Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-20

! sensibility displayed on many tragic
! and narrowing occasions, that made
him one of the most famous criminals
of modern times.
( rs the Joke on US or on the Char
dons?" he asked, as he wiped the joy
Gus tears from his face. But Avril was
impatient and nervous He wanted
to get away Those dead people were
| getting on his nerves. So they left the
house and went to an inn, where, over
sundry bottles of cheap wine, Lace
| naire planned a larger and better
| crime.
He rented an office and painted an
assumed name on the door, thus ere
ating the impression that he was a
| business man. Then, by laying MS
plans carefully, he arranged that
bank messenger should call on MN IN
his office on a certain day, the chosen
day being one on which collectlohs
were sure to be large. 1t took great
deal of skilful maneuvering TO prlns
this about, but the details are not es-
sential to this story.
Everything being in readiness, AVrh
was so foolish as to be arrested whlle
irving to rescue lady friend from the
police. So, at the eleventh hour, La
cenaire had to go forth and seek an
other assistant. Reliable help OF that
hind is hard to find when most neeueu'
hut after much trouble the poet ac-
cepted as his partner a gentleman
named Francois, to whom homicloe
was a fad. 1t was said OF him, IN ms
o,,., haunts that he would kill man
for sou. which was cheap enough
to be sure.
Francois. however, should nave
known better than to eat oranges
fore committing a crime. Or II ne
couldn't get along without oranges ne
should have realized that IL was oeiu
to frop the peel on the floor or pesi-
ness mans office. ,.,.-.,o,,.
A. tho appointed hour the bank mes
senger arrived at the office with MS III
tIe bag fairly bulging with money anu
securities. Lacenaire, the smihns' las-
c,natjng, asked him to seat hllnseh a'
the table and examine certain papers
The messenger did so, and whlie tue
noet engaged him in conversation anu
+ held his whole attention. FRANCOIS caihe
nm behind dagger in hand, to stab MN
% tho heart. Francois, who had stualeo
murder under the old masters, knew no"
% roach the heart from any angle or
nositton. This looked like an easy ana
cure iob But maledictions on the
orange peel, His foot slipped Just as ne
delivered the blow The messenger was
stabbed but not mortally, or even seri-
ously. With yell of terror he ieapeo
for the door and reached it first. and ran
down the stairs yelling murder Fran
co.'s also sped away and Lancehaife loi-
lowed close at the messengers heels also
yelling murder thus diverting suspicion
until he reached the street and was lost
in the crowd.
He felt that Paris was no place for
him lust then, so he departed for the
provinces, where for long time he
lived opulently. He wrote much poetry
at this time and it was good poetry,
which sold readily; but he was too wise
to depend upon the muse for living, so,
when not embalming things in song ne
devoted his genius to forgery, ana with
great success. When he returned 10
Paris he was attired in purple and hne
linen and was a credit to the boQleNafas'
Meanwhile Francois had been arrested
on some trifling charge, and Avrii still
was in Jail The crimes in which they
/ had been concerned We're complete mys-
/ teries to the police. and it. seemed that
| they would always remain so when
/ Francois dropped a few words which
made the police suspicious and they
! drew from him the story of the attack
upon the bank messenger. Avril's con-
| science became active about the same
time and he told of the Chardon mur-
ders So it came to pass that the poet
was arrested. and when he learned that
the discovery was due to his accom-
| plices he made full and free confession,
his only object, he said. being to take
the betrayers to the sguillotine with him
/ The trial was a famous one. The mos'
celebrated people in France crowded to
the courtroom to see the laughing Lace
naire, who was dressed like Prince
! He laughed and joked throughout the
| proceedings, and drove Ayril and Fran
| co.'s to frenzy time and time again by
his ridicule. Upon several occasions the
guards had to hold them, they were sc
anxious to get at his throat.
Francois was sentenced to life impris
| onment and Lacenaire and Ayril tc
death So one day in 1895 these two
made their last appearance in public
Avril died first and met his fate witt
| british calmness. Lacenaire tried tc
| appear jaunty and joyous, but 1t was
with an effort. He was excited and ner'
vous Being a man of Imagination, q
poet and artist, death meant more te
him than to an ordinary criminal. He
| fought for self-control with menta
courage that is more heroic than any
| physical courage. Badly scared. he tried
to seem undaunted. But 1t was his fate
to undergo an extraordinary ordeal thai
would break down any courage. The
guillotine wouldn't work. Time ant
again the AK descended to within al
inch or two Of his neck and then stuck
! and the executioner fumbled with 1t
raised It and let it fall again. The tor
tured man twisted himself around SC
that he could look upward and uttered ar
awful, agonized shrek that was never
forgotten by those who heard it.
But the shrek was cut in two. The az
worked at last.-Kansas City Star.