NO GUILLOTINE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1910, Page 10

NO GUILLOTINE.

o What is known in Switzerland as the Muff Affair is causing the authorities of Lucerne, and even the Federal Government, much anxiety (states the Geneva correspondent of the Chronicle). Muff, who is a fanner, murdered four persons at a village near Lucerne some months ago by shooting them. His motive was robbery, and to hide tho crime he set fire to the house in which it was committed. He has pleaded guilty to the murders, which were carefully planned, and ha? refused to be defended by a lawyer. There is little doubt that he will be condemned to death at his trial, which was to begin at Lucerne on 6th April. With this verdict almost inevitable, the authorities are puzzled, for they have no recognised means for carrying it out. The last execution in Switzerland took place twelve years ago at Lucerne, when the town of Schafthouse lent its guillotine. Since that time the instrument has been placed in the town's museum, and is useless for practical purposes. A guillotine could be constructed, but there is nobody in Switzerland who could or would be willing to work it. Switzerland may, therefore, have to ask a neighbouring country to help her out of the strange dilemma. Austria and Italy have abolished capital punishment. Germany possesses three guillotines, which, however, are fixtures in the prisons. France is the last hope. xaTis has a movable guillotine, and an experienced executioner in 31. Deibler. Would France oblige? Muff states that if he is condemned to death he will not appeal, as, on principle, he has always favoured capital punishment.