The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-08

portlonS OF tne square were ordered tx
be moved backward.
While this was being done a report
reached the group of newspaper mer
assembled to witness the execution
that President Carnot had re.
comfy received several threat.
ening letters and that the
police were taking extraordinary
precautions to prevent the possibility
of bomb outrage. Diebler's son-in-
law and assistant, during the early
morning, was kind enough to impart a
piece of news to the newspaper report
ers who had mustered In force at a
neighboring cafe, where they clinked
glasses with the eyecutioner while
wait ng for dawn.
Diebler's assistant said that the exc
cutioner no longer holds both ears of
the condemned, as has been the case
until recently when the head of a
criminal has been passed through the
lunette, or neck hold beneath the
knife, preparatory to the falling of
that trenchant blade. When asked
the reason for the change in the
method of execution the assistant
said it was because the fingers of the
public eXecutioner had been badly
bitten by Trapprovaun at the time Of
the execution of that assassin, who
objected to having his ears held in the
manner described. Diebold, the news
paper mems Informant, added that he
now leaves the job of holding the ears
to one of his assistants. We don't be-
lieve Valiant will bite, however
Police arrangements were admira-
BILE and long before the hour set for
the execution complete order prevailed
everywhere and the chief of municipal
police and his lieutenant moved tow.
ards the prison preparatory to the
business of the day. BY the time
the rain stopped and every point
of vantage about the Place de La
Rouquette had been occupied.
The judicial authorities arrived at
the prison at 6:l5 o'clock and entering
the cell occupied by Valiant they
woke him up and informed him that
his last hour had arrived. Valiant
did not seem to be the least astonished'
He turned deathly pale, it is true, but
began dressing with all haste that
could be expected and remarked to one
of the prison attendants, You see l
was right in saying sentence could not
be commuted." 1t was evident
from the manner in which
he said this that he
was considerably disappointed and
that he had built up strong hopes of
clemency on the part of the president
of the republic. While Valiant was
dressing one of the officers, noticing
the anarchists head trembled slightly
as he put on his clothes said: "Havt
courage, Valiant" To this Valiant
smiled in sickly manner and throw
ing his head up replied, "Never fear,
/ well know how to die"
At this junction one of the prison
officials offered Valiant a large glass
of something cordial intended to brace
up the condemned mans nerves,
but Valiant gently put it
need of artificial strength and despise
q man who needs brandy to nerve him |
to meet his fate" The calm and
courageous bearing of the narchist
won him the sympathy of everybody
present, and often the officer of the |
guards who were present said in an
THAT is not artificial cour-
age" Later the attendant offered to |
assist Valiant in dressing for his
march to the guillotine, but the DOOM
ed man said firmly; II need no as
sistance. l am dressing as quickly as
possible and will not delay you
any longer than l can help"
Valiant, in reply to question
as to whether he had any statement to
make, began making strong speech
Of anarchy, defending it in burning
terms until it was suggested to him
that such remarks were useless and
out of place. Contrary to expectations
did not speak of his mistress,
Madame E. Marchal, or his daughter,
whose alleged letter asking
for communication of her fathers sen
tence has been so much discussed.
Twice during the preparations for
death Valiant refused to see the prison
chaplain, saying, Il do not
believe in religion. 1t is all
sham. Let those who profess