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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In Toulouse, a criminal sentenced to breaking on the wheel on April 22 fell into a cataleptic sleep the day before execution, surviving without nourishment. He briefly awoke four days ago but relapsed; execution deferred until recovery.
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'The most remarkable occurrence here is the extraordinary case of a criminal under sentence of death, and who was to have been broke upon the wheel the 22d current. The day before he was to have been executed he fell into a profound sleep, and has lived since without any nourishment whatsoever. Several means have been used to awake him, even blisters, but to no purpose. He breathes easy and freely, and his limbs, especially from the middle upwards, are perfectly pliable. About four days ago he awoke, and continued so for an hour or somewhat better; he walked a few steps, and the physicians ordered him some light nourishment, but before it could be got ready he relapsed, and continues in the same state of insensibility. The physicians call it a cataleptick ailment, incurred through fear and horrour of the execution he was to undergo; which, however, is only deferred until he recovers the sense of feeling.'
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Toulouse
Event Date
April 20
Outcome
execution deferred until recovery of sense of feeling
Event Details
Criminal under sentence of death fell into profound sleep day before scheduled breaking on the wheel on 22d current; lived without nourishment; attempts to awake him failed; briefly awoke four days ago, walked, but relapsed into insensibility; diagnosed as cataleptick ailment from fear of execution.