The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-21
VALIANT PUT TO DEATH
"LONG LIVE ANARCHY" BE
SHOUTED UNDER THE AXE.

The Paris Dynamiter Walked Alone
to the Guillotine, and Was Brave
to the End-He Was Sound Asleep
When Called to Go to His Death
Only a Small Crowd Present.
Auguste Valiant, the Anarchist. who on
December last threw bomb into the
French Chamber OF Deputies, was executed
at about 7.30 o'clock a. m.. outside the
Prison Roquette, Paris. At o'clock Head
Warden Bruu. Judge rEspinasse, Registrar
Horoch and District Comnnissary Leigonie
entered Vaillant's cell to inform him that the
time had arrived for the sentence OF the law
to be carried out. The condemned man was
sleeping when they arrived. He was
awakened and told to prepare for death. He
appeared to be surprised and began to
reiterate the theories he advanced before the
Assize Court He declared that though 1t
was easy to suppress him. 1t was impossible
to suppress Anarchist ideas. MY body Is
nothing" he added, compared with tho
progress OF my principles. I shall be re-
venged."
valiant was perfectly calm and displayed
no fear whatever. The warden asked him If
he would like to see the chaplain.
"No," replied valiant. i will not see
him."
"Will you have something to drink asked
the warden.
"No," valiant replied II shall have
enough courage without that"
As q matter Of fact, the courage OF the con-
demned man was remarkable. as the later in
cidents showed. He was shackled by the
executioner's assistants and then ordered to
"a -
der readily. and as he left the prison his form
was upright. He walked as quickly as his
shackles would allow, without leaning for
support on the assistants, one OF whom walked
on each side OF him. AS Vaillant appeared
outside the prison wearing only shirt and
trousers, everybody barred their heads, and
the troops presented arms to salute him who
was looked upon as already dead.
Chaplain valandier. whose ministrations
Valiant had refused, stood outside the
prison In order to benear should the prisoner
change his mind. His services, however,
were not called for.
Valiant advanced steadily. When about
eighty yards outside the prison he sprang
forward little to shout death TO the
Bourgoisie." "Long live Anarchy" As he
shouted his last cry his voice resounded over
the whole square. When he had finished he
was about three yards from the plank ON
which his body was to be fastened.
1t has been customary for the executioner's
assistants to push the condemned criminal
against this plank, but as Valiant reached It
he sprang forward and placed himself
against It. The plank dropped. and IN q
shorter time than 1T takes to write 1t Vail-
Iant's neck slipped under the knife, and the
moment he was in position Diebler touched
the spring.
There was a fash as the heavy blade, de-
scended, and then the spectators saw head
and bleeding stump OF neck drop IN
basket placed behind the guillotine. The
head turned around ..s It was severed from
the body and dropped into the basket face
up.
A second later the plank twisted to the
left and the trunk was thrown into large
basket placed alongside the guillotlne to re-
ceive Ii.
Between the time OF Vaillants arrival at
the 1uillotine and the closing OF the basket
containing his remains scarcely more than
twenty seconds elapsed. Dieble-. who has
received many letters threatening him with
death if he executed valiant. and who at
one time wished to resign his position rather
than to put the Anarchistto death. appeared
paler and more nervous than valiant.
The crime for which Valiant paid the
penalty with his life was committed In tue
Chamber of Deputies on December !ass.
AT about 4 o'clock in the afternoon OF that
day. while the Chamber was discussing an
election case, valiant, who was sitting Ill
one of the galleries set apart for :ns uss OF
spectators, threw a bomb toward the hoor oil
the house. The bomb exploded Just as lt
left the mans hand. and he was among the
number injured. About fifty persons were
hurt by the explosion. :
Deputy Atbe Lemire was tho worst injured
OF all those struck by the flying nails with
which the bomb had been loaded, ana Joe
some time it was thought that he would die.
The Count de Lanjunais was also seriously
wounded. A majority OF the injured were
occupants Of the galleries.
The CONSERVATION that followed the eHp.o-
sion was terrible. A wild rush was made ny
the visitors to get out OF the Chamber. out
the gendarmes. who are always on duty III
the Hobbies, caused the doors to be shut. ana
allowed no one to leave tho building. 1t was
due TO this coolheadedness that the arrest OF
Valiant was made.
As he attempted to leave the building ne
was detained by a gendarme, VINO tnouSnt
he was displaying too much anxiety to gee
away. His arrest followed. He was TAKEN
TO the Hotel Dieu. where his wounds were
treated. After tine he made full contes-
sion OF his crime.
He said that he went to the Chamber with
the intention OF throwing his internal ma
chine on the Presidents table. He waited
more than IN hour for q favorable oppor-
tunity, and then, thinking 1t had at last ar
rived. he roso and hurled tho bomb into the
body Of the House.
at that instant q woman sitting in front OF
him. sesenting his leaning over her. pushed
back, and thus prevented him from throwing
the bomb exactly as he had intended. The
machine struck the edg5 OF the gallery and
at once exploded.
On the afternoon OF Jan. 10 Valiant was
arrested, t-ied, con"icted and sentenced 10
death.
Eighty Deputies appealed TO President
Carnot for = commutation of tho death
sentence. The appeal was sent By the Pres
iient to the Pardons Committee. .Sho re-
ported on it adversely.