Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-03
THE LAST OF EYRAUD.
Execution of the Murderer Of Tous-
saint Gouffe.
THE IRISH SETTLEMENT OUTLINED.
Bradlaugh and MISSIONER Laid to
Rest.
STOCKS ARE DULL BUT FIRM
MICHAEL EYRAUD EXECUTED.
The Murderer of Toussaint GOufIe Dies by
the Guiilotine.

The Murderer Of Toussaint Gouffe Dies by
the Guiiiotine.
Special Cable Dispatch to The Evening Star.
PARIS, Feb. 3.-One of the best-advertised
criminals of the century, Michael Eyraud, was
executed at 7 o'clock this morning in the Place
Rouquette. The fact that the final scene was
to occur so soon was carefully kept secret by
the officials and the newspaper reporters we're
only notified at II o'clock last evening"
To say that they were surprised but family
expresses their state of mind. as the air had
been filed for many days with rumors of the
communication of Eyraud's sentence to impris-
onment for life. The officials of the Bureau
de la Turete only received orders at 5 in the
afternoon to hold themselves in readiness tor
the event. The precautions had one beneficial
result-the usual scenes witnessed in the great
gloomy-looking square where on the night
before public execution an immense crowd
generally assemblies, composed of the most de-
PRAYED elements Of the populace, who spend
the time OF waiting carOusing. singing ribald
songs and other orgies. were not repeated.
The authorities were fearful that. owing to
the notoriety to which the Gouffe case had at
tanned. the spectators would be so numer-
Gus as to become unmanageable, and they
succeeded in carrying out their plans 80 we'll
that very few actually saw the execution be-
yond those invited and given tickets. The
street had been barred so not to admit traffic
at both ends, while Gordon of police and
mounted Guards Republicaines had been sum-
moned to keep order. Into the square thus
guarded from all access by the general public
the hundred ticket holders were allowed to
filter, and despite the gray, cold fog that pre-
vailed at the hour the most Of them had arrived
by in the morning.
AT THE PLACE OF EXECUTION.
The site Of the guillotine had been marked
off by wooden railing and at 5 two heavy-look-
ing vehicles numbered up, one being larger than
the other. These contained sections Of the
deadly instrument. the proper putting together
OF which was subsequently superintendent by
Monsieur Deibler himself, the lord high execu-
toner Of the occasion, to whom the Parisians
are wont to refer Familiarity the gentleman
of the High Works." As the time wore on q
gendarme admitted the Able Faure. the prison
chaplain, to the place and he quickly disap-
peared within the prison. Meanwhile the hun
dred spectators redeemed the reputation of the
city by keeping respectful silence as the
weary moments. al too brief for the prisoner
inside. dragged along. The was no shouting,
singing OF squabbling. that portion Of the
gamin population of the neighborhood, by
that time well aware that something unusual
was afoot, that had pressed their way up
to the barriers being kept awed by
the soldiers and gendarmes. Finally NJ. Diebler
appeared on the scene and with an umbrella
under his arm went methodically to work to
see that the guillotine was properly constructed
and that the fatal blade worked smoothly in
its socket and was sufficiently keen. These
preparations the crowd watched with breath
less interest as well as all the movements Of
NJ. Deibler's assistants.
THE CRIMINAL APPEARS.
By 2 it had become broad daylight and as the
clock on the prison tower sounded the hour
the gendaymes unsheathed their swords, the
gates Of La Roquette. gloomy pile swung
open and few seconds later Michael Eyraud
came forth. At exactly five minutes past the
hour he had parted forever with his beard,
which was false, and his collar. His shirt
being cut very low, he shuddered slightly as he
came out into the keen morning air. Slowly
rapidly as his manacled hands and feet would
permit to the guillotine. On his left walked
the chaplain, supporting him.
DEFIANT TO THE LAST.
On coming within couple Of PAGES of the
inclosure Eyraud stopped and the able, sup
posing that the fatal moment had come,
brace. Seeing his gesture, Eyraud waved
him aside and with a strident voice
shouted: "Constans is an assassin-far
more Of an assassin than l." Hardly had
Eyraud uttered the first word Of the sentence
when the executioners assistants seized and
able plank, to which he was tightly
strapped. To shove the prisoners head
lying as he did thus helpless, into the lunette
was but the work of a moment, and so rapidly
WAS ii done that the sentence was barely fin
isbed when the knife descended. These were
therefore, the last words of the famous crimi-
nal. whose death, like his life, was a protest
against the power and authority Of the law.
RAPID BIT OF WORK.
The Stars representative, who timed the ex-
ecution, counted only twenty-nine seconds be-
tween the opening Of the prison gates and the
dropping Of the culprit's head into what the
Parisians call the salad" basket. which
was plentifully supplied with sawdust.
Eyraud was not told till about $50
that his appeal for clemency had been re-
jected and that he must prepare for the end.
When NJ. Beauquesne announced this he added,
Courage. Eyraud." to which the latter replied:
.'Jeu AURA" shall have it