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Show WORSE THAN DEATH. System of Refined Tortnro That Kills Is Three Years. Though the death penalty was practically prac-tically abolished in Belgium over 30 years ago, the puni-ibmant of thoso convicted con-victed of capital crimes is so awful that none has yet been able to endure it more than three years. Another onr'ous thing Is that little Belgium until recently had two public executioners, while but ono was sufficient for her vaster neighbor, France Deibler, otherwise known as "M. de Paris." Tho king of the Belgians recently orderod the retirement retire-ment on a pension of 1837 francs of the "executor of high works" (as he ii euphoniously termed), who was sta tioned at Liege. The executioner a) Brussels still holds his place. The duties of publio executioner Id Belgium are singular, but not arduous Tho oourts still continue to sentence malefactors to death, but the guillotine has been replaced by a Boaffold on which is posted a copy of tho sentence. Muoh ceremony is observed in affixing thi9 document. A troop of gendarmes, with their imposing holmots plumed with horsehair, is drawn up about the place of execution, which they gravely guard with sabers drawn, while tho red robed executioner mounts tho steps, nails up the decree of tho court and after a moment mo-ment takes it down again. But the condemned man might more mercifully have perished by tho ax or rope. He is placed in a dungeon so constructed that from tho moment he enters it he will never hear the 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 yeara The authorities have dtriven in vain to prolong their lives by varying their food as much as possible, but those who are moderately or lightly nourished gradually waste away, whilo thoso who are generously fed go Wad and die iaving maniacs. New York World. |