when the crowd asSailed her with
the cry of "F7njer q Safttie! PaRicr Il
Salade'' in allusion to the similarity exist
ing between the vehicle She drives ard the
wicker-b basket called by that slang name, i'll
which the head falls when separated from
the body? The subject of capital punish
mcnt will not be abandoned The death Of
La Pommerais has satisfied the rude sense
OF justice experienced by the worknen OF
Paris, and even they will be content with the
execution Of an individual of Ia haHte. a
meeting was held at the School of Medicine,
to debate the possibility Of the prolongatUA
Of pain by decapitation by the guillotine. =
Several examples had been prepared, and
the incident quoted by one Of the professors
caused an emotion Of terror to run through
the assembly. ''When a young student my
self, said the professor, 4 was much i'm
pressed with certain experiments had wit
messed made upon the nervous system Of the
patients in the Hotel Dicu, and became SO
convinced that physical scnsihiiity could not
abandon the frame Immediately after ylo-
lence committed upon it when in the midst
Of youth and health, and that death was
coh'batted by the strong will to live, that
upon the announcement OF an execution a.
bout to take place at Caen hurried thithcr,
determined to pursue the Investigation as
far as perfect conviction had concealed
marinc speaking trumpet beneath my coat,
and stood close behind the municipal guard
at the foot Of the scatfoId and never once
took my eyes from the criminal from the
moment that he mounted the platform. |
behcld the whole process Of the execution
and was perfectly selfpossessed, as every one
Of the puerile and disgusting ceremonies
was accomplished. When the head rolled
into the basket, | drew the speaking trump
ct forth, and, placed it to my lips pronounc-
ed the name Of the criminal in distinct
tone could not be mistaken. The eyes
which had been gradually closing suddenly
opened, startling wide, and turned slowly IN
the direction whence the sound proceeded.
! The effect was horrible - teTlifce, and, to
youth like myself, almost supernatural; and,
overcome with diSmay ! sunk down, faint
ing on the pavement In the confusion the
speaking trumpet fortunately got kicked a.
side, trodden under foot, and It's ownership
was never traced to me, for many people had
heard the name uttered in the sepu!charl
tone which that primitive instrument pro
duccs; and having been shaken by super
stitious emotion, would have revenged them
selves upon its cause. But the re>nlt, which
have never disclosed to this day. has Of
ten REQUIRED to me; and, although | have
never been enable to pursue my experiments
ON the subiecl. yet have remained perfect
ly convinced that neither physical nor moral
sensations die at once, and that both remain
for some time after the head is removed
from the body" The discourse Of the pro-
fcssor produced q tremendous effect upon
his listeners; and the report was soon in the
hands of the Emperor. who must have com
mented on it with great earnestness and Gu
riosity.