The Washington times., 1901-12-15

to have soon tired Of It; for. In the col
lection OF the effects Of that function
aFy in the possession OF Mr.. Hstmueller
are two heavy swords with which most
OF the beheading at Hanover were accom-
plished. 1t is strange to note. on the
handles of these swords, sacred images
and emblems Of mercy and forgiveness.
Other features Of the interesting collec-
tion are thumb-screws, Spanish boots,
arm screws. etc. all designed for the
purpose Of gradually crushing the limbs
out OF all human scmblance.
The English Maiden.
A prototype Of the guillotine existed in
England and Scotland in the nineteenth
century. called the Maiden" Strange to
say. Morton. the man who Is said to have
introduced this instrument into Scotland,
and who enjoyed the favor OF Queen Eliza
beth for ten years, perished. like Dr.
Gulllotin. beneath It's ak. The only es-
sential diferer TO be noted between
the maiden" as depicted in an old print,
and the "fallbeil" and guillotine is the
shape of the AK which. in the first
named. has a straight edge. A celebrated
maiden stood at Halifax, in Yorkshire
England. and It's use is thus described by
Holinshed. Shakespeare's friendly au-
thority:
There is and hath been OF ancient
time law, or rather custom. at Halifax.
that whosoever doth commit any felony
and is taken with the same or confess the
fact upon examination. if it be valued by
four constables to amount to the sum Of
thirteen pence halfpenny, he IS forthwith
3eheadcd upon one Of the next market
days (which fall usually upon the Tues
days, Thursdays. and Saturdays). or else
10. ar,a thuf 10 Ia n
victed, il market be then holden.
The engine wherewith the execution IS
done is a square block OF wood, Of the
length OF four feet and a half, which doth
ride up and down in a slot, rubet, or
RECALL. between two pieces Of timber that
are framed und set upright, Of five yards
in height.
In the neither end Of the sliding block
is an ak. keyed or fastened with an iron
into the wood. which. being drawn up to
the top of the frame. is there fastened
by a wooden pin with a notch made into
the same after the manner OF Samson's
pesU. into the middest Of which pin also
there is q long rope fastened that com
eth down among the people; so that when
the offender hath made his confession.
and hath laid his neck over the neither
most tlUfk. every nun NAtlt ~ NSGlAt Ahtll
either take hold OF the rope Tor puttcth
forth his arm so near TO the same as he
can get. in token that he is willing to see
pustico executed, and pulling cut the pin
in this manner the head block wherein
the AK is fastened doth fall down With
such a violence. that IL the neck Of the
transgressor were so big as that OF
bull. it should be cut in suuder at
stroke. and roll from the body, by an
huge distance.
'If It he so that the offender be appre-
handed for an OK. sheep kline, horse. or
any such cattle. the self beast or other
Of the same kind shall have the end Of
the rope tied somewhere unto them. so
that they being driven. do draw out the
pfn whereby the offender is executed
tHoliushed's Chronicle, ed. l5STD
There seems to be no reason to suppose
that. whether in England, Germany, or
France. the bchcading instrument, Of
which the modern gullotiu is the typical
example. was copied frCm any previous
model existing in another country. Like
inventions cf more benefit to humanity. IL
would aurear that the conception OF the
instrument developed in different minds
in different countries and periods; nor is
1t conceivable that, in this case, the honor
1f the original idea will be very eagerly
sought after by any nation.