Horrible Scene at an Execution.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 292, 11 December 1886, Page 5

Horrible Scene at an Execution.

Full particulars have now been received of the double execution of the moet painful character which took place in the little town of St. Denis dv Sig, in Algeria, ana of which a telegraphic aummary has already been published in this country. In December last six natives broke into the house of M. Bellier, a French baker, at St. Denis dv Sig, and murdered him and his servant A°grownupson was frightfully mutilated, but eecaped with his life. The leaders of the gang, Milul Ben Lemna and El Hadji Buazza were tried in July, and subsequently sentenced to death. The scene at the execution is thus described : At I a. >n. the Procurator, followed by an interpreter and the prison officials, entered the cells in which the condemned Arabs wore asleep 151 Hadji Buazza was first awakened, and the death, warrant was read out to him. He listened with perfect calmneas, and said, "Innocent though I am, I bear no malice against my judges or the French. They have been deceived by Milud, who has borne false witness against me. I desire to see my father and my mother and the Cadi. Give mp water for my ablutions,- and leave me by myself to pray." Here the prisoner lit a cigarette and ate some meat with apparent relish, after which he conversed with the Cadi. Milud Ben Lemna winced under tho sentence, and exclaimed, " I and Buazza are both guilty. Let the Cadi come to me. I will go on fasting." At half-past five the prisoners were pinioned, their hair and beards were cropped close, and thoir under garments cut away around the neck. During half an' hour while these preparations lasted; they both sang verses of the Koran. When they were escorted to the soaffold between two-rows of mounted police, Milud's wife burst into loud sobs, and tore her hair. It was she who informed against hor husband, tt was broad day light when Buzza was *beheaded amid the applause of a ferocious rabble, which, according to French oustom, had been allowed to see the execution. Then it was Milud's turn, but the knife was jammed into the wooden framework, and only mutilated the wretched man's head. Thereupon the executioner took out a handsaw and began to operate upon his neck, but to no purpose. To finish the ghastly work a razor had to be procured. The bodies were taken to the diescetlng room of the hospital.