Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-09-10
The Headsman of Paris.
Correspondence New York Times.

III. I1e:lr1CD, Lne successor OF laC AS~
tie Henri Samson, as headsman ofPar-
is i'll lS47 was q man six feet in hixth,
with clear, cold blue eye, regular
features, and the manners and car.
riage CT a perfect gentleman, his whole
bearing having the appearance OF a
hai-pay officer. NJ. Heindrich always
"operAted' in evening dress and a
white cravat, and after each execution
went to the church of St. Ambrose
where he ordered a mass to be said
for the repose Of the soul Of the vic
tim, which over, he took a bath and
then breakfasted. Heindrich had On
imperative voice and a strong hand
When he took hold OF his man he new.
er met with any resistance. and
it is told OF him that when Yer.
ger was called and on hundred pre-
texts sought to postpone the fatal mo.
ment, Heindrch simply walked into
the cell, looked tixedly at him, and
said, 9Th bien, Verger," and the 9th
er sluddered, rose and followed
Heindrlch died on the Good Friday Of
1872, at the age OF 70, after exercising
Tor so years his profession, and was
succeeded by his aide, Roch, who was
his antithesis, being as jocose and
bonhornme as the other was reserved
and solemn. Roch was a tall, power
full man with a placid face, gray whisk'
ers, and gold earrings, looking on ex
ecution days, in his black frock coat
opened to show his cable-like watch
chain, as if he were a workman in
Sunday clothes. You always expect
ed to hear him sing lie Petit Eben
iste," or some such ditty popular with
his class. His bon mots We're proven
bal. but they We're not in very
good taste, as for example: ''Come
my lad, be OF courage; no one wants
to hurt you," and, when Albert pro
posed to address speech to the pub
lie, Bah! I'll abridge it"' but they
delighted the jallers and gave copy tc
the newspapers. He took part in LIS
executions. His hobby was his
guillotne, which he called his bijou
He. rubbed it bright, furnished thu
blade. wiped off with his pocket hand
kerchiet every grain Of dust and specl
OF mud, and having heard OF the "sin
lister noise" made by the knife IN fall
ing, arranged india rubber Innings fol
the grooves, and in order to save thu
"patlent" from the sensation produc
cd by the sight Of the knife, concealed
it with screen. Roch was married
and the father OF eight children, whom
he adored: and when he 'functioned'
in the provinces, his first act after the
- toh &o]o
to his family, telling how the
affair had been conducted,' anC
if there mad been "a good
attendance He died in 1879 O.
aroplexy, ct tho age OF 60. The pres
ent incumbent, M. Deibler, an ex-cab
inet,naker OF Dion, entered upor
his career as an amateur and iron
ramour de Fart in 1885. NJ Deible,
married daughter OF his colleague
OF Algeria, Mile Rasenauf, who, hav
ing been educated with the whole
some traditions Of the past
would not have consented tc
any nuptial derogation' you
perhaps, may not know that the bour
reau affects to retain those privilege:
OF nobility which were granted to hi:
predecessors in the 18th century by {
royal ordonrance But his children
have learned to share popular preju
dices against the profession. His SOL
| preferred to enter as a clerk in one O
Partisan monster stores. Deib!er doe!
not enjoy the popularity OF Roch ant
| Heindrich; he is less active, less vigor
| Gus than they who could plaquer-
"flatten"-the patient on the plan
Ghetto and, without moving, touch
the spring. He loses time, and even
second seems an eternity to the look