The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-16
SANTO A COWARD.
President Carnot's Assassin
Panic Stricken at the
Guillotine.
HIS EXECUTION THIS MORNING
Buried in the Cemetery Of the Con-
demned-Spectators Applaud
Hfs Death.
BIZ Cable to the united Press.


PARIS, Aug. 49, 1S94.-The full report
of Santo Caserio's execution in Lyons
this morning shows that he died less
courageously than did Valiant or Hen
ry. When first brought before the ex-
amining magistrate in Lyons he boasted:
II am ready to be executed; but
shall die bravely. not, as did Henry. He
faltered at the last
For the last week Caserio had given
evidence daily of increasing nervousness
and twice had manifested desire to see
the chaplain, but ouly to rally his spir-
its later and refuse religious consola-
ton. His apprehension grew all yes.
terday and by evening he had lost near
ly all self possession. He slept faith
fully until three o'clock this morning,
when he fell into deep sleep.
DISMAL AWAKENING.
AT 4;30 O'Clock Deibler, the heabsman
after finally testing the knife in the
lunette, left the guillotine to fetch the
prisoner. He was met by the Governor
of the prison and the Governors aides.
They went together to Caserio's cell
He was sleeping so soundly that he did
not hear hte Governors first call A
judge and chaplain joined the little par
ty at the cell and, when aroused, Cas-
eric faced them all with a blank look.
The Governor said:-"Caserio, the hour
has come when you must expiate your
horrible crime"
Caserio made no reply
The prison director added: Here are
a judge to hear your dying confession;
a chaplain to give you religious con
solation and your legal defender to re-
ceive your last wishes and recommenda-
tions." Caserio replied:-
Il have nothing to say to the judge,
l do not wish to hear the chaplain. 1
have no recommendation to make"
All this he stammered out in tremb-
ling voice.
While dressing Caserio was white and
silent, and frequently swallowed. His
lips were so dry that he could separate
them only with an effort. He trembled
SO violently that it was necessary for
three attendants to support him on the
way from his cell to the van.
STRUGGLES OF DESPAIR.
1t lacked but a few minutes of five
o'clock when Ceserio emerged from the
prison door. His arms were fifirmly
bound behind him, yet as he was taken
so desperately that all the headsman's S
assistants were needed to control him.
The early morning light revealed the
distorted features of the anarchist with
horrible distinctness. His skin was yell
lowish white. His eyes seemed set His
cheeks were sunken and black beneath
the eyes. His neck and chest were left
bare by his half open shirt. They were
thin and bony as the neck and chest
of an ill-fed boy.
There was no murmur of sympathy
from the crowd, however, as there was
when Emile Henry was dragged to the
guillotine. There was not a cry nor
whisper for anarchy, as thre was at
both Henry's and Vaillant's execution.
The crowd was watched closely by scores
of detectives and police, yet not person
was arrested for expressing anarchy
sympathies.
AS he was hurried up the plank and
he was flung down with his neck in the
lunette he cried freely:-"Courage COM
rades! Long live anarchy"
He still struggled. He had not been
thrown in the right position and deb
Ter raised him and pulled him into place.
Caserio was still struggling when the
knife fell 1t was exactly five o'clock
when the head rolled into the basket.
The crowd applauded and cheered the
moment the click of the knife was heard.
The demonstration was spontaneous and
hearty Persons who have seen many
executions say that they never before
heard such a general expression of sat
isfaction from a crowd at the guillotine
SUMMARY OBSEQUIES
The body of the murderer. navin been
claimed by members of his family, the
usual autopsy was not performed. The
body was hurried directly to the Cimi-
there Guilotiere.
When the basket was opened the head
presented disusting spectacle. At the
point where the knife had cut through
the neck the skin had rolled back in
ridges on the back of the head, showing
the effects of the strain to which the
body had been subjected by Caserio's
struggles at the moment of the fatal
stroke.
The body was thrust into coffin,
the head being placed between the legs.
and, without ceremony, the coffin was
thrown into the grave and quickly COW
cred with earth.