The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-02-11
THEGUILLTOINE E
IT'S SICKENING EXECU-
TION IN FRANCE.
Nicholas GurnOt'S Head Rolls Into q
Basket Of SaHdust.

Nicholas Gurn0t's Head Rolls Into a
Basket Of Sawdast.
MEzIEREs, ARDENNEs, February
6.-Nicholas Gurnot. who was
sentenced to death three months
ago for having laid in ambush
for and shot through the heart 4
tax collector in the Ardennes for
est, was guilIotined here at sew
en- o'clock yesterday morning in
the presence of two thousand
spectators, large proportion Of
whom wore women and children.
nj. Deibler, the famous execution
er, with his two Lieutenants in
charge of the guillotine and the
execution van. arrived by the
Paris express on the previous
evening. The guillotine was set
up on a hill near the fortification.
and after an hours brisk work
with hammers and screw drivers
everything was in readiness
The executloners then returned
10 their hotel, ate hearty supper
and went to bed. They got up at
five o'clock the next morning, put
on black broadcloth,coats waist
coats, trousers and black cravats,
ate boiled eggs, drank large
bowls of coffee, and stood in
readiness by their guillotine at
SIX o'clock. At the same hour
the Sheriff entered Gurnot's cell,
woke him up and said: "Come,
Gurnot, your pardon is refused.
There is nothing for it now but
TO dress yourself"
Gnrnot-I think it very hard
OH me, since l have been kept
waiting three months in terrible
anxiety. They might just as well
have cut my head off two months
ago and have done with the bust
ness.
Sheriff-Would you like to take
a drink before you dress?
Gurnot-What IS the-is the
use of taking a drink If they are
going to cut my head off.
S:'eriff-Dress quickly, then,
l will send you a priest.
Gurnot-Oh, l know l am
guilty; but can't they send me
| to Caledonia? I'll work faith
fully there.
Gurnot then began his toilet.
putting on a new blouse, clean
linen shirt, and chatting affabIy
with the prison attendants. The
priest then arrived and conduct
ed Gurnot TO the chapel. Gurnot
prayed with fervor, and burst out
out crying, holding his head with
both hands. After the prayer
the Judge came to see him, and
offered him a glass Of brandy
Gurnot drank it at one swallow.
The Judge offered him a cigar,
but Gurnot replied: "No; thanks;
what's the use?"
The attendants then made Cur
not take off his linen shirt. and
slipped over his head the regula-
ton low necked execution shirt.
Gurnot then drank a glass OF
Chartreuse, saying; "Merci a vo-
ire Sante -
A lock of hair was secretly
clipped from his head while he
was drinking the Chartreuse.-
Shortly afterward Gurnot ex-
claimed: "Why didn't they bring
my children here 2''
The Sheriff asked; "How
many children have yous"
-Four replied Gurnot, and
burst out crying.
Ten minutes later Curnot was
led to the eXecutioner's van. AS
he mounted it he turned to the
Judge and said: IN. Geminel, l
should consider 1t a great favor ii
you would ride in the van with
me-"
NJ. Geminel assented to this
strange request, and the murder
derer and his judge rode together
through the streets, preceded by
mounted gendarmes, in the exc
cution van. In fifteen minutes
the guillotine was reached. Cur
not kissed the image of Christ
offered him by the priest, and
Immediately afterward was
placed with his neck under the
knife of the guillotine.
One of the eXecutioners held
Gurnot's head steady by entwir-
ing his fingers IN Gurnot's long
hair. Gurnot uttered a most ter
rible shrek, which was cut short
by the descent of the knife, and
his head rolled into a basket
filled with sawdust. Mr.. Deib-
ler explained: THAT is the first
time since in 1871, at lie Mans,
that l have heard a cry like that.
Cest LIZ Pa-e.sve Qe;;I Avait al;
Sang ct to,.Le Sc co;,:s0;Ssa1sce. y
The gendarmes Immediately dis
persed the crowd. The eXecu-
TONERS, pale and exhausted with
their mornings work, washed the
guillotine with soap-suds, dis
mounted it, and, with the van,
the guilloline, and ali their i'm
plemautS returnpd tO Paris