The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-21
FRANCH GARROTED
The Barcelona Anarchist Suffers
the Death Penalty
He is Choked With the Iron
Collar This Morning.
WAS BRAVE AT FIRST.
But Trembled With Fright as
Time Drew Near.
Strangulation Stopped an An
archist Song He Started.
WAS BRAVE AT FIRST.

vad0r franch, one of the most desperate
Of anarchists, the man who threw the
dynamite bomb at the Liceo theater,
this city, on November z, 1899, killing
twenty persons and wounding fifty 9TH
ers, was executed this morning by the
garrote
Franch displayed the most bravado
shouted Down with religion" and died
almost with the words Of an anarchists
song upon his lips
Franch. who spent the last twenty-four
hours of his life in the black draped
chapel Of the prison. according to the
Spanish custom. only slept about an hour
during the night. The wife and little
daughter Of the condemned man con-
trary to general expectation were adj
mltted to see him IN the chapel But
their tenderness and sympathy was ut
terly thrown away upon the anarchist
who also remained obdurate to the adj
ministration Of the priests who kept him
company in the chapel He scoffed at
their supplIcations to prepare himself
for death and laughed derisively at their
references to a future life.
The anarchists wife made q last effort
to soften his heart. but he roughly told
her to go away. and she tearfuily with
drew, after kissing the condemned man.
After his wife had left the chapel
Franch continued to treat the priests
things: Il fooled you nicely. Hypocrisy
is new weapon which / have shown an
archists how to us
At this point the judge and other otfic-
ials entered the chapel and told Franch
to prepare for death. The advent of
these officials was soon followed
by the appearance of the executioners,
who as they began to dress tbs prisoner
for the scaffoId were continually insulted
by the desperate man. French shrieked,
ssDo your miserable work. \ on are only
the tools Of the bourgeois"
The procession to the place Of execu-
ton was then formed. Franch was sur
rounded by soldiers and was accompanied
by numbers OF mem bers Of the society
known as the Brothers of Good Death
French walked trembling to the scaHold
which was erected in the large court
yard OF the prison A number of
spectators were admitted to this
enclosure and large number
Of troops were present TO keep specta-
tors a proper distance from the scatfOld.
A double line of soldiers and mounted
gendarmes performed this duty
AS the anarch 4ats mounted the steps
leading to the platform upon which was
the garrote he shouted: '.Down with all
religions! NIve II anarchie."
The execu5ioner seized him and as he
struggled and cried they forced him into
the chair back Of which was the garrote.
Franch was then strapped down
to the seat and this work
was being performed he renewed
his anarchistic cries and tried
to sing an anarchistic hymn. But his
false courage was evidently fast giving
way, for he stopped in the midst of his
death song to implore his executioners
to hurry their final preparations for
saeath.
The trembling prisoners neck was then
encircled by the fatal collar, the screw
was swiftly applied and death was al
most instantaneous The whole affair re-
Hected great credit upon the execution
ers, for only about minute and "A half
elapsed from the time Franch mounted
the platform until be was pronounced
dead.
The military band which was ia at
tendance then played, and the execu-
TONERS moved away from the platform.
The body Of Franch, however, with the
collar Of the garrOte around his neck, will
remain exposed until sundown. 1t will
be viewed by large crowds of people, for
the Inhabitants Of Barcelona and it's
neigh borhoOd are tiocking to the prison
from all parts in order to obtain
glimpse Of the body Of the man who
little more than a year ago caused such
a sensation IN this city and threw SO many
families into mourning
At sundown the society of the Broth
ers of the Good Death will take posses
sion Of the body and convey it to the
cemetery, begging money in order to
raise funds with which to have masses
said for the repose Of the soul Of the an
archlsE.
Jose Salvador Franch was undoubtedly
one Of the most dangerous anarchists
which has come under police notice Of
recent years. First. because generally
known at the time Of his arrest for CON
spiracy ia the Barcelona outrage Of No
yember z, 1898. BY which over twenty
people were killed and about fifty others
seriously injured by one Of two
dynamite bombs thrown into the Liceo
fheater at that place Secret police ar
rested Franch at Saragossa, Spain on
january l, 1894 upon suspicion Of having
been concerned in this outrage
Jose Salvador Franch was about SO
years Of age. a native of Castelsaras,
province OF Ternal lie WAS tall. Of fair
complexion and came Of a respecta bic
family but his personal antecedents were
bad. At the age of "A he left home and
came to Barcelona, where lie did no reg
ular work and gave himself up to the
plots and designs Of the anarchists.
among whom he speedily became
leader
soon after his capture he attempted
suicide, once by shooting himself and
again BY poison