Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-29
HE DIED WITHOUT A TREMOR
Prado Executed For the Murder of
Marie Aeuetant.
REFUSED TO CONFESS THE CRIME
But Diei Protesting His Innocence
He Declined the Services of n
Priest and Maintained n Firm
DemcanOr 10 the Last.
Met Death Calmly.

ltODVItVHl INNN ~ JtlNttS 'HbIu'it btIH'tt-l
PARIS, Dec. 2S-TNew York Herald Cable
Special to The BEE. -Prado was guillotined
at 7.34 this morning, amidst a crowd of Gu
rious sight-seers. His prayer for a speedy
death was promptly granted. This morning,
as the day was breaking, he paid his life for
the murder Of Marie Aguetdnt.
ut is for this morning, Prado; cheer up"
exclaimed NJ. Beaquesne, governor Of Ro-
quctte, awakening Prado.
Linska woke UP, rubbing his eyes, and ex
claimed:
"Why didn't you kill me bofore"
xviii you have a glass of winc'' asked the
priest.
Prado, with perfect GOODNESS and excess OF
couuetry, buttoncd his patent leather shoes
and drew tightly his lavender silk socks, as
he replied: why NJ. rAbbe. you seem more
excited about this than / who am going
70 this butchery to turn a somcrsault."
Then turning to NJ. Garon, re said: 'Pray
present my last salutation to NJ. Guillot,
who sent me to death. | protest my limo
cence. / never killed Marie Aguetant. /
swear it on the head of my child.'
Afterwards turning to Able Faure, he
added al don't believe in your bon Dleu,
able. If he existed ne wouldn't leave me in
SUCH IL uS NOW, ANY ways VI anu hhNO my
remains buried. i don't want to be badly
carved and all chopped up by n lot of awK.
ward, bungling medical students
The able then spoke of religion to him.
Prado replied:
"Nc me casses pas la tete avcc vos
betises.n
The solemn procession left the prison at
7:3O a. IN. The doomed man walked between
4, ,.;,,, ,,,l ,,,n ,..,,,t;,,nr Al lyon,,soupn
director of La Ropuctte, walked behind.
Prado's head was shaved and his shirt cut
away from the neck. He wore no coat. His
hands were p%inioned at his sides, and the
loosely fastened ropes allowed his legs to
move with a shutting gait. Lines of soldiers
kept back the crowds.
Whatever he felt, the condemned man
showed no fear. His face was very pale,
but it was pale with indignation,
not cowardice. He shed no tears.
He stood firm, and then he turned calmly TO
the executioner, and that was all. He died
bravely. Not Il moment was lost. The
doomed man was pushed against the upright
plank, which rotating swiftly on its axis,
swung HIM directly beneath the knife. His
neck projected through a tight fitting open.
ing and he looked down into a basket waiting
for his head. He looked there for one, two,
three seconds, not more, and then q touch of
the spring sent u sinful soul 10 It's eternal
reckoning.
Prado sent the following letter TO Carnot:
"An %iniquitous sentence has condemned me
TO death for a crime i did not commit. l
have awaited already forty days for my exc
cution, To wait longer would constitute a
gratuitous augmentation Of the torture. l
ask you to abridge it. | disavow all steps
that may be taken with the object of induc-
ing you to commute my sentence. Such Il
pardon as that would forever separate me
from my beloved child, and leave me under
the shadow of a monstrous judicial error. 1t
would be a hunGredfold more painful to me
than death, although this death be as shame
full as that which L eagerly ask for. l ask,
Monsieur lie President, that you put an end to
this unutterable torture l am enduring. ]
earnestly wish your presidency may add
some fine ana glorious pages to the history
of France. Please accept, Monsieus lie Presi-
dent, the homage of my admiration and of
my respectful salutations. PRADo.
Press. l-Prado, the murderer of Maria
Aguctant, his mistress, was gulllotincd
this morning in the Place dc la Ro-
quette. He preserved a firm demeanor to
the last. He refused to make a confession
and also declined the services of a chaplain.
The execution was witnessed by two hundred
artists, newspaper men, actors, lawyers and
politicians who possessed influence enough to
obtain admission within the sentry lines to
the Place de Ia Roquette. Many notables
were among the spectators. Prado,
in walking from the prison to the Guillotinc,
showed no signs of fear. His arms were
tightly pinioncd behind his back. His APP
parel consisted of a heavy wooden under
shirt and dark trousers. The shirt had been
roughly cut away from about the neck and
shoulders. In front of the guillotlne a board
stood upright to the height of five feet. AS
Pradc neared this board four burly men
sprarg forward, seized him, hurled him
against it and flung themselves upon him,
and by their weight bore the struggling vic
tim, face downward, TO the top of the low
platform. In an instant the board was
wheeled forward until the murdcrer's neck
was under the glistening knife. A wooden
collCr was then fixed over the back of the
prisoners neck and the knife was sprung. 1t
went through, and the head OF Prado fell
among the shavings beyond.