The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-04-02
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1.-The Widow" Raises
Her GriSly Form
RESTORING THE C VILLOTINE
~ FRANCE
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rOr are now being enacted In the land
of Johnny Crapaud.
Monsieur de Paris" as the wits OF
the French capital call NJ. Deibler.
the official eXecutioner, has once more
returned to a grisly task that had
been thought 10 be abolished.
The entire French Cabinet stands
opposed 10 capital punishment, and
has sought in every way possible 10
40 away with the ancient interpreta-
tiOn of law that eNacts a life for a
life.
But no other punitive method ayails
10 stop the increase of crime in the
country, and finally. much against his
own preference, President Fallieres
has been forced 70 permit the use of
the famous device for the taking of
human life that DR. Joseph lgnace
Guillotin invented and with which the
horrors of the French revolution were
achieved.
The doctor was born in 1873, and
he had varied interests besides medi-
cine. For instance. he was given TO
scientific means of execution that
should be less painful than anything
in existence. To his physicians mind
the swift Remembering of the head
seemed the best available method.
The invention OF the guillotine gave
Robespierre. Marat. Danton and 9TH
er leaders Of the French revolution.
their instrument TO force their desires
on the suffering royalists. and the
rivers OF blood that flowed in Paris
during the frightful days of 1883 were
due in large measure 10 the conven-
fence Afforded by the invention of
the doctor.
The ferocious populace revealed in
the exhibitions. and when the tumbril
filled with unfortunates rolled 10 the
site of the guillotine there was ever
sure 10 be a big crowd lining the
road and at the scene of the eXecu-
tions
This terrible period has lef. a blot
on the history OF the nation, and
accounts in part perhaps for the in
tense adherence that President Fal-
Heres and his Cabinet have for its
use today.
In this French lawmaking body the
feeling has been strong in favor OF
reviving drastic measures Of French
murderers who have Mortified the
nation with series Of dastardly
crimes.
In one rural district of France an
organized baBl has been pillaging the
countryside. and has committed
number of heinous crimes. not hest
tating 10 impose on their victims the
most eXcruciating fortunes before
finally putting them TO death
over such criminals the threat OF
life Imprisonment holds no terrors.
They are willing TO chance that in
the hope that some day they may be
either pardoned or escape.
President Fallieres. lacking the
power Of pardon. nevertheless was
able 70 defeat the purpose Of the in
Fiction Of the death sentence by re-
fusing 20 sign the paper that would
send the criminal 70 his death
Ii was In this crisis that the Cham
Der of Deputies took up the question.
and after an extended debate in which
many members admitted the nisfor-
tune of having 10 revive the ancient
terror Of France. decided that ii was
the only way 10 end the control Of
murderers over the country.
Hence by a majority Of 127 they
voted in favor OF reviving what is
Familiarity known as the widow"
When the decision was reached no
less than twenty criminals We're under
the sentence Of death. their crimes
having been so extreme that even the
kindly hearted President Of the Repub-
lie had not dared 10 stand in the way
OF the extreme penalty.
The newspapers Of France called
on him TO forget his feelings in the
matter, and give reign TO his con
science, and thus invoked the chief
Official finally did give way. and the
guillotine once more was erected and
the shiny blade again made its swift
and awful journey. at the end of
which one less life existed in the
world.
The first executions took place re-
Gently in Bethune. and four men went
TO their death admist the rejoicing
and clamor OF a mob that recalled the
degrading scenes in the days OF the
French revolution. Even the natural
hatred of the pCpulace for the brutal
criminals can hardly be accepted as
an excuse for the holiday that the
throng made Of the occasion.
From towns for miles away the
crowds poured in during all Of the
night preceding the execution
The four men picked for the honor
OF restoring the guillotine 10 its place
We're members OF a band that had
been terrorizing the northern part OF
France and southern Belgium for
many years.
With delight the crowd headed for
the public square In front OF the
prison. There was no attempt at keep
ing them away. There was no privacy
about the execution. II was a holiday.
a spectacle. a merry making and he
who reflected on the scenes there
enacted would have found 1t hard to
believe that he lived in the midst OF
the twentieth century. with all It's
Wanted advances in the cause OF hu-
manity.
Chief Executioner Doibler returning
to his ancient task. worked with speed
and dispatch while soldiers and police
maintained order The whole perform
ance-for il seemed like a theatrical
representation LASTED only nine min
utes, the blade in that interval falling
four times. and blotting ont life
with every stroke. while the great
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