"The soldiers were beginning to be embarrassed and a little moved at this horrible struggle, when one of them passing behind gave him such a furious blow in the loins with the butt-end of his gun that the unfortunate man fell with a low groan.
"No doubt the spinal column was broken. They then fired some shots with their revolvers straight into his body, and pierced him with bayonet thrusts. As he was still breathing, one of the executioners approached and discharged his chassepot into his ear. Part of the skull burst open; his body was abandoned in the gutter till some one came to pick it up.
"It is then that the spectators of this scene approached, and despite the wounds that disfigured him, were able to establish his identity."—Account by a Military Surgeon published in the Gaulois.
The Radical of the 30th May, 1872, published the following letter from an employé at St. Thomas d'Acquin, who during the Commune had rendered the Versaillese the service of preventing the firing of the cannons of 8 cm. breechloaders:—
"To Monsieur le Comte Daru, President of the Committee of Inquiry into the Insurrection of the 18th March, Versailles.
"Monsieur le President,—I have just read in a book, which is entitled Enquête Parlementaire sur l'Insurrection du 18 Mars, under the head, Evidence of witnesses, the following evidence by the Staff-Captain Garcin:—
"'All those who were arrested under arms were shot during the first moments, that is to say, during the combat. But when we were masters of the left bank there were no more executions.'
"In the report of Marshal MacMahon on the operations of the army of Versailles against insurgent Paris, I find the following declaration:—
"'In the evening of the 25th May the whole left bank was in our power, as also the bridges of the Seine.'