The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-04-12

Dhiett " q ,fiSfi'arstr al Nreo- Lstcnatus
son ofahl eminent plsader. who from the
outset devoted himseif solely to the ques-
ton of-preme,iitssier~siss saa
THE HEAD-oF THE ACCUSED
was ut stake re Iiiatie a powerful plea
bringing put ali the strong points in
favor of Billoir's story, and created a
decided sensation at two different stages
The first was when he spoke Of the testi-
monxof Or. Bergeron. Young Lachaud
Knocked alittle at the men who PRETEND
ed tosbe infallible because they spoke in
the name of science, and said that it was
science that spoke in the case of Moreau,
whowsl executed for having poisonedhis
wife with a substance which science had
since demonstrated had never poisoned
any one And il was this same DIR. Ber-
geroniwho had sworn away the life of
MORGAN. / need not say that there was
a marked sensation in court, and Dr..
Bergeroas rose as if to reply, but was
asked toresume his seat. He had spoken
positively as to the sulphate of copper;
he spoke as positively now with regard
to the appearance Of flesh after death.
The second incident was at
y THE CLOSE OF HIS PLEA.
George Lachaud demanded the recall of
the witness Bert. and when he was
Observation-Disclosures -it-was necessary
to hear his testimony again, for the head
of Billoir was in his hands. He had said
at first that the man he had seen prowl-
ing about the banks of the Seine was a
tall man, and Lachaud demanded that
Billoir should be made to stand up upon
the floor in front of the witness. He
was found to be man of medium
height, and the witness was troubled
The idea that word from him could
save this man from the guillotine so trou-
bled Bert that he hesitated to affirm en-
Iphatically thai Billoir was the man.
| He Thoughtful was the same person, but
if so he had changed very much since.
But" said the judge ''you swore
positively at first" Bert replied that
he felt pretty sure he was right, but,
in fact, you see, Mr.. President" he
stammered, II should not like to take
the responsibility; l think I'm right,
butt - Fhatwill do, y said the Judge,
and the witness was sent out. George
Lachaud left the jury under the impress
sion of this scene, and for the moment
many in the room thought that the jury
would throw out the charge of premedi-
tation. After twenty-five minutes of de-
lay the jurors bell tinkled, the jury re-
turned to their seats, the Judge put the
usual question to them, and the foreman
returned an affirmative verdict without
mentioning the words g extenuatiug cir
cumstanees, which, under the French
code, or according to Fgsrch procedure,
lowers the crime one degree.
- Of y4 THE DEATH SENTENCE
was about to be pronounced when the
accused was ordered to rise. Billoir,"
said the President, you have violated
the laws of honor; you are no longer
worthy to bear the military medal, or
the decoration of Italy; you are de-
graded" The Judge then said that the
verdict had been affirmative, and ordered
the Clerk to record it. BillOir did not
understand it, George Lachaud leaned
over and whispered that he could de-
mand executive clemency, but that the
sentence was death, and Billoir sank
down half unconscious upon his bench.
1t is scarcely probable that the Execu-
tive will interfere in case of this kind,
and / imagine that Billoir's head will
fall under the AK of the gIIillOtine with
in the next few days. Here three days
are allowed for an appeal to the Court
of Cessation, which deals solely with
questions of form, and one day, or rs
long as is necessary, to ask for executive
cIemency, but the moment that is refused
orders. are sent to the ercclteur des
hautes pacres to prepare his machine.
EXECUTIONS.
take place before the prison of La Ro-
quette IN the gray of the morning. The
prisoners left in doubt about his fate
until 4 O'Clock, and generally condemn
ed men are buoyed up with the hope of
reprieve. When the hour comes an
officer with a lantern enters the cell to
wake the prisoner and to tell him that
the hour has come. In moment NJ
Roch comes in to sign receipt for his
man; priest'has a few moments for
PRAYER, and then the condemned is led
out to small chamber, where he is
seized by the aids of NJ. Roch, who
make the final toilet. His shirt collar is
cut off and the hair at the back of the
head clipped close, Few men can bear
the touch of the cold scissors without
shudder. When this is done the prison.
er's hands are tied behind him,
a coat is thrown over his shoulders,
and the, procession starts out.
A few yards away stands the
fatal machine; the condemned man is
marched up to an upright plank, to
which he is strapped in twinkling. 1t
is hung upon a pivot, a Slight push sends
it over, and as the mans head falls into
the groove of the block, a bit of wood
comes down to hold it. Five or six sec
onds only are occupied with this work,
and in second more the AK falls and
the criminals head rolls into the basket
Cor. NeD York Times.
rrDr, urarprxHvu