The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-04-16
'ss'y's'y'y'y'.i'.''.i's's'.' .fsaay,ny,nyaas
1.-The Widow" Raises
Her GrisIy Form
REETO RING THE CUILLoTINE
- ~ FRANCE
tsAe.,,aS,..,.,,.,.s.,...,..i,.,.l...s..,.i.. si.

ror are NOW being enacted ia The land
OF johnny Crapaud
Monsieur dc Paris" as the wits Of
the French capital call A. Deibler.
the Official eXecutioner, has once more
returned 70 grisly task that had
been thought TO be abolished
he entire French Cabinet stands
opposed 10 capital punishment and
has sought in every way possible 10
40 away with the ancient interpreta-
Ton OF law that eXacts a life for a
life.
But no other punitive method avails
TO stop the increase of crime in the
country and finally. much against his
own preference, President Fallieres
mas been forced 20 permit the use OF
the famous device for the taking OF
human life that Or. Joseph Ignace
Guillotin invented. and with which the
horrors OF the French revolution were
achieved.
The doctor was born in 1898. and
ne had varied interests besides medi-
cine. For instance, he was given 10
scientific means of execution that
should be less painful than anything
In existence To his physicians mind I
the swift Remembering OF the head
seemed the best available method.
The invention of the guillotne gave /
Robespierre. Marat. Danton and 9TH \
er leaders OF the French revolution.
their instrument 10 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
Inc exhibitions. and when the tumbril
hlled with unfortunates rolled to 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 left 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 I
feeling has been strong in favor Of
reyiving drastic measures OF French ,
murderers who have Mortified The {
nation with series Of dastardy
crimes G
In one rural district Of France an {
organized band has been pillaging the E
countryside. and has committed a a
number OF heinous crimes. not hest
tatng 10 impose on their victims the Z
most eXcruciating tortures before Il
finally putting them TO death. e
over such criminals the threat of
lie imprisonment holds no tcrrors e
Ihey are willing 10 chance that in v
the hope that some day they NAV be n
either pardoned or escape S
President Fallieres. lacking the
power OF pardon. nevertheless was T,
able 10 defeat the purpose Of the in. n
Fiction Of the death sentence bv re- 81
fuslng to sign the paper that would a.
send the criminal to his death. b.
IL was In this crisis that the Cham
Der OF Deputies took up the question. o.
and after an extended debate. in which al
many members admitted the misfor. ~
tune OF having TO revive the ancient ii
terror OF France. decided that il was "
the only way TO end the control of 81
murderers over the country. ST
Hence by majority Of 127 they m
voted IN favor Of reyiving what Is an
lamllarly known as the widow" OF
When the decision was reached M ar
less than twenty criminals were under nc
the sentence Of death their crimes Ia
having been SO extreme that even the II
kindly hearted President Of the Repub. Al
tic had not dared TO stand in the way so
Of the extreme penalty.
The newspapers OF France called
on him TO forget his feelings in tho +,
matter, and give reign to his CON.
science, and thus invoked the chief A.
ofhclal finally did give way. and the
sulhotine once more was erected and W
he shiny blade again made its swift
and awful journey. at the end Of r,
world '''0
The first executions took place 70. - -.
'ently in Bethune and four men went go
o their death admist the rejoicing
md clamor Of a mob that recalled the
degrading scenes In the DAYS of the A.,
french revolution. Even the natural
hatred OF the pOpulace for the brutal t1t
'rlmlnals can hardly be accented AZ
IN excuse for the holiday that tie A.,
hrong made Of the occasion -"
FROM towns for miles away The RI.
rowds poured in during all Of the
light preceding the execution a.
Inc four men picked for the honor
I restoring the guillotne TO its place nj
we're members Of band that had
cen terrorzing the northern part OF pr,
rance and southern Belgium for
lany years. ~ -,
With delight the crowd headed for %
he public square in front of tbe IA.
rison. There was no attempt al Keen "''
" them away There was no nrivarv -,
bout the execution IL was a holiday
spectacle. a merry making ana ba c.r
no reflected on the scenes there O'''
nacted would have found il hard IN ~
elieye that he lived ia the midst ~ ~
he twentieth century with an is rn.
iunted advances in the cause Of III. -"
anity.
Chief EXecutioner Dcibler. returning ="
his ancient task. worked with spoed Ia.
al dispatch, while soldiers and police W.
aintalned order. The whole perform. AL
ice-for It seemed like a theatrical '''''
presentation LASTED ONLY nina min
es, the blade in that interval falling VI
ur times and blotting out ufe
TN every stroke, while The great
owd meantime howled its ioy.
PORN was Tho nrsf ~ ~ - e..