Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-06-15

Four days have passed. Towards five o'clock ln the morning Mir. Beauquesne the aboe Crozes, MT. Claude and Mir. Potter, the clerk of the imperial court, entered the cell. La. Pommerais, being informed that his last hour was at hand turned pale and dressed himself quickly. Then be held a conversation apart of about ten minutes duration with the sbbe Crozes whose visits he had from the beginning received with evident pleasure: this holy man appeared to be gifted with an inspired unction that in fused courage into the heart of the most timid at this try ing hour. Now Vel pean entered tue cell and the doomed man immediately addressed him:
 ''I have been at work" said he, "seep' And during the reading of the order of execution he kept his right eye-lid firmly shut while with his left eye wide open he looked straight at the surgeon.
 Velpean made deep bow, then turn ing towards the executloper, MT. Hend- reich, who was arriving with his assls- tants he quickly made to him a sign of intelligence.
 The toilette" was quickly made. It was observed that the phenomenon of the hair turning white under the scissors la circumstance occurring quite frequently did not take place. A letter of farewell from his wife, read by the chaplain of the prison in a low voice, brought tears to the eyes of the con- demned man, which the priest pioTsly wiped off with piece of the shirt that was being wIdened around the neck. La PCmmerais now stood up, his hand cuffs were removed and his coat thrown over his shoulders. A glass of brandy was offered to hIm according to custom; be refused 1t. They all left the cell and began tbe last walk through the passage of the prison towards it's outer gate where they met Velpean, To him the prisoner said in a very low voice: GA bientotp and ''adieup
 Suddenly the heavy iron gates swung open before him.
 The morning breeze entered the prison; day was dawning; the large square was encircled by double line of cavalry; directly in front of the gate and about ten steps from 1t, surrounded by a half-circle of mounted gensdarmes who drew their sabres at the appearance of the prisoner, stood the scatfold. The people standing nearest, among whom were the reporters of the press, uncover ed. From behind the trees in the far distance one could hear the swelling murmur of the crowd, enervsted by a whole nights watching. Upon the roofs of the wineshops and at sheir windows appe ared girls of doubtful character, dressed in showy silks, some holding a bottle of wine in their hands, their faces livid from last nights debsucheries with their male companions in sadly disorder dered black garmants. Swallows were flying about over the large square in
 the cool morning ar.
 Alone, apart, filling the space and standing clear against the sky. stood | the guillotine that seemed to extend up on the horizon the shadow of its two | long raised arms between which, far | away, high above, in the pale blue of
 the dawn there shone the glitter of the last star.
 | At the ominous aspect the culprit
 trembled, but, soon recovering, advanc- ed towards the platform and mounted
 the steps. Now the triangular knife hiding the star, threw its reflection upon
 the black frame. Standing before the | fatal plank he kissed first the cucifiS and then lock of his own hair gather
 ed during the toilette by the abbe
 Crozes who put it to his lips.
 "For her." sad he.
 The five persons upon the platform stood out ike silhouettes against the
 pale sky; the silence at this moment be-
 came so profound that the noise of ,
 branch, broken far away under thu
 weight of an eager spectator. togethe
 with his cry and some hideous shout
 of laughter, reached the ear of the tragi
 group. Then, as the bell began to tol the hour of which La Pommerals wa not to hear the last stroke, he perceive'
 standing somewhat apart, his strang , experimenter who, with one hand rest ing upon the railing of the platform