The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-07-16


~ hours till every star had gone cut, and
the beams Of morning fell ON the walls Of
II : Pommsrais, Who was mot informed
that his petition - the Emperor was re-
iectcd. but who had evidently Lost all hope,
seemed much moro collected since his SEN
tence than he had been during hin trial
him on Wednesday. The interview took
place in the parlor Of the prison; but they
wore separated by double grating, thro'
which they were Just able to clasp each
others hands. The anguish of the old
man and the poor creature who was 30
soon 70 be . widow was heartrending. She
dung to the grating - If she would not DO
possessed. They fingered - long a. they
could, but at last the moment for parting
came. The prisoner went TO rest ut the
usual early hour, and still under the super.
vision Of the prison officials; and he slept
soVndly the whole night. At half past 5
In the morning the governor Of the prison
entered the cell. La Pommerais started up
tho governor told him that all hope was
over; that the petition for mercy was not
granted, that he must prepare for death,
for his last hour was Ut hand. He evinced
no surprise; he only said, Il am ready In
. moment the chaplain Of the jail, the
Able Crose, entered the cell. The guard.
ans fell back short distance, bQt not out
eral Interviews with the Abbe confessed
his eins, and it il said, received the sacra-
ments; but what he confessed will remain
. secret forever. When the priest made
his appearance La Pommerais rosa to meet
him aud threw himself into his arms. He
had hitherto been unmoved; but - the
reverend gentleman clasped him to his
- ~ N
the preparation, In which the hair u cut
Close at the back Of to head, he listened
apparently with attention to the exhorts-
tfons Of the chaplain, and the prayer for
those about to die. When all was ready
ho was asked 10 take some rofteehments,
bat declined. Before he Quilted the call
the heed Of the Department Of Public -
closures to make, or whether he wiahed to
say anything. 4 have said al had to
say IVES the reply. : These were his last
words, and from that mament b. answered
only BY nod Of the head to any remark
that was made by those about hlm.
"The gate Of the prison was thrown open
q a1ew minutsa to ak, and the crowd out
rais with . paletot thrown over his shout
dere, was seen to mount the steps Of the
scadold, supported on one aide by the Abbe
Crose, who held up the crucidx before his
eyes, and on the other by one OF the tail0rs.
The cord which bound his feet did not pre-
vent him moving, and he advanced with 6
steady step but with his head bent, toward
the fatal instrument. He paused for IN
instant, once moro embraced the priest,
gave himself up to the executioner and was
laid ON the plank. The cord that held the
machine was cut, the ponderous blade
rushed down, and exactly ~ the prison
clock gave the last stroke Of six, human
Justice and the inhumAn curiosity Of the
mob were satisfed.
ssThe headless body was placed in a oof-
I'm, and the cofin in . carriage. The good
priest who stood by his side to the last
moment Of his life did not quit him in
death. He entered the carriage containing
the coffin, and, still praying over it, &C.
companied it to the cemetery, and saw it
Laid In the earth.
1.-THE curiosity Of the people did not end
with the execution; thoy rushed towards
the spot where the carriage stood or to the
scaffold, in order to touch the boards, and
il REQUIRED all the EFFORTS Of the large body
Of police and Of the Mounted Paris Guards
to keep them at distance and maintain
order. Though the deed was over, the
crowd fingered some time on the spot, and
the morning was far advanced before they
retired"