Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-11
RAvACHOL EXECUTED.
The Notorious Murderer Struggled Frauti
ally ut the Guillotine.

The Notorious Murderer Struggled Frantic
ally ut the Guillotine.
MoNTBRrsox, July I'm Diebler, popularly
and facetiously known as IN. de Paris" the
public executioner, arrived here from Paris at
8 O'Clock Sunday evening and at once began
preparations for the execution of the notorious
Ravachol The scaffold was erected in pub
lie place, about sixty meters from the prison.
Ravachol could plainly hear the carpenters 1t
work in its construction. About O'Clock this
morning Ravachol, who had fallen asleep in
spite OF his knowledge that his death was i'm
minent. was aroused and notified that his time
had come. He assumed an air Of bravado and
made q hooking reply. He rudely refused the
He wns dressed in the same clothes that he wore
when arrested and when his toilet was finished
he commented laughingly upon his dudish ap-
pearance as being somewhat out Of place on
such an occasion.
After he had been securely bound NJ. Berger,
assistant to IN. de Paris" cut away the
prisoners collar and shaved of his back hair
Ravachol joked with those around him and in
dulged in profane and indecent comments, but
instead Of creating the desired impression Of
indifference he showed plainly that he was
feverishly excited and hardly knew what he was
saying. These preparations completed the
prisoner was led forth from the prison, sur
rounded by strong guard.
twas dawn, and when Ravschol emerged
from the gates his eyes fell upon 9 great crowd
Of people who had gathered to see him de- He
was placed in the prison van and hurried to the
place Of execution, around which a Gordon of
troops had been drawn. There were military
pickles also throughout the town, but the pre-
cautions which had been taken to guard against
disorder seemed wholly unnecessary, as the
crowd which had gathered was composed Of
mere curious sighteeers and no sign Of any
anarchistic sympathy with the condemned was
visible. Their Indifference was shown by the
way in which they regarded the prisoner when
he was brought to the guillotine. They looked
upon him as upon some singular animated being
and made no response to his words or gestures.
When the prison van reached the scaffold
Ravachol was asked if he desired to say any,
thing. He replied that he would address the
crowd, but instead Of speaking he began to sing
an indecent song and danced to the refrain as
we'll as he could With his ankles strapped. The
officers in charge soon tired Of this burlesque
and gave the signal to NJ. Diebler.
The executioner's assistants at once seized
Ravachol, whereupon the latter's demesnor
suddenly changed He dropped his assumption
OF indifference and struggled furiously, but was
speedily overpowered and borne to the fatal
block. Even while being tied down on the
plank he continued his futile struggles, utter
ing meanwhile the foulest epithets and curses.
The indecent and blasphemous TRADE was cut
short by the swift descent Of the knife, and at
4:07 o'clock the head Of the notorious robber,
incendiary and murderer rolled into the basket.
The crowd witnessed the horrible sight with
the same stolid indifference that had character
lied their conduct throughout. There was none
Of the irreverent hilarity common TO Partisan
crowds on such occasions, and it was evident
that no sympathy was felt for the man who had
pretended to commit his crimes In the interest
Of the people.
RAvACHoL's CRIMES.
Ravachol was one Of the most extraordinary
criminals Of the age. Rsvachol's first murder
was that Of the hermit Of Chambles, Brother
jacques Brunei, in the month Of June, 1891.
Brunei WINS an old man Of ninety who lived in q
state of solitude amid the Froez mountains.
The object was robbery. Ravachol WA ar
rested, but escaped. Six weeks later he killed
and robbed two old ladies at st. Etienne. He
escaped without being arrested. About the
same time he robbed the grave Of
Baroness de Rochetailles, near st. Etienne. In
1886 near La Varizelle he killed an old man Of
eighty. Jean Baptiste Rivollier, noted for his
charity. He also killed an old woman servant
of Rivollier. Besides these crimes he was sus-
pected Of many others previous to his dyna-
mite operations in Paris. which caused the loss
Of several lives and destruction Of much prop
erty.