Word: headsmen
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Gloves for the Host. Clément's downfall carried his family with him. The French government fired all provincial executioners and appointed a single Monsieur de Paris to perform the function. In 1879 the honor fell to one Louis Deibier, heir of a long line of Breton headsmen. Deibler was succeeded by his son Anatole, who ruled the guillotine with honor until 1939. He was succeeded by his nephew, Jules Henri Desfourneaux...
...pogrom. Released from the Paris Santé Prison when that capital fell, he reportedly joined the refugee stream, surrendered at Toulon, where he was later sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by a French court "under German supervision." In Berlin he will face the notorious Volksgericht, which keeps two headsmen busy...
Theirs was far from the last execution. In Breslau another top-hatted headsman swung his sword on another Communist neck. Ten more Reds were sentenced to death in Dessau while 19 others were waiting in German jails for headsmen to get their second wind...
Thus far the headsmen employed have been "usually butchers by trade." They are not yet wearing the ceremonial full dress prescribed by Captain Goring who delights to set fashions and even designed his own uniform as German Air Minister. Thus far the butchers have scorned to wear masks. Assistants bind the condemned man, shave his neck and hold him down squarely against the block. A state's attorney reads the verdict of Death, cries. "Executioner do your duty!" Not bad fellows, several butchers have treated the condemned to hearty meals at their own expense the night before execution, supplying...
...forearm. Beheading was done by a single slice with the long blade instead of a chop. For a consideration from the condemned or his friends the headsman would leave a small piece of skin remaining so that the ignominy of complete decapitation was avoided. Cases were reported here headsmen had been persuaded to save the life of the condemned by making a large, gory slanting slice, which appeared to be fatal but which avoided the jugular vein and spinal column...
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