The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-27

les. and soon the bleeding head Of the
Inflated youth rolled at her feet, while
her man hurled the headless trunk into
the sea-
Horriied by this new crime Of the girl
| Queen. whom he himself had crowned. the
| Pope threatened ITO send her 10 spin In q
low convent" while Roberts father hur-
ried to Naples by enforced marches "a
wreak vengeance upon the murdersss
He defeated her army. killed her lover
and threw her into prison.
Next day two mobiles entered her cell
They motioned the Queen to follow them.
She arose. without speaking, an6 obeyed,
but cry Of anguish escaped her when
she recognized the spot where two Of her
husbands. Andrew and Charles. had been
executed at her behest-
why do you bring me here?' asked
Joanna. tremblngly.
The only reply they vouchsafed was to
show her rope Of silk and gold thread.
Five minutes later she had ceased TO
live. and her corpse was thrown over
the balcony of Averza-
EXECUTION OF MARY STUART,
QUEEN OF SCOTS
Mary Stuart. Queen of Scots, was be-
headed February s. 1887, though protest.
ing that 'as Princess Royal and crowned
Queen. she was responsible to none save
God. and that to him alone she would
render an account of her actions"-these
actions being. in particular, murder and
attempted murder.
She was found guilty Of having pro-
cured the assassination OF one or more
of her husbands. Still. her impiacable
enemy, Elizabeth, feared the result of
public execution. and again Ind again re-
CURED to her original idea of ridding her
self of Mary by means Of poison, until,
at last. the discovery OF several plots
against her own life instigated by Mary,
convinced her that the Queen Of Scots
detention is. and would be. source of
daily peril to the realm and that the
decree of Parliament. sentencing Mary to
death. had better be carried out.
Here is an account OF the execution:
'Supposing that she was to be beheaded
by the French method-that is, as she
sat upon the stool-Mary drew herself
up and stfffened her neck for the blow;
but the executioner. not understanding her
intention. stood awkwardly with the up
lifted ak in his hand: at last his assistant
laid his hand upon the Queens head and
pushed her forward until she fell upon
her knees.
Then. comprehending what was wanted
OF her. the Queen groped for the block,
still clasping her prayer-book and cruel
fix. and finding It. laid her neck upon It,
placing her Joined hands under her chin.
as IL to pray until the last moment. but
fearing they might be cut OF with her
head. the assistant drew them away, and
as Mary said in Latin, Unto thy hands.
o Lord, emrend my spirit" the execu-
toner raised his ak, which was of the
kind used to cut wood. and struck the
first sbloE.
Whether from nervousness or awkward
ness, he struck too high and only frac-
tured the skull. causing the book and
crucifix to fall from the sufferers hands,
but not detaching the head. The Queen,
however, was stunned by the violence of
the blow and made no movement. so that
he had leisure TO prepare for the second
stroke. but even then the head did not
fall. and a third was necessary to sever
the shred Of fesh which still held IT to
the shoulders. At last It fer. and the