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Show WOHSE THAN DEATH. iystom of Itcfiusil Torture That Kills a Three Years. Though the death penalty was prao-tically prao-tically abolished in Belgium over 30 years ago, the puiii-hment of those convicted con-victed of capital crimes is so awful that noiio has yet been able to endure it more thau three years. Another cur'ons thing Is that little Belgium until reentry had two public executioners, while but one was sufficient for her vaster ueighbor. Franco Deibler, otherwise known as "M. de Pans." Tho king of tho Belgians recently ordered tho retirement retire-ment on a pension of 1837 francs of the "executor of high works" (as ho is euphoniously termed), who was sta tioned at Liege. Tho executioner al Brussels still holds his place. Tho duties of pnblio executioner In Belgium are singular, bat not arduoua Tho courts still continue to sentenca malefactors to death, but tho guillotine has boeu replaced by a scaffold on which is posted a copy of the seutouce. Much ceremony is observed in affixing this document A troop of gendarmes, with their imposing helmets plumed with horsehair, is drawn up about the place nf execution, which they gravely guard with sabers drawn, while tho red robed executioner mounts tho stops, nails uj the decreo of tho court and after a moment mo-ment takes it down again. But tho condemned man might more mercifully havo perished by the ax or rope. Ho is placed in a dungeon so constructed that from tho moment ho enters it he will never hoar tho sound of human voices nor see a living being. His food is passed through a sliding panel in the door of his celL Not ono of these prisoners has been able to survive this confinement more than three years. Tho authorities have citriven in vain to prolong their lives by varying their food as much as possible, but those who are moderately or lightly nourished gradually wasto away, while thoso who are generously fed go mad and die laving maniacs. New Yor& World. |