The New York herald., 1870-02-02
Traupmann, the Murderer of
the Kincks, in His Cell.
-~r~~o~~~>~>~~~e>~.->~~~~~
Special Visit TO the Prison Of La Roquette and
Interview With the Condemned.
His Last Hours, Treatment and
Preparation for Death.
Taken Out to the ScaffOld and
Fall Of the Knife.
Does the Severed Head Retain



Does tho severed Head Retain
0onsci0usness2
1raupDann Prepared for Execution-The
Prison Of La ROQuetGe, Paris-The ssDepor
Of the Condcmnsd"-An Inside visit-Tho
Inmates, Their Reformatory Treatment and
Daily Life-How the Murderer OF the
kinck Family Fared-NervinG for His Fate.
PARIS, Jan. 10, 1870.
Those accustomed TO the gay and attractive ap.
pearance Of the boulevards Of Paris can with dil-
Guilty imagine that there is district In the city the
surroundings OF which, in point Of sadness, can
scarcely be matched In Europe. The streets in the
0eRhborhood unless you 60 thither by the Boule-
ward du Prince Eugene, strike the visitor with q
feeling OF sadness. They have assumed sort Of
L0Ddon-Sunday dismal look. The shops are not
nourlshing In that quarter. The most lively looking
are those held by vendors OF immortal flowers the
graves OF the dead and tombstOnes In front OF you
within few yards, is the entrance to the Cemetery
OF Pere la Chaise the left you the Prison des
Jeunes Detenus directly opposite TO the gate Of
which is that OF the Prison de Ia Roquette or the
Depot Of the condemned. This prison was built IN
1880. In 1t are confined the condemned to DEATH TO
imprisonment and to hard labor. Those who have
Dcen septeuced 10 more than one year and one day.
remain only in La Roquette until they are forwarded
70 the bagne tse colonies or to the maisons Gen.
traes
The population OF the PRISON is entirely OF q noat-
ing character. The tide OF criminaIiy nows and
ebbs The prisoners are often but a few days there
and consequently the work exacted from them IS
NOT OF severe Kind In professional point OF view
Inc prison IL dirty and badly ventilated. Neither
prisoners nor turnkeys look healthy. Everything
about the place shows a want OF lite. The recent
Pantin murder, trial, condemnation and approach
ing execution Of Traupmann have attracted arten-
tion to the prison. and therefore have visited It,
OUTSIDE.
Many had made up their minds that Traupmann
would be executed yesterday at SIX A. NJ, and 10
make amends for the slight attention that has been
paid TO that worthy during the past few days owing
To the al-engrossing excitement occasioned by the
killing OF poor Victor Noir, some thousands on FRI
DAY night took up position In front OF the prison
La Roquette with the intention OF witnessing tho
exit from this world OF the celebrated Pantin as
sassin. A desire TO see him executed has been ex-
pressed by those who would shudder at the thought
OF witnessing the execution O. an ordinary mur.
'derer. few days since barber's assist
Ant while Iathering my face 10y the by, he
nearly choaked me In the excitement with
the shaving brush) told me that II could nnd out
''trSs ansiaole" would tell him, and it Is with
out OF ten. On Friday night the 5000 sghtseers
took possession Of the ground the spot where
the guillotne ls usually erected. There was plenty
OF mud and rain and cold, but the crowds weathered
all They rem aimed until three O'Clock In the morn.
ing, and then, AZ NO signs OF the scafod appeared,
they returned home shIverlng, grumbing and dis
comf0rted, for O report had been in circulation on
the previous evening that at four O'Clock the knife
nf ~
INSIDE.
Having permission to visit all the Paris prisons
presented myself yesterday afternoon the gate OF
tne celebl aed prison OF La R0quette. over the en-
tnat delightful retreat there appears, IN
was accompanied by friend and lady. We passed
the guard, and on presentation Of tue order with
and we were told to traverse the outer court yard
TO the second entrance. We did 80 and entered the
LOBBY. The turnkey took the card offered eyed the
signature, ana then, with the politest bow In the
world, declared that
THE LADY COULD NOT ENTER
NO daughter OF Eve was ever permitted TO cross
The threshold Of the Depot des Condamnes. No
Traupmann In existence ever wished more intensely
Tor immediate execution than dlu l. NV fair com
panon had dressed herself regardless alike OF trou-
be and expense, with the intention Of gazing on
and being Hazed at by the celebrated assassin. You
know what women are. Painting fits and Mysteries
were already looming in the distance, and so we
insisted on adnittance. The Governor OF the prison
was sent for; he came, was polite but distinctly de-
clared that without special order the Minis
Ter OF the Interior and Prelect OF Police crinone
here are different from other prisoners. said he.
''Ihey are men condemned for the worst crimes;
hundred OF them-n0t separated, but mixed indis-
crimlnately together They may make an attack at
Inc sight OF woman, and the consequences would
The lady, with that remarkable obstinacy with
which the fair sex Is gifted. persisted. when the
order was given 1t was expressly understood that
she was to go. She would keep behind us; she
would hide her face Ut is q pretty one, behind her
mun, but she must see the prison."
THE GOVERNOR GAVE IN.
One OF the chlef turnkeys was called, the heavy
derous doorswung open and we found ourselves in
me second courtyard, surrounded by upwards OF
$40 OF The most dreadfu looking scoundrels It has
ever been my fortune 70 encounter.
THE CRIMINAL POPULATION.
In my time have had many under my care. I
first impression to regret that we mad persisted
in obtaining permission for the lady to enter. She
summoDing up her courage she pressed forward
Ike 2 man and passed the 800 eyes which were ma
Il. sys. s. hs wes me
trated essence OF human uepravlty Herdcd together
In the courtyard these ta-birds, dressed in dark
gray prison suits, looked more like animals than
men. Following our conductor we threaded our
way through them ana entered a dismally lghtea
workshop, where more prisoners were engaged
Ia making list snoes. The place was ex-
osssively dirty, and and, badly ventilated The
some were still eating IRON small earthen bowl
containing sort OF DD'ee de ponianes de te'7e or
mashed potatoes IN liquid state. Tables there
were none; the prisoners supported the bowls on
their knees and ned their bread under their arms
or kept IL on the bench beside them. Metal spoons
are forOldden The condemned might hurt them
selves, and SO the prisoners provided with
spoons Of wood-a strange precaullon az there are
tOOls and small knives al Lbttt WITHIN their reach
There are but seventeen tnrnkeys III the whole
prison In another ward the prisoners were engaged
IN making cardboard boxes ior holding hooks and
eyes, to be exported to America. Several Of tha
prisoners wear red stripes on the arm similar TO
those OF corporal called technically ''sardines,'
~ badges OF good conduct.
One OF tEem evidently man OF superior caste.
explained with much interest and pOilteness the
manufacture Of the boxes lie was glad 10 see any
one from the outer world Poor Fellow, hs was q
sch0olmaster at Caen; he defrauded, was found
out and condemned TO Hye years. hard labor. In
another ward scraps anu parings of leather were
reduced to pup which dried formed solid blocks
<,f leather for making boot heels. contractor has
pronted by this. lie began with nothing, made
contract WIN the government Tor the prison labor,
isat present but thirty years OF age aud has
made q fortune Again we trayersed the courty ard
tu wat the chanel, which Is plnumY and diimal