The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-13
flow They Heard Their Sentences and
How They Met Their Fate.
last Moments on Earth-Calm and Reso-
| lutte Conduct Of the Prisoners.
ROssel's Warming to His COun-
trymen.
FERRE'S LAST ERs.

PARIS, Nov. %, 1871.
On Sunday the dossters OF these prisoners were
returned by Commission des Graces to the Minis
Ter OF Justice to-day three OF those condemned to
death have been executed. Bourgeois was q SER
keant In the Forty fifth regiment OF the line. He
neserIed joined the Insurgents and also struck his
superior oncer; for these crimes he was condemned
10 death by the second Consen de Guerre. BE had
played no prominent part on the stage OF life,
and public opinion has not been affected By
klther his antecedents or his sentence. Ferre,
bn the contrary, had SO outraged the laws OF So
ciety that his condemnation TO death was source
pf general satisfaction. With respect to Rossel.
however, there were many incidents connected
which excited the sympathy OF the public. bis de-
hesitation OF the enemies Of his country was the pr-
Snary cause Of his downfall, contaminated by, per.
baps, over-personal vanity and self-consciousness
lpf his undoubted military capacity. The determi-
bation TO carry into execution the death sentences
has been kept profoundly secret that Paris Is for
fhe moment stunned by the announcement that there
Communists have this morning explated their
Ermcs on the plateau at Satory without due notice
having been given.
y MY LAST MEETING WITH ROssEL.
The last time that saw Rossel, when he was yet
y free man, was at the War ONCE, where he had
lust sent in MS resignation as DeIegus la Guerre.
ee then told me that he was summoned to give an
Explanation OF his conduct, ana felt q PRESENT.
tnent that his days were numbered. On several
previous occasions l mad seen him, on all
pf which he had offered me facilities
pnd protection which, while Minister OF War
Under the Commune, he had the power to grant.
Personally found him gentlemanly and unassum-
lug In his manners. regretted, and told him so,
20 see soldier OF the regular army commanding
The Communists and pointed out to him the dan.
Il HAD
signed his position before joining the Commune,
end believe that at the time he was really under
khe impression that he had done so. That he was
Communist In heart / cannot credit; Indeed, the
opinion formed OF him was greatly in his favor. /
Thought that should have to report that he had
been murdered during the reign Of terror, but until
the fatal shois were this morning fired at Satory
D hoped that his sentence would be committed.
RossEL BEFORE THE EXECUTION
Rossel until Friday last appears to have trusted
in the continued exertions MADE py his family and
by influential personages to obtain commutation;
but he continued, even when assured that there
WAS no further hope, calm Indifferent. The
urs information received by the municipal authorl
Ties OF Versailles was the notification yesterday that
permission was required to dig three graves In the
portion OF the cemetery or Saint Louis appropriated
for the bodies Of criminals. On Saturday the Com.
mission des Graces decided that
THE LAW SHOULD TAKE IT'S COURSE
with respect to Rossel, Ferr5 and Bourgeois, but
that the capital sentence passed on TullIen should
be commuted to simple transportation. NJ Theirs
syas the time absent from Versailles. He returned
during the night and yesterday. 1t is understood,
he signed with great reluctance the necessary doc
hments for the execution which 1t was beyond his
power TO avert
THE LAST HOURS or TIE CONDEMNED.
GrCf nstn or ton,
which aroused the suspicion OF the condemned was
the usual inquiry as to their exact age, place Of
birth, &c. on Saturday Ferre, who, when not
alone, still maintained his air bravado, inquired
Of Able Toilet, the prison chaplain, 'If executions
river took place on Sundayr' On being answered
in the negative he appeared to be treasured Rossel
In his CELL NO. worked hard at his literary labors.
ANXIOUS TO complete his military legacy, '.Reor-
ganzation OF the Army," he wrote with feverlsh
Rnxieiy until, worn out by fatigue, he was forced
TO throw himself on his bed, exhausted.
At four O'Clock this morning Bourgeois
who has been confined in the Prison des
Chantiers, was brought thence to the Maison
De Justice where the other prisoners have been
confined. IL know what / am wanted for" he
Bald; ''glve me cigar.' His request was complied
with and he was confined In cell at the Maison de
Justice In order TO accompany the other prisoners
10 me place Oh execution. lie ate good breakfast
tocate undertook TO convey the fatal tidlngs to his
Ihent When he entered the cell CT the condemned
losscl was awakened with difficulty on seeing
ms friend at his bedside he exclaimed. "lti Is then
bor this morning ~
/ 'Alas, yes mon amt ~
The director OF the prison was present.
sossEL ASKED TO BE LEFT ALONE FOR FEW
5Ie was informed that his request could not be
Complied with. lie rose and dressed himself in
gray morning suit, over which he put on brown
taletot He embraced his advocate. who was
neepiy affected, SAYING as he did 81, "Prav for me-
pardon me for having given you so sad case.n
! NJ. Passa, the venerable Protestant pastor, en-.
9ered the cell, and, with the condemned man,
awakened for the lasl time. The two threw them
belves into each others arms aud held each other
closely embraced, while tue advocate Withdrew.
leaving the doomed Christian TO the performance OF
bis great last duties. Rossel asked for the Com
munlon II expected that you would. my son." and
eon OF ihe feeling which took possession OF him. he
wrote under the eyes Of the pastor, the following
LETTER TO HIS GRANDMOTHER
To MRS. IeADELLA CAapEELL:-
Adieu podmother; j love thee Nov. %, 1871
hs ss Saq u lay latitude a Ss
Jesus Christ for having lef a. Tia, token
THY LITTLE LIsE.
RossEL's LAST LETTER TO HIS PARENTS AND HIS
SISTERS
Then Rossel addresses TO his father to his mother
and TO his sisters the following letter.
, Adieul 18th November 1871, $50 A. N.
peas my dear sarah Adisn AdIea my weli;bee,ed or
me- sea S ~ "h nao
yor not having better loved and for having caused
you much pain. | am firm and OF good courage J
brace you'll embrace with All my heart. Your child,
These letters written, IL was quarter past SIX.
Sossel entreats NJ JOY to re-enter, and makes him
Et down again al his side. All three with hands
Jnterlaced, SIT close together, united as IL were
ninped: Vow that / have finished with the
things OF heaven let US occupy ourselves with earth
nurlng the lew moments which remalu;u and ne
recommended his family to his friends "Let them
remain some time ignorant OF my Death NY father
~ ould 20 mad. My poor mother Surround them
II IL my sister who is 10 become The
prop le Qdrcon) OF the house. As for my
Joor sarah, my dear pastor, she was my god
baughter-be her godfather. NJ. Passa." The two
friends wept. Hyhat children you are DO not
weep. I am happy. on. am aappy IN Jesus
sughter OF M. Jolly he offered little box OF choco.
late; 10 the son OF NJ Passa mis- case OF mathemai-
kal instruments. Suddenly Rossel quits them re.
eumes his place before lis table and, after having
kwlftIy written, be hands 10 the person TO whom II