Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-23
DYING GAME.
The Murderer OF the Journalist
Chaudey.

correspondence OF the LOhuOn Ilmes.
Preau-de- Wedel convicted of tn
murder of poor Gustaye Chaudey, tn,
first victim of the Commune, was exc
cuted at Satory on March Is, shortly al
ter six o'clock. He died so bravely
and so strenuously protested his limo
cence, proclaiming it with his very las
breath, just before be fell, that enougl
public sympathy may be felt for him t
strengthen the hands of the party VIII,
clamor so fercely at the execution o
any Communist. II is, therefore, bu
right, perhaps, to remind those who may
have forgotten the circumstances o.
Chaudy's murder, that it is not as 3
Communist, but as criminal guilty o.
the most heinous crime known to the
law, that Preau-de Wedel has been put tc
death, and that, therefore, those only
have rightto protest against his pun
ishment who protest against all capita
punishment on whatsoever grounds.
| took roundabout route in order to
get ahead, and, driving quickly, arrived
at Satory some time before the process
sion. The place of execution was the
ground used for practice-fring, at the
upper end near the butts slightly to the
left. A large force, which have since
heard estimated at over $4,000 men OF
all arms, composed Of detachments fur
nished by different regiments, was al
ready posted there, drawn up along the
sides of the firing gronnd, and thus
forming, as it were, a huge hollow tri.
bunal. Its wide interior was kept rig
idly clear of trespassers, an outer belt
of cavalry not allowing them, at most
points, even to approach the main body
of the force. In the morning air, clear,
bright end fresh, though cold, with q
keen March wind, the whole scene looked
much more like the preliminaries of a
brilliant review than of q solemn tragedy,
and the crowd outside the ring almost
seemed to find it, for though, on the
whole they were well behaved, they did
not preserve anything like the same
attitude of silent reverence by which
l had been struck in the crowd
outside the prison. They were COM
posed almoat exclusively of military men
from the camp close by, and there were
few women with whom the soldiers
cracked jests, no slight diversion being
occasioned by the efforts of the more
eager spectators to Chamber up into some
trees, from which q good view OF the exc
cution was TO be had. A large sloping
mound, which rose just outside the
ranks, almost in line with the spot des-
tined for the execution, was as thickly
covered with human beings as the grand
stand on Derby day. Below it, scarce
ly q hundred yards off, was plain,
rough piece Of wood. 1t was the post,
in front of which the criminal was soon
to take his last stand. Near it were the
dozen soldiers who formed the peloton
d'execution, commanded by an officer,
and as they formed the one solitary
group, in grim isolation, within their
lines, their movements, as they primed
or examined their arms, could be dis
tinctly seen, and were watched with the
keenest interest. 1t was noticed that
they loaded and set apart four spare
rifles side by side on the ground, as if
intended for the coup de grace.
AT this time every eye was being con-
stantly strained in the direction from
which the prisoner and his escort we're
to appear, and soon after six o'clock a
loud beating OF drums and the blowing
Of trumpets told that they we're in sight
1t is one of the strangest and most dis
cordant features OF these executions
that the poor wretch doomed to an igno-
minious death is announced by a quick
double beat of drums, rattling out the
same stirring measures as welcome the
advance of victorious general, aud as
the doomed man slowly draws nearer
the rattle is caught up from drum TO
drum, jarring horribly on unaccustomed
nerves. To-day it did not cease till he
had been driven up close to the execu-
ton post. he then got out of the van,
courteously saluted, as he passed them,
group Of officers, and walked to the
post with a perfectly steady step and
bold, upright bearing There the for
mality Of reading out his death warrant
was again gone through. A soldier ap-
preached to bandag0 his eyes, but
Preau waved him of, and obtained the
commanding officers permission to re-
main unblinded, declaring. that he was
not afraid to look on death. Meantime
the firing party had drawn up 10 within |
a few PAGES and we're getting their rifles |
ready. The Able Follet had barely
time to receive the last, almost convul-
sive embrace the prisoner gave him,
bending forward TO throw his arms round |
his confcssor's neck. As the Able |
stepped back Preau-de-Wedel quickly |
recovered bis erect position, and, draw
ing himself up to his full hight, waved |
bis cap with his right hand, pressed his
Left upop his heart and exclaimed in /
loud tones, SO clear and ringing that
they might have slmost reached the |
furthest lines, " Solddts de meurs ilRO-
cent; risez dr0it du ceur, Fep."
with the uttsrance I
Of the words, the officer raised his
sword, and with it rose the rifles Of his
men. Before the echoes had died away, |