EXECUTION OF A COMMUNIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 4

EXECUTION OF A COMMUNIST.

You may remember the atrocious assassination of the police agent Vincenzini, who, after being tortured by the mob for over two hours, was tied on a plank and thrown into the St. Martin Canal in presence of 20,000 people. He was pelted with stonts as he drifted down to the Seine, which finally carried the unfortunate man away and put an end, to hia sufferings. This crime was accomplished as the Germans were marching on Paris, and it was only a short time ago that the authorities were able to bring two of the ringleaders to trial — Bounard and Pelata. Both those wretches were condemned to death, but at the last moment Pelata's sentence was commuted. On Friday week Bounard was shot at Vincennes. He received the information th^ his last hour had arrived with much calmness, and after having confesped, he asked for breakfast, made a good meal, and then said he was ready. He reached Vincennes a quarter of an hour before the time fixed for the execution, but the troops were already drawn up under the command of General Lafont. When all was ready Bounard alighted from the fourgon, and accompanied by Wo chaplains marched to the fatal post. There, in front of the firing: party, the sentence was read out to him. This formality accomplished, Bounard embraced the priest, and said, "I call upon all good workmen to distrust what they hear at public meetings ; it was the speeches I heard which have conducted me here." Having said this, Bounard, who was formerly a soldier, threw off his kepi and tunic, and leaning up against the post, cried "Vive La France." The adjutant lowered his Bword, and Bounard fell stone dead with three bullets in his head and five in his chest. Thus the long agony of Vincenzini, witnessed by 20.000 people or 20,000 accomplices, has been avenged by the death of one man. It iB true that one of the wretches who played a chief part in the tragedy fell on the barricades during the Commune, and that the woman who excited the murderers to accomplish their sanguinary purpose died a short time ago in the St. Lalsare Hospital, which is set aside for women of immoral character.— Paris Correspondent of The Scotsman. ■ !