Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-10
Gales and Sketthes.
THE SECRET BEHEADING.

having left the town without the permis-
sion of the authorities he was several
times brought up for examination before
the magistrates, and here is the account
he gave of his absence: He said that one
evening at the end of April he was alone
in his house,-his wife and assistants be-
ing ut,-occupied in some duty of his
office, such as repairing handouts, or put
ting gibbet together, when he heard a
loud knock at the door. He opened it with
out hesitation,-an eXecutiOner could
scarcely be timid,-expecting some mes
| senger from the magistrates, no other per-
son ever visiting his condemned dwelling.
Instead of the familiar form he expected,
he saw before him three men, enveloped
in cloaks, whilst carriage slowly advanc-
ed. surrounded by six or seven others.
The eXecutioner saw all this at glance ;
he 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"
I'm quite alone; will you walk in,
gentlemen
He 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 car
riage. The three men whom he had seen
first got in also, iwhile the others mount
ed their horses, and all set off at full speed.
They preserved a profound silence while
they were passing through town, but, as
| nc hn c,,tb tl., IA
allow 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 justice
and we will answer for your safety, pro-
vided you do not attempt to escape, or try
to penetrate mystery with which it is
not necessary that you should be fully ac-
quainted. No questions of yours will be
answered; everything that you require
will be given you and when your task is
accomplished you shall be brought back
to your home, and receive two hundred
louis as compensation for your trouble $
The executioner breathed more freely
after he was told that his life would be
spared, though he suffered extremely, not
being able to move his limbs
:" / am going to remove bonds and gag, 81
said the same voice, "and you viii no
longer be subjected to any personal re-
straint, except a bandage, which will be
placed over your eyes during the day, and
removed at night but this is only on con-
condition that you are perfectly obedient
and do not speak. AT the first cry you
dare to utter you are dead man."
lie felt the muzzles of pistols and the
point OF 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 perrnis-
| sion to speak, he swore with thousand
| oaths that he would obey them, and would
abide by the condition they imposed on
| him.
"In that case" said this same person,
| "you have nothing to fear"
| From this moment not a word was spok-
en-. They often changed horses, but al
ways in some retired place, where they
always appeared to be expected. Al
| though the blinds of the carriage We're
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 coun-
Try he was. He was otherwise well treat
| ed; they gave him share of their pro-
visions and wine, which were both excel
lent. They sometimes alighted, but al
ways in forest, or some by-place, where
they would run no risk of being remarked ed
by passers-by. This continued for two
days. 1t appeared to the poor executioner
that during this time they had crossed the
| Rhine and aScended several mountains.
On the evening of the second day. after
they had been ascending rising ground
for some time, the carriage stopped. He
heard drawbridge descend, and he knew
by the sound of the wheels that they had
crossed deep meat. Although it was
perfectly dark, the bandage was again
placed upon his eyes, while they entered,
as it appeared to him. into large court
yard. The door of the carriage was open
ed, and two men, taking the executioner
by the arms. led him up several steps. He
heard around him sounds as if battle-axes
or muskets were laid upon the ground
Come along" said strange voice, for
he had stopped, as if in hesitation.
" Remeber your promise" whispered
his travelling companion, land we will
not forget ours
1t then seemed to him that he had enter
ed large vestibule, then crossed several
vast, dark rooms, which he was certain
were all vaulted, and at last he was led
into large saloon, where the bandage was
taken from his eyes. The walls were all
hung with black, and few torches cast a
dim, sepulchral light over the apartment.
Ten men were seated some distance from
him, and they were unmasked; the light
was so faint that he could not distinguish
their features All the inferior actors in
this drama stood around with Grape upon
their faces.
Immediately after the executioner had
entered this apartment hall of judgement,
a door in the opposite wall was flung open.
and two men appeared, leading lady,
whose face was concealed by a long veil.
She was tall, slight, and evidently young,
and wore a long, flowing dress of violet
velvet. She was placed in the centre OF
this boding circle. where she stood erect,
calm, and motionless, her hands folded
and covered by the long and graceful
sleeves of her dress. All were profound
ly silent, and he who seemed most of au-
thority among them, rose. and addressed
the executioner in German (Which all the
! A 4