The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-22
HOW THE CUILLOTlNE
WAS INTRODUCED
French Physician First Pro,
posed It and His Name Was
Borrowed for 1t.
From the Indianapolis News.

EE ~ IAAO AAhA0AhROAo ANOWes .|..U.
The recent recrudescence OF that barr
barrie instrument, the guillotine, at Be-
thune, France, where 1t sliced on the
heads OF four murderers nay again
render of interest the history Of this
machine which performed such bloody
service In the reign OF terror. The
g~uillotine was preceded by a number
OF similar machines, among which was
"the Maiden" In Scotland, and another
used In Italy about the year 17Sb. IL 10
supposed that 1t was an account of the
latter instrument that suggested to DR..
Guillotin the modern machine that
bears his name.
1t has often been stated that DR..
Guillotin, born in 173S, persisted by the
instrument which bears his name, but
It is beyond question that he survived
the revolution and died a natural death
in 1914
1t was on DssSnber 1, 1883, that DR..
Euillotin. a me~aAsr of the constituent
assembly, brought before that body a
proposition to infiict the death penalty
by OF q machine in describing
the operation of which he said: With
my little machine / strike off your head
In h twinkhng OF an eye, and Q
never feel it." a statement that vas
followed by such a burst OF laughter
ms only a French assembly could give.
Following this came a popular song
which carried the name OF the doctor
unked with the machine giving to It
lhe designation 1T has since carried.
It had previously been intended by
h assembly that decapitation should
be by the sword, but Monsieur Samson.
the general executioner Of Paris, doubt
less seeing much work ahead OF him,
pointed out many objections to the
sword and a committee OF the assem-
bly, requested DR.. Antoine Louis, secre-
tary of the Academy of Surgeons, to
prepare a memorandum on the subject.
Without even mentioning the name OF
Guillotin the committee recommended
h adoption of a machine similar to
that which had been suggested by him.
"A German by the name OF Schmidt. a
maker of musical instruments, who had
made a number of spinets and harpsi-
chords for Marie Antoinette, made, UNI
der direction or DIR. Louis, machines
for use in each OF the French depart
ments.
To determine the practical working
OF this machine 1t was first tried on
several dead bodies at the hospital OF
Bicetre. 1t was afterward located in
the Place de Greve, It's first victim be-
ing Pelletier, a highwayman, on the
25th OF April, 1892. At first the ma
chine received the names "Louisette"
and La Petite Louison," but the mind
OF the nation caught by the song Of the
guillotine rave the name II has since
borne popularity and officially.
The guillotine was intended by its
euggester and by its inventor to be an
instrument Of mercy n 1t Is said that
Louis XVI. and his queen. Marie AM
toinette, both of whom lost their heads
by II, were shown the model and were
greatly interested in II.
The execution OF Charlotte. Corday,
who in French history comes e in
romantic interest, furnished the most
grim and sinister story OF the guillo-
tine. She, who with the most sublime
conception Of patriotism melted out
fierce justice to the onster Marat, was
executed on July IL, 1898. She had the
distinction of being the only victim on
that day.
Some time later the question was
much debated whether or not death by
the guillotine was instantaneous. In
support OF the negative side the cas- of
Charlotte Corday was adduced. Her
cheeks, 1t was said, Redeemed as with
Indignant shame when the brutal
headsman, who on this occasion was
hot Samson, but Francois LIE Gros, one
pf his assistants, holding UP her head
TO public gaze, with ~atrocious barbarity
struck the face with his fist.
1t was estimated "a the death work
/ OF the guillotfne in France in the Reign
BIZ Terror exceeded I, 1000 persons. The
blade OF the original guillotine was
sold, It Is said. for $4,000. and is now In
the Tussaud collection OF grim curios.
tiles ia London.