Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-10-26
RASTllE TORTURES.
p.voit,ne Forms Of Cruelty Used 10 '"""
mel Prisoners 10 Testify.


mel Prisoners 10 TESTIFY
Tb. exeeutioner, with the help ol
his assistants. inclosed the leg anu
knee within the tight iron poot' VI
case. and then placing a wedge oil .he
same metal between the knee ana tho
edoe of the machine, took a mallet I'D
his hand and stood waiting for further
orders. A surgeon placed himself on
the other side OF the prisoners CHAIR.
and applied his thumb to the Pulse III
order TO regulate the torture accord
ing to the strength of the patient
When these preparations were maze
the nresident Of the council repeated
| with the same stern voice the ques-
tion. "When did you last see Johh
Balfour. of Burley?" The prisoner
instead of replying, turned his eyes
90 Heaven, rs If imploring divine
..rangth The Duke OF Laud-
crda,e glanced his eye around the
| council. as il to collect his suifraSes'
and, judging from the mute signs
gave nod to the exccutioner' whose
mallet instantly descended ON the
wedge, and, forcing it between the
| knee and the iron boot, oc"asioned the
most acute pain, rs was evident from
he flush which instantly took place
on the brow and on the cheeks OF the
sufferer. The fellow then again ra sed
| mis- weapon and stood prepared TO ave
second blow. "Will you yet say,
repeated the Duke, "when aud whore
you last parted from Balfour, OF Bur-
lew" You have my answer said
the sufferer, resolutely; and the
second blow fell. The third
and fourth succeeded, but at
.he fifth, when larger wedge had
peen introduced, the prisoner set up a
scream of agony. ne Is
gone" said the surgeon; she has faint-
ed, my lords, and human nature can
endure no more" And when the UNI
fortunate Macbriar was recalled to his
senses the Duke passed sentence OF
death upon him. This gives an idea
of the kind of instrument which was
Ia favor in the Bastile, but not in the
Bastile alone.
On the 18th Of October, 1868, GILES
Dayot, a priest, was committed to the
Bastile, accused OF sacrilege. He was
soon afterward condemned "tO make
amende honorable in front of the plin-
cipal door of the Church Of NOtrt
Dame, to be hung and strangled to ;
gallows on the Place de Greve, his deat
body cast into the flames, and his
ashes scattered to the winds; the sale
Davot first of all to suffer the ordinary
and extraordinary question. in orde
to learn the truth from his mouth.
After having been examined at con
siderable length this unfortunate
wretch was subjected to the torture O
water-that is to say. he was chane,
down to the floor and was then filled
with water. For the ordinary ques
ton four cans were administered, ant
for the extraordinary, eight cans
After the first cam says tin
report, "Davot said. My God
have mercy on me! What do yo
wish me TO say? | have toll
all Exhorted to tell the truth, h
said that if he knew any thing h
: would not allow himself to be tor
| tured' At the second can he cried, :
} know nothing am ready to die
Exhorted again, he persisted that h
had nothing to reveal. At the thir
can he said nothing. At the fourtl
can he cried, That he had told tn
truth; that he could support it n
longer; that if they would relieve hir
ne would tell the truth He was re
: lieved, but having once more declare
shat he had spoken the truth. the e,
| traordinary question was commenced
At the fifth can he cried, oh, m
God! Oh, my Godr At the sixth ca
he said. 4 am dying. | can hold OF
. no longer. have told all At til
seventh can he said nothing. At tn
eighth can he screamed out that h
was dying and said no more" Ate
this he was relieved and unbound. an
as the master surgeon, Morel. said
, would be dangerous to leave him an
: longer in torment, he was placed on
mattress near the fire, when his decl,
. rations, made under the question, wen
, read to him. After reposing hinse
| for some time he was re-examinet
Asked for his name. surname and az,
: after having placed his hand ad pectu
\ he said, 81 am GILES Davot, priest, fort
/ wears of age" The rest of the sentene
! was afterwards ruthlessly carried GU
Hon. d. Bingham
A poor man and his wife emigra+e