MURDERER'S AGONIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 256, 26 October 1907, Page 13

MURDERER'S AGONIES.

TORTURED BY ANTICIPATION WHILST FEANCE DISCUSSES HIS FATE.

No death sentence has been carried out In Paris since ISOS, and the French Government are now hesitating as to whether to allow a man to be executed or not, says a London paper of September 16. A ruffian named Solelllaud murdered a girl of five under most atrocious circumstances. Although condemned to death, he has been kept awaiting execution for seven weeks. As in Prance condemned men are only given the shortest notice before being led out to the guillotine, Soleilland has been through agonies of expectation. The greater the delay in coming to a decision the louder becomes the popular clamour, for public opinion in Paris demands tke criminal's blood. The authorities hesitate between the fury of the mob and the principles laid down by the "intellectuals," who regard tlie death penalty as a relic of barbarism which ought to disappear from the twentieth century criminal code of a civilised nation. Meanwhile it is thought significant that Anatole Deibler, the executioner, is in Paris, having recently moved in from the environs. "A notable change," says the "Journal," "is apparent in M. Deibler. The executioner, who is usually, according to popular opinion, bearish in character, seems now more cheerful and more talkative. With radiant face, and clad in homely garb, sometimes in his shirt sleeves, M. Deibler often appears on his threshold and smiles at the neighbours as he goes to fill a pitcher with water from a neighbouring hydrant. "The women neighbours believe that the executioner, being the father of a prettjr little girl, whom he adores, -would be by no means loath to make the murderer of little Martha Erbelding expiate his crime. They think that the prospect of the execution accounts for Deibler's cheerfulness." Curious stories about Koleiliand are meanwhile going the round. The "Petit I'arisien" gives an account of a peculiar visit paid to their office by the wife of the condemned man, Trho was accompanied by an individual who had ouly been released a few hours previously from the Saute prison, where he had seen a good deal of her husband. This person asserted that when Soleilland began to think he was about to be liberated he took him aside and said to him: "You will go to my wife and tell her to send mc some money. I do not want live, ten, or even twenty franca. I must have at least fifty francs. If she consents you will let her be. I shall even ask you to accompany her to the post-office to make sure that the letter containing the order has gone." Soleilland went on to say that if his wife relused the money she must be killed. "If you hesitate to kill her you will find friends who will consent to act for you and to avenge mc. When everything is finished you will forward mc a word to let mc know how matters have passed." Then, clenching his fist, Soleilland exclaimed: 'Ah! just see. I would only ask one thing—forty-eight hours of freedom to have time to cut her neck. Then Deibliv could do the same to mc. I should die vhjo satisfied.' , lldme. Soleilland's companion concluded by explaining that as soon as he was released from prison he hurried off to her, "not for the purpose of killing her," he added, with a smile, "but to warn her to be on her guard. One may be a vagabond, but this does not mean that one is a murderer." [Our cables have since informed us that despite popular clamour, Soleilland's sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life.}