The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-09-06
NE CUTS OFF HEADS.
A Public Executioner Talks of His
Work--Dislikes to Kill Women.

The guillotining of the miscreant
Vodable the other morning and the
talk Of the same operation being
ere long performed on Eyraud have
once more made NJ. Deibler prom
inent in the chronicles of the day,
says correspondent of the London
Globe. A great deal from time to
time has been said about the Public
Executioner of. France, but still
more remains to be told. He was
always an interesting parsonage in
the eyes of the Parisians, and per-
haps this is why his post is so
eagerly sought after. The last time
it became vacant no fewer than 5000
aspirants applied for it, and when
NJ. Deibler retires from the profess
sion the number will no doubt be
still greater. That there is a weird
attraction about it is proved by the
confessions of all those who have
filled it. and the attraction is fur
thermore increased by the official
title of the berth, pExecuteur des
Hautes Euvres, which is high
sounding enough to hatter any
body's vanity. Let it be recorded
at once, however, that the present
holder of it bears his honors with
commendable modesty, and is not
above being interviewed like any
common mortal. Hence l was able
to approach him after the last ex-
ecution. NJ. Deibler never courts
popularity by parading himself in
public. No sooner has he done his
duty than, leaving his assistant to
take down and clean the guillotine,
he withdraws from the prison by a
back door and repairs unperceived
to a small wineshop in the Rue
Folie- -Regnault, where he takes
plate of soup before going home to
his family. His two aids, having
carefully packed up les bois de JUS
tice and deposited them in a shed
set apart for the purpose, also re-
pair to the same wine shop, and the
three together compare notes as to
the way in which the condemned
prisoner underwent his punishment
and was put out Of the world. NJ.
Deibler then calls for cup Of cof
fee, and rolling up a cigarette, pro-
ceeds to chat with the customers,
who are anxious to learn all about
the last moments Of the departed
criminal.
This is the moment to observe
him. He is a man who looks much
younger than he is-a fact which
shows that his lugubrious calling
does not weigh heavily on his mind.
He is on the road to go, but nobody
would think him to be more than
40. He is of rather small stature,
thick set and muscular, in spite of
an infirmity from which he suffers.
He dresses in black, with immacu-
late linen, and his whole get-up
would be most appropriate but for
a heavy gold chain and big breast
pin. At first sight his face has a
savage air about it, but when you
examine him closely he improves,
and he then appears to you in the
light of a typical bonhomme. His
eyes are soft and at times roguish.
He is fond of his joke, but his laugh
has a strange ring about it, and
gives a kind of unnatural express
sion to his countenance. One odd
feature is a small rough tuft of
beard or barbiche, into which a few
white hairs have crept, and which
clashes with his otherwise gentle
mien. His voice, too, is peculiar.
Sometimes it is harsh, at others ca
ressing. He talks slowly and TIM
idly, as if he were afraid Of COM
promising himself. To sum up, he
is curious character; mixture
of the tender-hearted father of
family and the inexorable messen-
ger of death-a man who has two
lives, his home and the guillotine.
$50 you wish to know how Vo-
dable behaved himself?" began NJ.
Deibler. "Well-very well, indeed.
I should like to have such men al
ways. He was one Of the pluckiest
l ever had to operate on. He bore
up to the last second in the most
heroic style. Pity his courage was
spent in crime"
"What about Pranzini?'
HE was the very reverse. The
papers said he died bravely, but
that was not true. He trembled all
the time, and when he reached the
guillotine he nearly tainted away.
Altogether, he was sorry fellow
Evidently NJ. Deibler admires crim-
ainals who do not show the white
feather; this to him is their crown
ing sin. Questioned as to a female
convict on whom he will soon have
to exercise his skill in the provin-
ces. he said: II am fond of trav-
cling; it relieves my mind and
strengthens me to work but | don't
like to have anything to do with
women. It is a disagreeable task.
They cry so much, kick up such a
noise and give themselves such airs.
The conversation then turned on