The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-06-22
JUSTICE IN MONACO.

81 ILLS astonishing state, Slit--tr tIl3t =:
French village, but where Cle finds an
absolute sovereign. bi.hocs, an army Of
Jesuits ard divinity stuacnts more nu-
merou; than that Of the prince. IN ar
tillery the ordnance Il which is almost
rified, an Ct;Gaettc 20 elaborate than
that Of the late Louis XIV, principles Of
government more duspctic than those 6
William Ct Prussia, and, il addition to
ali this, = magnificent toler.l.ou for tie
vices Of Humanity.
On the oll;cr hand, let rs salute TIKI;
virtuors peacefully disposed king, who,
fearing neither invasions ncr rav3lu-
tionS, rules TRANQUILITY over his happy
little people ii themid&t Of & ~ ce-e-
monial, IL Nlich il ldeac-vc} intact tire
tradition Of four r~eyereuccs. &c hand
kissines ar! al the forms Observed III q
bygclo sra ii the presence OF great rul-
er%.
This monarch, above everything. is
neither Llocdtl.G1.Jy ner ravengcful,
and when lie bani2hcs-fur lie does ban
ish-tLc sentence Is carried cat with in
finite tact.
Is it necessary 70 Troduce proofs Of
this?
A pigheadad gambler, after q day CT
bad luck, insulted the sovereign. He
was expelled from the country by royal
decree.
For q month he roanned around the
forbidden paradise, fearing tho flaming
sword of the archangel il the shape Of a
gendarme's saber. Finally he one day
plucl1ed up courage, crossed the from
tier, gained III so seconds the heart of
the country and entered the Casino. But
suddenly an official stopped him.
"Were you not banished. monsieur
Certainly l was, but I ann going
back by the ext train"
"Oh, in that case it is all right. You
can enter, monsieur"
And every week he returned, and OF
each occasion the same official put to
him the same question, which he an
swered in the same fashion.
But a few Years ago a serious and en-
tlrely novel case arose i'll the principal
ity.
A murder had been committed.
A man, 4 native of Monaco, not one
OF the transient strangers Of whom one
meets legions, but a married man, in q
moment Of passion had killed his wife.
He had killed her without reason.
without any eAtenuating circumstances.
This opinion was unanimous through
ont the vvhO1a ripci.,o1;+-
The supreme court met to Judge this
exceptional case, for never before lad
murder been committed. and the wretch
was condemned to death.
The outraged sovereign signed the
death warrant.
1t only remained to execute the Grim
inal. But here Il difficulty presented it
self. The country possessed neither ex-
ecutioner nor guillotine.
What was to be done? On the advice
OF the foreign minister, the prince en-
tered into negotiations with the French
government to obtain the loan Of a re-
mover of heads and his apparatus.
Long deliberations in the ministerial
office at Paris. Finally they replied and
forwarded a minute of expenses for
moving the guillotine and for the serv-
ices of the expert. The total was 16, OOo
francs.
His majesty Of Monaco thought that
the affair Was going to cost him pretty
dear; the murderer assuredlv was not
worth so much money. Sixteen thousand
francs for the neck of a rascal! The
devil!
He then preferred the same request to
the Italian government. A king, "a
brother III royalty, would doubtless not
prove such a hard bargainer as republic.
The Italian government sent a minute
of expenses which amounted to II, 900
francs.
Twelve thousand francs! Why, it
would be necessary to impose a new
tax. a tax of ? francs u head on the in
habitants. That would be enough tn
stir up unknown troubles in the state.
He contemplated decapitating the
ruifian by an ordinary soldier. But the
general, on being consulted, was doubt
full whether any Of his men had had
sufficient sword practice to acquit them
selves satisfactorily of IA task demand
ing great experience in handling the
weapon.
So the prince again convened the SUI
preme court and submitted to them this
embarrassing position of affairs.
The court sat a long time without
discovering any practical solution. At
Last the president suggested committing
the death sentence Il Il Of ilnprison-
ment for life, and the suggestion was
adopted.
But they had no prison. 1t was neees-