Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-17
AHoRRIBLE sCENE.
A French Murderer Dragged to the Suiiio-
tine While q Crowd OF Depra'eu
Wretches Jeer at Him.

HretcneS Jeer NJ hiii"
PARIS. December 16.-Eugene Cram
pon, the murderer of two men, this
morning paid the penalty for his crime
and the people who gathered to see his
execution greatly enjoyed the spectacle
afforded by the miserable wretch as ne
was literally carried TO the guillotlne.
1t was generally known that the execu-
tion would take place in the Place de la
Roouette this morning and long before
daylight the crowd began to gather.
Rude tests were banded about ana the
usual scenes that make disgracetul the
carving out OF the death sentence In
Paris were enacted. Just as the gray
of dawn was appearing large van
drew up in the Place de Roquette,
which Immediately adjoins the prls-
on. Several men alighted and
hit by bit the engine or
death was hauled out and set in place
with the skill that comes from long
practice. After all was in readiness
the executioner, Doebler, tested the
knife and found that it worked to per-
fection. Then he disappeared into the
prison, while body of Gen d'Armes
stood on duty at the Square to prevent
the too curious crowd from approach
ing the guillotine and preserve order
when the victim was brought out OF
the prison. At exactly o'clock the
prison door swung inward and the pro-
cession could be seen approaching.
Crampon was in an agony OF lear, was
supported by warders and accompanied
by a priest who, as he walked, read the
services for the dying. The guillotlne
looked directly ahead of the little party.
1t was only few steps from the prison
After walking a few feet Crampon
raised his eyes and saw IT,
With a terrible shrek he threw
himself backwards and fell TO
the ground. All efforts to induce him
to rise were fruitless, and he groVeled
on the flagstones, begging most piteous-
" for his life. To a person OF any SEN
sibllity the scene was one OF the deepest
horror, but the crowd of roughs and
abandoned women took the keenest de-
light in witnessing the abject fear ana
listening to the frantic appeals OF the
murderer. 1t became necessary Tor the
executioneT's assistants TO lit Crampon
to his feet, but even then he hung limp
in their arms, and they were compelled
to carry him to the guillotine. While
some of the assistants supported him,
Others quickly bound him and threw
him against the bascule. Even then,
while tound to the plank, he did mol
cease his struggles. His contortlons
were terrible but they did not last long
The bascule was dropped into place,
and the assistants showed 1t forward
until Crampon's neck rested In the
llqlpettf as as usual iI in the g. copven.
tional frock coat and silk hat, touched
the spring holding the knife. Silently
and like streak Of light the bright
blade fell, and Crampon's head dropped
into the open basket awaiting it. The
execution was the most horrible one
that has been witnessed In Paris In
many years. The crowd, highly pleased
with the entertainment the State had
afforded them, dispersed laughing and
Joking. Crampon was an old offender
against the law. On the night OF
March last be, in company with two
accomD Dlices went to the billiard room
and wine shop in the Rue st. Denis.
They broke into an adjoining room and
were plundering it when the landlady
of the place entered and surprised
them. The woman gave an alarm and
the thieves fed. A number Of men fol-
lowed them, and were gaining upon
Crampon, when he turned and shot two
OF them dead and wounded a third. He
was captured, but his accomplices
escaped.