One hundred years ago
THE murderer Pranzini was executed on Wednesday morning at 5 o'clock, in the public square in front of the prison of La Roquette. For nearly a week before, immense crowds had gathered every night in the hopes of catching a sight of the execution. As day after day passed without the expected sight, the conduct of these crowds became more and more disgraceful. After Pranzini's body had been removed, the crowd broke thought the police, and rushed to set their handkerchiefs, hats, and hands in 'the crimson mud', while a youth with bloodstained fingers daubed the faces of the women of bad character in the crowd. It is to be hoped that the scandals attending Pranzini's execution will ensure the passage of the Bill for holding executions in private already introduced in the Senate.
The Spectator, 3 September 1887
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