New-York tribune., 1908-05-10
STORY OF THE GUILLOTINE.
The French Method of Dispatching Grim
inals and It's History.

There ts no name IN France that has remained
longer In the public memory Khan that Of Monsieur
Guotin- Born in the year liS ana eIecleu q
member of the Constituent Assembly some ntty
year, later he took up the question OF capltai
punishment and as the result of MS efforts. soma
three years later machine for decapltatlon sucn
as he suggested became the recognized INSTRUMENT
for the execution OF criminals From all accounts
SAYS The London Globe, previous to Guilotin
entering the Assembly execution by decapitation
was privilege enjoyed solely by people or rank
the lower class criminals being hanged Ihis un-
fair treatment seems TO have impressed MN
greatly Thus in raising the question he proposed
that '-in all Of capital punishment II sna4i
he Of the same kind. and executed by means or a
machine" After many stormy debates IL was
agreed that decapitatiou should be the state pun
Ishr1ent for all criminals, but never word was
mentioned as 10 any other instrument being used
but the sword. Some time later, however, the ex-
ecutfouer pointed out the inconvenience and ex-
pense attending such methods. and IL was nnaAy
decided that instrument. similar to that Vhich
Dr. Guillotln had previously recommended. should
be used.
The first execution under the new conditions took
place in 1872 in Paris, the victim being notorious
highwayrnan OF the name OF Pelletier ana so sue
similar machines in all the French departments
At first these instruments OF execution were chrs-
tened. for some reason or ether ,d ITI as
IL became more generally known that DE- Iuilotiil
him. and so It is TO this day 1t IS common oeIeI
that GuilIotin was himself sufferer ny nus own
death in the year 1914. For some few years the
guillotine was accepted as sure quick ana UNI UNI
form" method of execution. In 1IS. however.
doubts we're raised as to whether not death by
such means really instantaneous The execu-
ton of Charlotte Corday. the murderess OF Ihe
Revolutionary leader Murat gave rise to the DIS DIS
head was cut off and held up by the executioner
there were distinct indications that life was not eH
tinct Such ideas no doubt. delayed TO great
extent the adoption OF the g-uillotine mode OF
execution in other countries. though the proInlscu
days Of the Revolution did more than anything to
Rnt long before the days OF DR. Guillotin there
is good reason suppose that such an instruInent
was general use in Eastern countries; there was
Years ago. But however that may be. it was gen
France HAT the idea was suggested TO GuilOtin
from description contained in an ANONYMOUS BOOK
execution II 5 Mds vni SnfIand and various parts
has only to pay visit to The Antiquarian Museuns
tto a. mioderE machine which was known in olden
davs as THE Maiden" 1t was this instr t!'at
was used for the-execution OF the Regent MORTON
II 7I ,r all accounts tho machine used in England
g,9tine as then existed In France ana az ~,
Up til o hSwSTeF no SHTEsbire snd fe6ns convicted
.hert used be decaPitated by rf;1Tf Of Which
mas MAS fmOWe Se seen ii in old books to-day u,
rms ms %srt as the Middle Ages the guillotine was
80 80 anara M use In Germany. where II was known as
the Hobe In tqiy cenfDrT nfD though. judging by
pash E reeords only for the execution of crimi-
nals of noble birth :. - ,- -..-- }
sers the accepted custom that political Offenders
,7s sdi1 he dacsntated, while all other criminals
-nouiI 20 tbe saIows The scaffold is the last
49, There one would expect 10 find rules Of
Vet there wee many. and those rigor-
7,iSrr kept Thus in where two or more
oHars have been beheaded. they were always |
,S,bt 70 the bIo-k in order OF precedence Lord
-apeI who triec address the crowd with his
81 on was sharply reprimanded by the execution
,r' while in the case of Lords Balmerno and XII
narnociS wLo were beheaded together in 1T4S. al
Ia latter offered
he block etiquette would not allow Lord BalmeTino |
n take advantage OF his kindness.