The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-24
THE GUILLOTINE OF TO-DAY.
Weight Added to the knife-Line of
French Executions.
Paris Letter in New York Mail and Ex-

Paris Letter in New York Mail and Elk
press.
Before 1 left Paris 1 met one of the
journalists who was present at Cesario'S
execution, and from him / learned that the
guillotine knife is no longer a knife, but
a piece Of steel about one-eighth OF an inch
in thickness, oblique in shape and with a
beveled edge. Deibler, the present execu-
toner of France. has made what he calls
an Improvement upon the old blade.
After long practice with the guillotine he
to devtate in its course when ii came in
contact with the vertebrae, and now he
rhan the sharpness of the edge. Counting
the piece of lead which Is fixed upon il,
the blade weighs nearly two hundred
use Deibler's own expression, rather than
cuts off the head.
Apropos of executions, the death is an
tleman of benevolent aspect, who was very
much respected in Vincennes, where he
lived on his modest pension of $3.50 a year,
hardly a soul being aware OF his antece-
dents. In 1870 the French provincial execu-
toners were suppressed by Adolphe Gre
toner, with five assistants, was appointed,
and had to live in Paris. His salary was
fixed at about f240 yearly, payable every
month. travelling expenses were also al
the arrangement Of 1870 a sum Of 5000
francs the next $500 francs and the others
1900 francs each Eugene Demerest lived
a very quiet life at Vincennes. He walked
about In the streets alone, and never en-
tered a wine shop. For some years he was
a member OF the Academy of HygfeneSan
institution founded by a medical man for
the prevention. of infantile disease-and
on the books OF that body the ex-headsnan
was entered as q retired accountant, The
only person who was known to visit Demon
est in his lodgings was n. cabinet maker
from the Avenue Parmentier, who acts as
an assistant to NJ. Deibler. The old ex-
headsman was recently much troubled b.
the doingS Of the Anarchists, and when he
heard that NJ. Deibler was threatened he
tice a plan for the projection Of the chief
eXecutioner and his machinery. Prior to
his retirement from active service Demon
Bordeaux that of a parricide named Des-
bats and Of a murderer and incendiary
called Bonnecarriere. who struggled ,vio-
cule. Demorest died at the age Of eighty
three, having survived his three sons, one
of whom had he lived. and had the office
his fathers post of headsman of Bordeaux
and AK.
Tn first man who acted as chief execu-
TONER for the whole Of France was Helm
drich, who guillotined Troppmann in 1870.
The communists burned the guillotine In
1871. Heindrich died in 1872 and was sue
ceeded by Nicolas Roch, a man much more
common in personal appearance than his
predecessor, who had almost a distingue
air. Roch had a weakness for wearing
his time the allowances for the keep OF
the two guillotines were raised. Nine
| Roch was intensely proud of her husbands
mode of guillotining and was in the habit
OF saying that he took the pompon, which
may be interpreted as the cake" for quick
work. She also affirmed that her husband
could never be replaced. but Constance
Deibler, his successor. has proved the con,
trary. NJ. Deibler has fnIsned off severaI
notorious criminals, such as PranZini and
Prado. and he Will also go down to pos.
terity as the executioner of Ravachol, Val
FAINT, Emile Henry and Caserio Santo. Fol
an eXecutioner his record Is therefore q
remarkable one. Deibler. who is in the
hottest of water with the Anarchists, Ia.
removed from his former residence In tbs
Rue Vicq dAzir to suburban Auteuil, whert
his retreat is a secret. He always wears Z
tall hat. dresses In black and carries al
umbrella or stick when engaged in pro
fessional duties: He is the son OF a heads
man and married into the family of Ra
seneuN. the executor des Hautes-oeuvres'
for the colony OF Algeria.
After all the guillotine is a very merci
full means OF death Just think what sor
OF a time Caserio would nave had some
thing about one hundred years ago II
France. Damiens in 1857 tried to kill Loui
XIV. TIL King was very slightly hurt. blu
a horrible punishment awaited the crimi
nal. The High Court OF Parliament tres
him and sentenced him to be tortured {,
death. Damiens was taken 10 tho Placi
De Greve. where a scaffold had beer
erected. Here he was stripped naked. sluni
by the arms, breast and legs upon hooks
The blade Of the knife with which he hai
committed his crime was made redhot am
placed in his right hand; hot lead, burn
ing resin and sulphur melted togethe
were poured into the wounds made by tn,
hooks and then he was drawn and quar-
tered by six horses. For three hours h
was tortured. Then his body was burne,
and the dust thrown to the four winds.