Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-08
DEATH OF VALIANT
His Nerve Carries Him Undaunted
to the Guillotine.
He REJECTS BRANDY AND RELIGION.
He Utters n Defiant shout as the Knife
Descends-Anarohist sympathissrs
Among the Crowd Present.
Seditious Cries.

PARIS, Feb. O. - Augustc Valiant
the anarchist who. on December o,
threw II bomb into the chamber Of dep
utics, wounding many persons, was be-
headed by the guillotine about 1850
o'clock yesterday morning. His last
words were; Death to society; long
live anarchy"
Shortly before o'clock n detach-
ment Of the Garde Republicainc arrived
upon the spot and the center Of the
Place de Ia Roquettc was cleared.
Later n squadron OF mounted Gardes
Republicaine arrived. This caused the
crowds to increase and there was q
rush OF men and women which
caused the police TO make n dc
termined counter movement, sweeping
the crowds backward until order was
completely restored by this time
fully 1000 policemen and Gardes Re-
publicaine were upon the spot
The Judicial authorities arrived at
the prison at 6il6 a, m, and entering
the cell occupied by Valiant, they
awolse him and informed him that his
last hour had arrived He did not
seem In the least astonished or alarmed.
lie turned deadly pale, but began
dressing, remarlsing 70 one OF the pris-
ON attendants: you see was right
in saying my sentence would not be
commuted"
Ono Of the anarchists hands trembled
slightly as he put ON his clothes and
an officer said; Have courage, Vail
liant To this Valiant smiled, and
throwing his head up, replied: "Never
fear; will know how TO die"
One OF the prison officials offered
Valiant large glass of some strong
cordial, but he gently put IL on one
sido, saying; 81 have no need of arti-
hcial strength, and despise man who
needs brandy To nerve him to meet his
fate"
valiant In reply TO question as to
whether he had any statement TO make.
began making n strong profession OF
anarchy, defending II in burning words
until It was gently suggested to him
that such remarks were useless and
out Of place,
Twice during the preparations for
death valiant refused 10 sec the prison
chaplain, saying upon one OF these oc-
casions: III do not believe In religion;
1t Is all sham. Let those who pro-
fess religion give some evidence OF IL
by extending u helping hand TO the
deserving poor. This will do more TO
crush anarchy than all the armies of
the world"
At exactly 7:2o o'clock the veteran
officer In command of the Garde Repub-
licaine gave the order TO draw
swords" Very soon afterward the
black gates OF. the prison were swung
open and Valiant appeared. head
erect and defiant, between NJ Diebler
and his assistant The crowd was not
slow to notice that no chaplain accom-
panied the condemned man, and IL was
said In loud tone from several among
those gathered to witness the execu-
tion; "Ho dies truo anarchist"
while here and there were heard a few
faint cries Of "Vive ranarchie.'
When Valiant neared the guillotine
he glanced upward at the knife sus-
pended between the two uprlghts, the
blade shining out clear and distin ct,
owing TO the many lanterns around the
scaffold and then he shouted; "Vive
rsnarchieI"
A moment later, as he was ascending
! NaN 'NNfe AeeNAAk w NiN VI Nilt
guillotine, the desperate anarchist
shouted; "a mort les bourgeoisl"
Death 10 the bourgeois,) As he
uttered this cry he reached the foot of
the sliding plank which leads the body
OF the criminal when strapped onto
II, beneath the knife. After one quick
push, he cried; Death 10 society,""
Valiant had hardly uttered these
words when no was seized by M. deb
ler's assistants and thrown upon the
sliding plank or bascule, 10 which he
was strapped with remarkable rapldity,
and in a,moment his body was thrust
through the lunette. or hole In the end
Of the scaffold, upon which n half cir
Gle or locking falls after the head IA
through. A spring was touched and
the shining knife above the anarchists
neck sped noIselessly downward. There
was Il squirt Of blood ns the head OF
Valiant, separated from its trunk, fell
into the basket OF sawdust