Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-02
THE SECRET BEHEADING.

On the 9TH of May, 1777, the public
executioner of Colmar was imprisoned
for having left the town without the per-
mission of the authorities; he was sever
al times brought up for examination be-
fore tie magistrates, and here is the ac-
count he gave of his abserce. He said
that one evening at the end of April he
was alone in his house,-his wife and
assistants being out,-occupied in some
duty of his office, such as repairing hand
cuffs, or putting gibbet together, when
he heard loud knock at the door. He
opened without hesitation,-an execu-
toner could scarcely be timid, expect
ing some messenger from the magistrates,
no other person ever visiting his con-
demned dwelling. Instead of the ia
miliar form he expected, he saw before
him three men, enveloped in cloaks,
whilst carriage slowly advanced, sur
rounded by six or seven others. The
executioner saw all this at a glance; be
was astonished. but not frightened.
"You are the public executioner' :"
said one of the strangers.
YES, monsieur was the reply.
Are you alone? We wish to speak
to you in private. "
4 am quite alone; will you walk in,
gentlemen!
lie thought they were messengers from
some neighboring tribunal, and drew
back to let them enter the house. But
he had scarcely finished speaking when
these men sprang upon him, gagged him.
bound him hand and foot, SO that he
could not move a single limb, and placed
him in the carriage. The three men
whom he had seen first got in also,
while the others mounted their horses,
and all set off at full speed. They pre-
served a profound silence while they were
passing through the town, but, as soon
as the smeothness of the way would al
low their voices to be heard, the man
who had first addressed him touched
the arm of the executioner and said:
" Listen TO me; you have nothing to
fear; you will receive no hurt. You are
only required to perform an act of JUS
tice; and wo will answer for your safety,
provided you do not attempt to escape,
or try to penetrate mystery with which
1t is not necessary that you should be
fully acquainted. No questions of yours
will be answered.; everything that you
require viii be given to you; and when
your task is accomplished you shall be
brought back to your home, and receive
Two hundred louis as a compensation for
your trouble.
The executioner breathed more freely
after he was told that his life would be
spared, though he still suffered ex-
tremeiy, not being able to move his
limbs.
Il am going to remove bonds and
gag" said tho same voice, and you
will NJ longer be subjected to any person
al restraint, except bandage, which will
be placed over your eyes during the day,
and removed at night. At the first cry
you dare to utter you are dead man."
tie felt the muzzles of pistols and the
point of a poignard touch his breast,
which easily convinced him that he had
no choice but TO submit implicitly; and
as soon as his mouth was free, and he
got permission to speak, he swore with a
thousand oaths that he would obey them,
and would abide by the condition they
imposed on him.
In that case" said the same person,
"you have nothing to fear"
From this moment not a wo,d was
spoken. They often changed horses, but
always in some retired place, where they
always appeared to be expected. AL.
though the blinds of the carriage were
firmly closed, his eyes were bandaged at
the first appearance of day, and the same
menace repeated in case he should at
tempt to discover in what part of the
country he was. He was otherwise well
treated; they gave him share Of their
provisions and wine, which were both ex-
cellent. They sometimes alighted, but
always in a forest, or some bv-place,
where they would run no risk of being
remarked by passers-by. This continued
for two days. 1t appeared to the poor
executioner that during this time they