The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29

invented the instrument that bears his
name, proposing to provide means Tor
the execution OF criminals without tor
ture. lie was moved by the same sem
timents Of the philantropists who have
provided sentimental capital punishment
in the electrical chair in New YORK.
He was not executed with his own In
vention, as popularity asserted, but died
in his bed an old man. There is some
question whether Or. Guillotne was not
the advocate rather than the inventor
of the machine that has immortalized
him Marie AntOnette was interested In
prisoners, and thought cutting off their
heads by hand was a special horror.
There is story that she thought the
guillotine an instrument of ameliorahon.
II was at first called the Louissette.
and the king and queen who regarded
It as contrivauce OF benevolence were
decapltated by Il.
II was March oath. 1882 that the Ma
tional Assembly OF France passed reso-
luton recommending the adoption Of the
guillotine, and the first execution took
place AInl 9Th, 1892. The centennial ami
versaries have been allowed to pass with
out celebration. The people were horror
stricken by the first execution. me ear
lest instruments were erected on scat
fold; the modern method is TO place them
the old machine.
The basket shown in the cut should
stand behind the frame, not In front or
IL. At the exeeutioner's right Is the"cra-
die" O sort OF table on an axle, and as
the victim is pressed against II, he is
tipped into a reclining position, and rushed
forward easily sliding. the head pass
ing between the uprights OF the frame.
The place for the rest is distinctly shown.
The cut following gives a side view OF the
guillotine as IL Is now worked, the victim
being on the cradle and leaning forward.
The assistant on the opposite side OF the
frame from the criminal is ready TO drop
the knife He has an assistant not shown
who e1uats by the side over the large
willow basket which stands there and is
half full OF sawdust. 1t is the duty of
this helper 10 take the head that is 20
be cut OF as II appears on his side of the
groove for the axe and TO duly secure IL
by the ears with his thumbs and fingers,
so that as II is severed IL may not fall,
but be lowered into the sawdust. This
official IS an omission in the cut, as he is
IN the most delicate position Of the group
Of executioners.
There are various estimates. some as
high as forty thousand. OF the number OF
executions in this style, in l792-3-4 lust
about n hundred years ago the boodiest
work was done Among the victims were
the king and queen. Madame Elizabeth.
Madame Roland, and Charlotte Corday.
The rapidity with which tho guillotine
may be worked is remarkable. Forty-tiye
heads are said to have been removed In
twenty minutes. / saw two fall one Sep
TENDER morning in Paris, and the time
between the operations was forty-three
seconds.
The Chinese do a great deal OF behead-
Ing. and II Is said that they are we'll pleas
"a with the French style which was intro
duced I'm ronquin The London Globe, refer
ring 20 French enterprise In China, says:
''The Idea OF the French was that the
guillotne would terrify the Chinese pr
rates. for whose benefit II was especially
provided. but, instead OF being impressed
with the horror OF this mode Of execution,
the natives OF Tonquin are said 20 be
highly delighted with II. In fact they re-
gard the guiliotine as a most ingenious
article de Paris. and they have already
witnessed executions with every demon
stretion OF enthusiasm. Dying, they say
"a made SO delightfully."- easy by this admit
rahle invention OF the superior European
Intelligence. The result Is that considera-
bic satisfaction is expressed IN piratical
circlek and II Ia eenndsEtly snticipateG