New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-27
TIE GALLONS IN GREECE.

TIE GALLONS IN GREECE.
in a recent number of La Greece we find
graphic article which proves the readiness
with which the Hellenes adopt the manners OF
our younger and more perfect CIVILIZATION.
They had occasion to enliven the festivities Oh
Christmas week at Galaxidi by the execution
of q brigand, and one of our own deputy
sheriffs could scarcely have surpassed the
spectacle there presented of frank and bung-
ling atrocity. The malefactor, as might have
been expected mounted the scaffold with an
air worthy of the child of race that has left
such models of graceful dying as Epaminondas
and Socrates Before surrendering himself into
the hands of the executioner, he improved the oc-
cason and the crowd by delivering short SER
mon of the most faultless and edifying doctrine.
Of course he had always been innocent OF in
territorial wrong. A hardened sinner bearing
the superb patronymic of Cardiosmenos was
the Mephisto who had led this attic Faust
into all kinds of forbidden ways. He called
upon the GalaxidOtes to emulate him In the
magnanimous forgiveness he dispensed from
his gibbet-tribune, and gave himself politely
into the hands of justice.
1t is a pity that vice should often be so
much more decorOus and graceful than VIZ
tue In this case the contrast was most dis
couraging After the eloquent brigand Crlkella
had concluded his part of the days entertain
ment with perfect success and approval, JUS
tice took its cue and went on the scene with
a horrible awkwardness which should have
Disguised all Greece with justice henceforth.
They have adopted the guillotine, of late,
among other modern Improvements, but, not
being skilled in its use, they took three
hours of the short Winters day in dispatching
Crikella. The unhappy being who had begun
his share in the spectacle with such dignity
and calm, became chilled and horror struck by
the dreadful ordeal, and shrieked and begged
for immediate death. Again and again the
knife was hOsted in the air, and as often it
stuck in the groove as it fell. and gave the
waiting victim all the bitterness of dissolution
without its relief He lay there three endless
hours, under the pitiless heaven, while the ner-
yous and unskllful workmen patched and ham,
mered the hideous machine, occasionally in
his frenzy struggling to break away from the
executioners Justice triumphed at last, hay
ing all day to work in, and Crikella was re-
leased to meet another form of judgment, let
us hope more mercful and certainly more
unerring The guillotine, for they have but
one in the kingdom-ecOnomy being COM
PEELED by the state of the national finances
was then packed up and started on its SIMS
ter journey through the provinces. A man
slayer named RombocOs was awaiting Its
advent in Vostitza, and other cOnvicts will
receive attention as fast as the wandering
horror can make its circuit, the day of execu-
ton depending on its arrival in town.
Amusements being rare in that classic land,
since the years ceased to be numbered by
Olympiads the coming of the guillotine and
its keepers is awaited with intense interest
by all classes of the idle and curious popula-
ton.
The comment made upon this incident by
the leading journal of the realm is worth
giving. This frightful story only inculcates
the lesson of greater skill in the handling of
the fatal engine. similar scenes" says
La Grece, ARE repeated at every execution in
"our country The death penalty is, unfortu-
"nately necessary among Us, not as social
vengeance, but as a legitimate de.
"fenso against brigandage. We should try
"not to afford such fair game to the philan-
"thropists, by giving them occasion to say
"that our laws are as clumsily made as our
"gullotines.n 1t may be reasonably doubted
whether any improvement in the skill OF the
executioners would enhance the value of the
scaffold as q means of moral culture in Greece
The dashing bandit, Crikella, in the pic
turesque dress of the mountains, making his
graceful adieus to the world, and going out by
"A quick and painless death, would have been
an infinitely more captivating figure to the
imaginations of the youthful Greeks OF Cal
axidi than the poor convict shivering ana
bowling in the third hour of his intolerable tor
ture. The only argument for the glbbet Is It's
terrors-and when the memorable demands OF
civilization have removed from it all that Is
repulsive. the gibbet becomes useless anu
must follow into the limbo of ontgrown afro
cities.
1t is not long since case occuilou III 'i'
British Courts illustrating most pungentiy the
absurd struggle of humanity and tradition IN
the matter of executions. A man had commit
ted murder of signal brutality, IN when
there were no extenuating circumstances what
ever. But he had been severely burned IN
early life, in consequence OF which his chh
adhered TO the throat in such manner that
the surgeon decided his neck could not be dis
located by hanging. ana that his death there