Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-21

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the country and entered the Casino. But
suddenly an official stopped him.
"Were you not banished, MONSIEUR
Certainly I was, but l am going
back by the next train
''Oh, in that case it is all right. You
can enter, monsieur. "
And every week he returned, and on
each occasion the same official put to
him the same question, which he an
swered in the same fashion.
But a few years ago serious and ell
tirely novel case arose in the principal
ity.
A murder had been committed.
A man, a native of Monaco, not one
Of the transient strangers of whom one
meets legions, but a married man, in
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.
The supreme court met to judge this
exceptional case, for never before had
murder been committed, and the wretch
was condemned to death.
The outraged sovereign signed the
death warrant.
It only remained to execute the Grim
inal. But here a difficulty presented it.
self. The country possessed neither ez-
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
moving the guillotine and for the serv
ices Of the expert. The total was 10000
francs.
His majesty Of Monaco thought that
the affair was going to cost him pretty
dear; the murderer assuredly was not
worth SO much money. Sixteen thousand
francs for the neck of rascal The
devil!
He then preferred the same request to
the italian government. A king, a
brother in royalty, would doubtless not
prove such a hard bargainer as q republic.
The Italian government sent a minute
Of expenses which amounted to $4,000
| francs.
Twelve thousand francs! Why, it
would be necessary to impose a new
tax, tax Of 2 francs a head on the in
habitants. That would be enough to
stir up unknown troubles in the state.
He contemplated decapitating the
ruffian 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 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 long time without
discovering any practical solution. At
Last the president suggested committing
the death sentence into one of imprison-
nent for life, and the suggestion was
adopted.
But they had no prison. It was neces-
sary to improyise one. A jailer was also
commissioned who took charge of the
prisoner.
For six months everything went we'll.
The convict slept all day on a mattress
in his hut, and his guard did the same
on chair just inside the door facing
the passersby.
Rnf t1a mr. &c 1T hic
least falkland require; t}Ae details Of
the smallest expenditures incurred
throughout his dominions. Among these
were placed before him the items of the
disbursements relating to the creation
of a new Office, the maintenance Of the
prison, prisoner and jailer. The outlay
on the last was a heavy drain Oh the
royal purse.
His face heightened visibly, and when
he considered it might last forever, for
the condemned man was still young, he
insisted OH his minister Of justice taking
measures to suppress this expense.
| The minister held a consultation with
the president of the tribunal, and the
two agreed that the office Of jai1er might
be abolished. The prisoner, required to
guard himself all alone, would not fail
to escape, and this would solve the
question to the satisfaction of all.
The jailer was thereupon sent back to
his family, and one of the under cooks
Of the palace was simply required to
carry, morning and evening, food to the
prisoner. But that gentleman made no
attempt to recover his liberty.
One day indeed when they had failed
| 10 provide him with nourishment he
eoolly presented himself to claim it. and
henceforth it was his custom, in order
to save tho cook d journey, to come at
meal hours and eat with the servants Of
the palace, with whom he had become
friendly.
| After breakfast he would take a stroll
AS far as Monte Carlo. Occasionally he
would enter the Casino and risk a few
francs at play. When he won, he would
treat himself to a good dinner at one of
the leading hotels, then he woTsld re-
turn to his prison and carefully lock the
door from the inside.
He never slept out a single night.
The situation was becoming difficult,
not for the condemned man, bat for his
judges.
Once more the court assembled, and
it was decided that they should invite
the criminal to depart from the states
of Monaco
On this decision being communicated
to him he merely replied:
II perceive you are joking. Come.