Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-18
HIS HEAD CUT OFF.

II N.:i. necessary to !;c there early, for 1t
> y. NJ. i; became almost impossible 10 pen.
citrate tarougE the surgiug mass which
pressed upon the line Of the police and the
few mounted Gardes &c la Paris at the ap-
proaches to the Place de Ia Roquette. Full
" 800 persons had availed themselves by
that hour OF the permits accorded them to
pass into the square.
Matters began TO assume the appcarun ce
Of preparation at 230 a IA, when two We
hicles drove up TO the prison, over which
are inscribed the words; depot des Con-
damnes." One of these conveyances con-
tanned the detached pieces which go to form
the guillotine, and which are termed "les
bois de la Justice" The other was destined
shortly to remove the decapitated remains
of the unfortunate man to the cemetery at
Ivry. The process of fixing and raising the
fell apparatus occupied until 800, and the
hour which followed was devoted to ali eX-
animation ofits action, which was minutely
explained by NJ. Debler, the executioner, to
the privileged persons. \ square OF three
or four deep had been formed round the
suillotine, the front line being composed OF
policemen and journalists and every move
ment OF the fuIctionary was eagerly scrutln-
lied.
At i o'clock day broke. The execution
er's assistants having finished their task,
nut out the haud-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 n few feet
from the guillotne. Something like nerv-
business 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
ealows and the white faces of the crowd.
When at last the light went out IL slight
shudder seemed to pass over all, the incl
dent being so emblematic OF what was tG
follow.
At 4:13 Il small group OF func!ionares
assembled inside the prison, consisting Of
NJ. Caubet, NJ. kuehne, Chcl de la Surete,
the delegate OF the public prosecutor, the
clerk ot the court of appeal, NJ. Baron, the
commissary of police and NJ. Moreau. With
NJ. Bauquesne, director of the prison, at
their head, they proceeded to the condemn
ed cell.
The prisoner, who, according to French
usage, was until that moment kept in ig-
noiunce Of his approaching doom, was in II
sound sleep, NJ. Bauquesne shook him by
The shoulder, saying, Come, Campi, your
appeal for mercy is rejected. Be brave; il
i, fixed lur this morning.. After Il nervous
Shuddcr, which he quickly represSed,
Campi rose and dressed himself with the
aid oi The eXeculioucr's assistants. The
order for execution was quickly read to
him, and be Was then left for Il few mo-
..,l u, ,l,, .i.i,
rxhorlalionS ne is said to have listened re-
-gectnIiy.
On being asked subsequently, by the rep
,e>cn;;tive of the public prosecutor wheth
cr HI. had any revelation 10 make he rather
anyrl!y replied, Il shall nOt tell my name,
adding, with Il triumphant laugh: "Ah,
tuusc ulagisirat,'s!'
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 PIN
ioned. 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 lao, when the great
doors Of the prison were thrown open. On
his left and y little in front of him walked
the chaplain. As Campi,. escorted by two
Of NJ Dciber's assistants, emerged. oil heads
were uncovered and dead stilluess pre-
vailed, only broken by the dull roar Of the
crowt! a quarter of mile awaa'. Campi was
deathly pale, but held himjelf erect, and
even assumed slightly staggering attitude.
En- spite of his manacles, he walk kea freely and
without assistance to within ten PAGES of
the guiilotine. There the sAbnc Moreau
turning TO MIN, said: Embrace me, my
friend" Campi replied, at; you wish it,"
and the priest kissed him ons both cheeks.
AT this moment Campi tu-eed toward the
crowd and smiled twice--a sfelile which was
perfectly horrible to witnass.. Then he
walked coolly to the uprigbE plank, which
reached to his chest Ttns, nNecutioner
quickly placed his hand upo. his shoulder
and tipped him over the plank swinging
him down SO as 10 bring his bead under the
knife. In another second She knife de-
scended. the head was ser:red: from the
body and fell into the can off sawdust plac-
ed there 10 receive it. One g til" assistants
rolled the trunk of the plans in;:p the wick
er Golfer at the side, and tafius, the head
by the car flung it on to the :crIsc and the
lid was closed The box wa; At once cart
ed away TO the relor's cemettry:Rt lvry, es-
corted by four mounted gen:larnles.-Paris
NeWs.
The Shakers Shakiag..:
wi. :, $500, fool ,,. cb;1yv n ohi1lS