The Count of Monte-Cristo carries a depiction of a public execution that is rather ... vivid. The convicted is clubbed to death. And not too cleanly. Quick res

The Count of Monte-Cristo carries a depiction of a public execution that is rather ... vivid. The convicted is clubbed to death. And not too cleanly. Quick research doesn't say whether this fashion was used in reality or not. The wikipedia article on Italian capital punishment doesn't go into style details.