Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-22
or hyocene or some other stupeflcr, 1t
had an almost instant effect on the

or hyocene or some other stupeficr, It
had an almost instant effect on the
ruffian.
He became 'dopey.' and seemed to
De stupidiy happy, walking in kind
OF trance. They clipped his hair and
cut his shirt collar. think the priests
protested against drugging him in his
| last moments. when he ought to be
making his peace with God: but how
does hypodermic differ from drug
ging them with brandy, as they nearly
always do?"
This is another French humanity, a
real one. it must be admitted. though
somehow offending Anglo Saxon ideas.
Why Should not the wretch be allowed
to work up kind of Dutch courage"
with unlimited brandy? Because. as
the priest argued in the case OF
more obscure drug he ought to have
his head clear in the last supreme mo-
ment- Well, the French believe in Civ
Ing brandy, nevertheless. 1t aids the
victim to walk out in good style. 1
asked this guardian about it and he
told me:
1--WE don't wait for them to ask It,
The priest-the condemned mans bert
friend-keeps him in tobacco and play
ing cards during the painful waiting
between the death sentence and its
execution. and it is he who has charge
of the bottle in the last moments. The
last lildH ildQ-lne OIle WIlO WIS lIllS-
taken in his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a full
goblet of rum while dressing. Then he
asked to have n cigarette placed be-
tween his lips and lighted. The prieat.
who had already confessed him. talked
to him about his mother and brother,
and exhorted him to repentance.
L have nothing to repent Of he an
swcred. and 1 have no pardon to ask
of any one on earth. We are square.
But he added. L would like another
goblet of rum IL human justice per-
mits it..
He was already beginning to feel
good. During the clipping of his hair
and the cutting of his shirt-collar he
drank another goblet or rum. 1t so
bouycd him up. that he walked firmly
almost gayly. YOU might say-to the
guillotinc, called out good-by to his
friends in the crowd. took a last ruff
of his cigarette and gave up the ghost
In good style.
REFUSED TO DRINK.
II remember only one who refused to
drink. 1t was the celebrated Eyrsud.
The Able Faure offered to him a COB
let of mixed cognac and chartreuse.
Take this, my friend" he said: 1T
Will give you force. No thanks re-
make me IN"
The knowledge that the guillotine Is
the most merciful Of all Instruments
of death, gives little comfort to the
victim. If they have enough alcohol
In them, they often StaEgcr stupidity,
upheld by the aids. the short distance
between the prison and the guillotine.
just outside In tho public square. When
they stand beside 1t. however. they
come to" with q terrible shock. They
nearly always struggle. The aids seize
them by main force. stand them UP
against the swinginE-b board. tie them
to 1t, and then lower thnm with tho
board to horizontal position. with the
head under tho big knife. This swing
ing board is like n scc-saw Fixed in
the middle IL stands upright. After
the victim Is tied to it. stand up. n
simple tilt swings 1t to tho horizontal
position. so that there is no climbing
up ana stretching out on a table as
was the case with the early guillotinc.
Every one who has seen an execu-
tion Is certain that the victim never
knows what struck him. None of the
many experiments made with heads
Immediately after severance have sue
ceeded in discovering the slightest sign
/ of consciousness. Victims have agreed
to wink their right for YES. their left
eye for no. and SO on. None has ever
winked.
marked my we'll Informed prison guar
dian. IT have heard the prison doctor
explain II. The shock TO the brain
given hy the falling knife. produces
immediate coma. Then before the
brain in the cutoff head could even
theoretically recover. It has lost all its
blood. so that no mental action can set
up again.
The victim being tilted 10 the hori-
zontal position. finds himself looking
through what in low French slang is
called the little window" The neck
reposes in n half circle Of about its
diameter. cut In stationary board
between the two standards of the gull