Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15
PLAYING WITH A GUILLorNE.
Some Incidents In a Celebrated Paris
Prison.

Some Incidents In a Celebrated Paris
Prison.
The "Souvenlrs de Roquette," by the
Able Crozes, says a correspondent Of the
New Orleans PicdyHne, is work inter-
esting OF its kind. La Roquette is the
prison where all the principal criminals
are confined, and whence condemned as
sassins are taken to be decapitated. The
Able tells of the visit Of the Empress
Eugene to La Petite ROquette, a sort of
branch establishment across the street
from La Roquette used for juvenile pris-
oners. In company with the Project OF PO-
lice and the Minister of the Interior he
inspected the prison and entered the
cells of the inmates. "1he kindness OF
the Empress produced SO deep an impress
sion on the youthful criminals that when
the sovereign lett them, leaving behind
her consolation and hope, all melted into
tears" So read the MOnitear the next
dav: but according to the Able Crozes,
the imperial visit did not pass off exact
lv as reported in the official organ OF
the government. ''When the Empress
was leaving the prison." writes the
author of the Souvenirs" ''she was
hooted. She had made all sorts of i'm
prudent promises, and as soon as she was
gone revolt broke out among the in
mates; the inner doors were broken down
and the window glass smashed. When
the Emperor questioned the PrefectOi Po-
lice about the disorders that followed the
visit of the Empress, that official had the
frankness to say that the imperial lady
| had been too gushing The word ruined
| him: few days later he lost his place."
Somewhat different, but none the less a
success, was visit OF lot Of men Of the
world, journalists, painters and drama
| lists. who passed the night before Tropp-
mann was guillOtined with the DIrecteur
of the prison. Sardou brought ham with
him. Albert Wolf, two bottles of BOr-
deaux, the Chief of Detectives cOntribut-
ed a tIuffied turkey. There were fifteen
in the party, and the supper table was
laid In the office of the hospital steward.
The private parlOr of the Superintendent
was brilliantly illuminated sandwiches,
slices of cold beet, patee de foie gras,
glasses of wine and hot punch were hand
ed around by the prisoner attendants, and
to give additional color to the scene the
officers of the regiment on duty outside
were Invited to join in the picnic. The
chaplain was sent for, not to ask grace
but to take something. The Able re-
fused, giving as an excuse that 1t was
past midnight and the regulation Of the
church required him TO say mass fasting.
The excuse was accepted; but "a repor-
ter. who was so drunk that he was una
BILE to accompany his cOnfreres to Tropp-
mann's cell or to the scaffOld and had to
remain and sleep off his wine in the d.
rector's room, said blasphemously: What
difference does the regulation maker
Then they all went out and amused them
selves by playing with the guillotine.
Some OF them got on the platform and
Heinderech explained how it worked;
SardOu allowed himself to be fastened to
the plank and permitted the executioner
aud his aids to handle him as though he
was to be guillotined.' After this expo
sure Of the good old Able, 1 don't see
that these great persOnages have any
right to complain hereafter of such things
"a Orpiaa Of the commune.