The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-11
WILL Wish HE Had NOT.
Declining a Drink He Dies
a Dry Death.
Gouffe's Murderer Steps
Into Eternity Thirsty.
He Refuses Religious Consola-
ton TO the Last.
The Criminals Head F alls in q
Basket of Sawdust.
Final Act in a Tragedy RepIete With
Horror.
He Refuses Religious Consola-
ton to the Last.
Final Act in a Tragedy RepIete With
Horror.

tude and resignation. There were but
few witnesses at the execution owing TO
the fact that it was not generally known
until too late for yesterday evenings
papers to announce that the famous Grim
inal was to meet death today. When the
governor OF the prison La Roquette and
the prison chaplain, PAbbe Faure, were
ushered into Eyraud's cell a short time
previous TO the hour fixed for the
condemned mans execution, they found
tina. he was already up and dressed, evil
IDENTIFY forewarned, contrary to the rules,
by some kind-hearted official. Eyraud
declined a glass OF cognac, which was
rendered him by one of the warders, and
in spite of the earnest solicitations of
Table Faure, the murderer positively,
even angrily, refused to listen TO the good
priests prayers, to pray himself, ortc have
any religious rites performed in his behalf.
The abbe's pleading with the criminal
In that dark cell this morning, while with
In and without the prison all preparations
were made to usher the sullen prisoner
into another world, was probably the most
solemn and dramatic incident of the exc
cution. But Eyraud's iron will was not to
be shaken even in the presence of death,
and he continued impatisntly to refuse re-
Igious consolation while on the death
march to the guillotine, which had been
erected during the night on the Place de
Ia Roquette by NJ. de Paris and his grim
assistants.
When pinioned and upon the point of
being overturned upon the boscull OF the
cuiliotine-upon the plank which was to
oil 10 m beneath
PENDED knife-Eyraud with movement
as If of angry contempt OF sullen resent
ment refused TO return the last kiss be-
slowed upon him by pAbbe Faure, as GUS
tOmary in the case of criminals upon the
point of being executed.
The action OF the guillotine once Ey-
raud's neck was well beneath the up
rights, was instantaneous. There was a
flash and all was over. Eyraud' head had
fallen into the sawdust filled receptacle
which awaited it. Then followed the
usual funeral, and the body of Gouffe's
murderer was handed over TO his (Ey-
raudsl relatives and acquaintance.
So early as 2 o'clock this morning the
customary barriers were erected upon
La Place de la Roquette. Shortly after
ward two divisions or police, a de-
tachment of about fifty of the garde
republicaine on horseback and 6 detach-
ment OF about one hundred gardes repub
hcaine on foot took possession OF the
place, and the night being most bitterly
cold, the police and troops passed the rest
of the night doing their utmost to keep
warm.
The appearance OF the workmen sent to
erect the barriers, to say nothing of the
arrival Of the police and troops on the
Place de Ia Roquette. spread to the clubs
and hotels during the night and early
morning, so that there was a moderate as
semblsge in the usual hooks OF the Fin
dc Steele Viellesse and jeutesse
doree OF Paris when the hour
or the execution drew near. In ad-
dition TO these jaded early birds
there was small assemblage of honest
wOrkmen and disreputable sight-seers at
tracted to the scene, the former on their
way 10 work, the latter because they al
ways attend such events. To make the
scene more gloomy than usual a heavy,
damp, cold Jog hing over the city and
seemed 10 encircle the prison building
more particularly in its dense mantle.
The cafes near the Place de Ia ROquette
were full OF carOusers, male and female,
the latter singing IN fiercely drunken or
maudlin tones disgusting song having
for its refrain;
II Is Eyrsud whom must have.
IL is his head which must have
The scene in some of the cafes can bet
ter be imagined than described, but they
gave the stranger a good idea of the nature
OF Paris mob when blood is in the air"
At exactly 4:30 a. m. the executioners
wagon arrived upon the place and took
up position opposite the prison. The
barriers had been so arranged as TO pro-
tect Deibler, the executioner, from the en-
terprise and curiosity of newspaper cor
l.
seems 10 dread more than ever before.
by o'clock, in spite of drizzling rain,
fog and cold, the number OF spectators
gathered about the place considerably in
creased. At 4 90 the "Bois de Justice"
Wood of Justice), or timber portion of
the guillOtine arrived and was soon
hoisted into place. The gardes repub-
icaine then took up position in front of
the guillotine, which was erected on the
spot marked by the five stone slabs which
Parisians and visitors TO Paris know so
well.
At 445 T. Able Faure and Almoner
Grands of La Roquette entered the prison.
Deibler, the executioner. seemed nervous
aud excited as he directed his assistants
working by the light of a number of
lanterns which cast cruel, lurd reflections
upon the red painted uprights of the
guillOtine.
BY 5:l5 all was ready for the execution
OF Eyraud. Deibler tested the knife. and
found that IL was moving easily i'm the
grooves. The executiOner sent the knife
skimming up aud down three times. lie
seemed satisfied that lis work would be
well done, for he left il alone.
Outside the place in the direction Of the
boulevard Noltaire there were about five
hundred spectators who could hardly see
anything of the proceedings. but who
we're attracted to that spot and remained
there out OF sheer morbid curiosity and
desire TO hear the dull thud"
Of the guillotine knife az it sewers
criminals head from the body. In the main
the crowd particularly referred to was
composed of those scoundrels who prey
upon fallen women, conyicts. gambling
club croupiers ofthe lowest class. and girls
who form the dregs Of society.
Shortly before g o. m. Goron, chief OF
detectives, the commissaire de police, the
chief of the municipal police and dele
gate from the Office OF the procureur do
la republique and the recorder. entered
the prison gates. and at As a. m. this
party OF officials. in company with the
governor OF La Roquette. entered the cell
occupied by Lyraud.