The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-02
JUSTICE IN MONACO.

merous than that Of the prince, an ar
tillefy the ordnance Of which is almost
rifled, an etiquette more elaborate than
that of the late Louis NV, principles of
government more despotic than those of
William Of Prussia, and, in addition to
all this, a magnificent liberation for tho
vices Of humanity.
On the other hand, let us salute this
virtuous peacefully disposed king, who,
fearing neither invasiols nor revolu-
tions, rules TRANQUILITY over his happy
little people i'll the midst of court ccrc-
monial, i'll which is preserved intact the
tradition of four revcrcnces, 2G hand
klssings and all the forms observed in n
bygono era i'll the presence of great rul-
crS.
This monarch, above everything, IS
neither bloodthirsty nor revcngcful.
and when he banishes-for he does ban
lsll-thc sentence is carried out with in
finite tact
Is 1T necessary to produce proofs of
this?
n pighcadcd gambler, after dry of
bad luck, insultcd the sovereign. He
was expelled from the country by roval
decree.
For month he ro;,mcd around the
forbidden paradise, fearing the flaming
sword Of the archanEcl in the shape of q
gcndarmc's saber. Finally no one day
pluckcd up courage, crossed the from
tier, gained III 30 seconds the heart of
tho country and entered the Casino But
suddenly an official stopped him.
"Wero you not buiished, monsieur?'
Certainly l was, but 1 am going
back by the next train.
"Oh, i'll that case it is all right. You
can enter, monsieur. F"
And every week he returned, and on
each occasion tho same official put to
HIM the same question, which no an
swered i'll the same fashion
But few years ago a serious and en-
t1rcly novel case arose in the PRINCIPAL
ity
A murder had been committed
A man, II native of Monaco, not one
OF the transient strangers of whom ono
meets legions, but u married man, In n
moment of passion had killed his wife.
He had killed her without reason,
without any eXtenuating circumstances.
This opinion was unanimous through
out the whole principally.
Ihe supreme court met to fudge this
exceptional case, for never before had
murder been committed, and the wretch
was condemned to death
The outraged sovereign signed the
death warrant.
1t only remained to execute the GRIM
maj But here difficulty presented it
self. The country possessed neither cx-
ccutloncr nor guillotinc
What was to be done: On the ndyko
OF the foreign minister, the prince en-
tered into negotiations with the French
government to obtain the loan of re-
mover of heads and his apparatus
Long deliberations in the ministerial
office Mt Paris Finally they replied and
forwarded Il minute of expenses for
moving the guillotine and for the serv-
Ices of the expert. The total was l6, 900
francs.
His majesty of Monaco thought that
tho affair was going to cost him pretty
dear; the murderer assuredly was not
worth so much money. Sixteen thousand
francs for tho neck of a rascal! The
devil!
He then preferred the same request to
the Italian government A king, a
brother Ill royalty, would doubtless not
prove such hard bargainer as q republic.
Tho Italian government sent q minute
of expenses which amounted to 900
francs
Twelve thousand francs Why, it
would be necessary to impose O new
tax, tax of francs head on the in
habltantS. That would be enough to
stir up unknown troubles in the state.
lie contemplated decapitating tho
ruffian by an ordinary soldier. But the
general, on being consulted, was doubt
ful whether amy of his men had had
sufficient sword practice to acquit them
selves satisfactorily of task demand
ing great experience in handling the
weapon.
So the prince again convened the srl-
preme court and submitted to them this
embarrassing position of affairs.
The conrt sat long time without
discovering any practical solution. At
LAST the president suggested committing
the death sentence into one of imprison-
mcnt for life, and the suggestion was
adopted.
But they had no prison. 1t was neces-
ssiry to improvise one. y iailcr was also
commissioned who took charge of tho
prisoner
For six months everything went we'll
The convict slept all day on a mattress
in his hut, and his guard did tho same
on chair jusf Inside the door facing
the paSsersby.
But the prince is economical-it is his
least fault-and requires the details of