The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-13
TO HIDE GUILLOTINE
Bill Is Before French Parliament
to Abolish Publicity.
Spectacle of "Red Widow and Her
Victims in Streets of Paris Being
Opposed BY Many as cenduc-
i've to Crime.

PariS.-The death of criminals
upon guillQtine set up in the street
IN full view of the public may soon be
abolished in France. A bill for the
repeal of the law providing for public
executions of the death sentence is
now pending in the chamber of depu-
ties.
1t IS therefore probable that when
the three-and possibly four-heads
OF the notorious bandits of the Bonnet
band of outlaws are chopped off by
the Red Widow" as the French call
the guillotine, the cory spectacle may
De given in private. Should that be
the case the motor bandits would be
the first to benefit by the new law.
Public beheadings are intended to
inspire awe. The would-be assassin
IS supposed to see the terrible end
or fellows such as he and refrain from
committing the deed.
The reverse of the picture is said
by many to be true. The hardened
criminal usually meets his doom in q
way that inspires other OF his stamp
with the notion that he is a real hero.
Tor public beheadings furnish occasion
aor the exhibition of certain kind of
DraVado which has a strong appeal to
the desperate type. Senator de Chau-
nile, one of the leaders of the public
Dehead1ng abolition movement, SO
says, adding that not only are such
scenes disgusting beyond expression,
out demoralizing in the extreme.
Beheadings now take place at sun
rise. The condemned man is kept in
ignorance of the date of his death
until he is awakened to have his final
toilet made for the knife. Until that
moment he has hopes OF executive
ciemency, 1t being the invariable rule
TO ask the president as last resort to
use his prerogative and show mercy.
The scene usually is in some street
near the prison in which the man is
confined. The narrower and more
crooked that street, the better, since
the authorities desire as few of the
rabble as possible to see the blade
faL Scores of police and a large
number Of troops. on foot and a-horse. |
keep the crowds back and only the |
omclals. newspaper men and prison |
chaplain are grouped about the base
of the guillotine.
When several persons are beheaded |
they are brought out of the prison one |
at time, the last to die not seeing
the others meet their fate. The GRIM |
maj is tied to sort of block which |
plVots in the middle; he is given a |
push, he falls horizontal and the fri.
blade descends The head
rolls into basket on one side the
BODY is dumped into similar but
longer receptacle on the other. Then
the carcass is carted away at a gallon
while the headman's assistants wash
the guillotine with huge sponges
winch they wiring out in pals of
water.
They call this making the widows
toilet for her next husband"
Much of this sickening sight as nos
s1ole Is hidden from the public. which :
remains passive. or becomes demon
stratlVe according as to whether the
man is an ordinary criminal. or .snon-
nlar" or much disliked. If hated cries
of "A mort!" and Death to the muir
1erer: are heard as the knife falls.
Senator Chaumie is against hiding
The guillotiRe up a narrow street or
blind alley. In speech before the
senate he said he favored abolition Of
he guillotine as public exhibition
but until the government should MAKE
he necessary laws. beheading should
AXE place in the broad open day and
n the most crowded squares to be
'ound. If the death is to be made
public. said. then let it be really pub
ic' Have i where all may see it.