The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-14
Execution Of Two Murderers
in New Orleans.
A Revolving Scene on the
ScaffOsd.
The Criminals Enter Eternity With 0at1ls
and Curses on Their Lips.
They Protest Their Innocence
to the Last.

NEW ORLEANS. May Is. 1871.
About one year ago most iou murder was COM
mtted in this city. The victim, a sailor, unfortu-
natciy boosted Of the possession OF few dollars.
That same night he was waylald, murdered, robbed
and mis- body thrown into the Mississippi river.
circumstances pointed TO Vincent Bay0nne ana
Pedro Abrel as the perpetrators Of tins crime and
they were arrested, tried. conyicted ana sentenced
TO be hanged, and to-day suffered the extreme pen
atty OF the law
From grated and archcd window, overlooking
the yard In which the prisoners take exercise.
about fifty feet from the ground, pr0truded three
beams TO the centre OF these a rope was affixed,
sustaining small platform about six feet long and
four feet wide, which the criminals were TO take
their stand. From each OF the outside beams de-
pended well creased rope, with moose az tine
end dmly visible through the bars Of the room.
At the rear was
THE EXEcUTIoNER, CLOSELY MASKED.
From the cells overlooking the yard imprisoned
murderers ana burglars peered curiously upon the
scene and below were the Coroner, the City Physt-
clan and 800 sporting citizens, among them many
prominent members OF tho Mctairie Club. The shreks
and gatherings OF the insane confined in the same
gloomy building In defiance OF all humanity and
hyegene. lent an additional
HORROR 10 THE CHASTITY SCENE.
Visiting the doomed men half an hour before
their death your correspondent found them at
tended 10y Two priests ana Carefully guarded by
Captain Johnson, the courteous Governor Of the
jail Adjoining their cell was an altar prousely de-
corated by Marie Lavcau, the reputed
youDoo QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS,
q muatto woman, who has performed this oflice
Tor almost every Catholic criminal executed
within these walls for Il unarter or century
past. Rayonne was on the side gallery, smoking
cigarette and conversng pleasantly with c0Ored
girl gaudy dressed IN green SILK, with protllsOn
OF false hair. solid gold chain weighing at least >
pound fOlucd round her neck and breasts, and 900
worth Of diamonds on her fingers.
s.Who is that womany' asked Of my conductor.
I..ayra In hnrsEln yun -
''What is she doing heres"
''She boards here.N
"Wel she's here for twelve months for assault.
ami as she has plenty OF money, she get private
cock here, convicted or not convicted. You that
Niger broling that chlckcnf Wen. that's for her
breakfast In SIX weeks shell! be out again, driving
her buggy on the Shell Road'
.It's nohing,n said Bayonnc to his female friend;
"a lew minutes and It's all over" Carracct ana he
spat over the gallery upon the crowd below. but
where are and so ana sOi-namiDg half q dozen
prominent ctlzens recently acquitted OF crimes as
atrocious as that for winch he was TO su1er-"they
had friends and money, and they are free. l had
no money and no friends, and hang. Cargo ~
Abriel paced his cell reading religious book placed
IN his hands by one the fathers. Sister VI Mercy
apprOactcd with words or consolation. '.Are you
moi blessed TIE Holy Virgin, on her own day
Saturday, in her month, May, il coming 10 take
you straight TO heaven" ADriel scratched ais head
and looked rs If he could have dispensed with pOr-
ton OF the blessing. Soon after eleven O'Clock the
condemned descended the stairs leading to the fatal
drop, both camy smoking cigarettes. They hat
been
LITERALLY SUPPLIED WITH srIMrLANTs,
but neither was drunk. Both were dressed in white
drawers and white shirts. without coats or vests.
and wore the white caps over their heads an night
cap fashion. Bayonne attempted to hasten matters
ana pushed forward for the drop out OF his turn ex
cialInng, .toodby, gentlemen" lie was quietly
restrained aud Abriel was sent ahead Bayonne ex-
claiming
"HE'S MORE 'FRAID THAN LAMP
They each took seats on The narrow wooden hOuSo4
provided for them and gaZed out on the crowd with
undaunted brayad0. During tho rca0ing OF the
death sentence by deputy sheriff Houston, their fea
lures manifested siguS OF lmpatence. Abrcl. from
his seat. addressed the crowd IN Spanish saying.
AM INNOCENT OF THIS THING.
but forgive everybody and hope that all / have
offended Will forgive me-. Bay0une, speak
ing also In Spanish repeated almost
idenucally the same words The
toner, clothed from head TO foot in black
glazed muslin, adjusted the ropes. Both men
pressed the cross and shook hands with their
priests, but each protested ana struggled when the
white cap was drawn over them. exciaimng. I'm
Spanish. 81 am not afraid to show my face.n The
priests with difficulty paciicd them and the caps
were adjusted Then, rs the cxecutioner retired tO
the room behind to cut the rope, Bayonne broke
forth into
TORRENT or SPANISH CURSES.
lie died utteging the words 'S--s OF b--S.~
Both necks. were dlslocated by the fall, ami each
died with scarcely pcrccptIble struggle The
whole affair was most cre,iitably managed by the
officials concerned bot was. taken altogether.
revolving a spectacle as could well be imagined.