Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-14
HIS HEAD CIT OFF.
Graphic Account OF "a French Execu-
ton by the GuiIIOtinc.

1t was necessary TO be there early, for
at A VI. it became almost impossible TO
penetrate through the surging mass
which pressed upon the line 0. the police
and the few mounted Gardes de Paris at
the approaches TO the Place de la Ro-
qnctte. Fully 300 persons had ayailed
themselves by that hour Of the permits
accorded them TO pass into the square.
Matters began TO assume the appear
( ance of preparation at 2:30 A. NJ, when
two vehicles drove up to the prison, over
which are Inscribed the words; depot
des Condamnes.' One of these convey
ances contained the detached pieces
which 90 to form the guillotine, and
which are termed "cs bois de la justice.
The other was destined shortly 10 re-
move the dccapitated remains of the I'M
fortunate man TO the cemetery at Ivry.
The process of fixing and raising the fell
apparatus occupied until $3.50, and the
hour which followed was devoted to an
examination of its action, which was
minuteiy explained by NJ Deibler, the
executioner, to the privileged persons. A
square OF three or four deep had been
formed round the guillotine, the front
line being composed of policemen and
functionary was eagerly scrutinized.
At 4 o'clock day broke. The excel
toners assistants having finished their
task, put out the hand-lamps which had
served during their lugubrious duties.
and the frivolous crowd began to relapse
into silence. The law requires that
criminal should be executed at daybreak,
and that time is marked by the arrival
of the official who extinguishes the last
gas lamp few feet from the guillotine.
Something like nervousness must have
taken hold of the man, for instead Of
putting it out he turned it on for
moment full blaze upon the dull-red
gailows and the white faces Of the crowd.
When at last the light went out slight
shuddcr seemed to pass over ALL the in
cident being SO emblematic of what was
to follow.
At 10 small group of functionaries
assembled inside the prison, consisting
of NJ Caubet, M. Kuehne Chel de la
Surete, the delegate of the public prose-
cutor, the clerk of the court of appeal,
Nj. Baron, the commissary Of police, and
M. Moreau. With NJ Bauquesne, direc-
tor of the prison, at their head, they pro-
ceeded to the condemned cell.
The prisoner, who, according to French
usage, was until that moment kept in ig-
norancc of his approaching doom, was
in profound sleep. Nj. Bauquesne
shook him by the shoulder, saying,
Come, Campi, your appeal for mercy is
rejected. BE brave; it is fixed for this
morning." After a nervous shudder,
which he quickly depressed, Campi rose
and dressed himself with the aid of the
executioner's assistants. The order for
execution was quickly read to him, and
he was then left few moments alone
with the chaplain, to whose exhortations
he is said to have listened respectfully
On being asked subsequently by the
representative of the public prosecutor
whether he had any revelation to make
he rather angrily replied, 81 shall not
tell my name, " adding, with a triumph
ant laugh: ''Ah, those magistratesw
On being asked what he wished to
have, he requested glass of white wine,
which he drank in small mouthfuls. The
chaplain continued praying while he was
being pinioned. The white flannel shirt
was cut SO as to expose his neck and
chest, and his only other garments were
his trousers and shoes. His wrists were
tied behind his back and his legs were
loosely pinioned
Thus he appeared at 4 40. when the
great doors OF the prison were thrown
open. On his left and little in front of
him walked the chaplain. As Campi, es-
corted by two of M. Deibler's assistants,
emerged, all heads were uncovered and a
dead stiffness prevailed, only broken by
the dull roar of the crowd quarter of
mile away. Campi was deathly pale, but
held himself erect, and even assumed
slightly staggering attitude. In spite
of his manacles, he walked freely and
without assistance to within ten PAGES of
the guillotine. There the Able Moreau
turning to him said: Embrace me- my
friend.n Campi replied, IF you wish
it, and the priest kissed him on both
cheeks.
At this moment Campi turned toward
the crowd and smiled twice--a smile
which was perfectly horrible to witness
Then he walked coolly to the upright
plank, which reached to his chest. The
executioner quickly placed his hand
upon his shoulder and tipped him over
the plank, swinging him down so as to
bring his head under the knife. In
another second the knife descended. the
head was severed from the body and fell
into the can of sawdust placed there to
receive it. One of the assistants rolled
the trunk off the plank into the wicker
Golfer at the side, and taking the head BY
the ear flung it on to the corpse and the
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