The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-13

by the most marked and exemplary proprieiy aud in.
vested It'll that soemniiy and dignity which should
Invariably characterize the inf lotion o this, the high
est penalty Of the law. The attention Of the warden
OF the jail 10 the and diversified duties de-
solying upon him, aud the courtesy with which they
we're performed excited The warmesi Approval while
the ealmness, dignty and appropriate apparel OF Mr.
Tracy, The Sheriff, who appeared In sui Of black,
wearing the sword the official badge Of his ofoe,
and the prompt manner ia which he executed The
most unthankful minu,ia Of the painful duties OF the
day, elected universal remark IN appreciation, as an
example for the future highly crediiabie TO the i'm
portant Office he fills. In looking back to the event,
We think may adopt the remark Of an intelligent
friend present." I'll venture 10 say tina, there never
was execution took place IN the United States, II
in the world, marked by so much dignity and pro-
preiy as this
Exactly as the cathedral bell toed the hour Of
noon, the body was LET down and examined BY DIR.
Dion Downs, physician Of the Jail, who pronounced
il dead. 1t then deposited in neat walnut cot
fin, which had been placed previous TO The execution
down and borne into the house In The next instant
the rope, by which the execution had been perform
ed was cut into fragments by the crowd, anxious TO
secure portion OF the precious relic.
The coffin was conveyed into the room above the
guardroom Of the jail, where the surgeons had made
every preparation Tor the galvanc experiments usual
upon such occasions But here many persons had
assembled. and the convenience SO restricted,
that but for the ncessant and determined exerons OF
MIR. Sellers and the officers present. very few indeed
would have witnessed the proceedings The corpse
was removed from the coffin and placed upon
board, when II was stripped and incisions made in
the neck and arms, the chest and stomach. The
galvanc fluid was then elected into the system, and
oxygen forced into the lungs. Connections were
then effected by which the force of the battery was
applied at first TO the muscles Of the face causing
contraction OF the several features the pole OF the
directed se a mi les
Their. Around the mouth the effect Of CHASTITY and
unnatural smile was produced, and changing the dI
rection Of the fluid to the eye, rapid action Of the
exterior portions Of that organ visible. On APP
ply ing the pole Of the battery TO the muscles of the
shoulder arm, ard hand, very natural action was
brought about the corpse slowly lifting the limb and
laying It across the stomach, the forefDger main.
tanning an apparently independent motion, il pick
ing the flesh with the nail the lower limbs were also
made TO exhibiq natural action, though to limited
extent, The muscles being contracted by the fluid on
y sufficiently to produce that quick catching of the
limb which slight puncture inflicted upon living
being usually effects. The experiments having been
continued about half an hour it was announced that
they would cease in consequence Of the nseRsbility
of the body. The company then retired, when Mr..
PoDcia proprietor OF store in Baltimore street, be-
tween Frederick and Gay, for the sale of plaster
statuary and ornaments, proceeded TO take cast Of
the head and face This being effected, the corpse
was delivered into the possession Of the friends and
next OF kin Of the deceased for burial 1t is to be
Inferred, we understand, m Loudon county, Virgil
MIA.
The galyanic expe fiments were conducted by Dr.
Dunbar assisted INV Professors Rohv ord ALn mr.
Thomas Edmondson and Mr.. James Green, DIR.
Downs, Physician OF the jail and Drs. e. 9. M.
Roberts, Handy Miltenberger, and Br, arly.
III. IT,. r,l r,: 49,,
or IN The exscn,;on oo 49, ,.,ho";, "' a., ~,
that !, wouId t,Ls nIa.. 40 80 T.. - 70
o,cIocL a. noss;hi !, :; -. "a W nv. " -
of tbs e,ry a,nn y, ,ho ao ~ '.o
,r,,t,er.,bonah, IT, $500 -, ''e 'u,. ~, ~
o,cIock and a ,saai o,as,;,' 49,, 1'.n -
was not done by thai time i was s,saas .s,i.ahia
10 nroceed with I, earlier d. =, e. ''s,aa.d io"
any acciden, sborId throw !, h.~ond H. 49,.
noInted VIZ "'N' "p
x,ySome nerso,s IN .ho,, ,;ot o,s h., h. .;,,.,
for admission 10 the ,u 80 ho.;n ~, 80"
nary as to sell them IN other ra,or, nrevaiI.d 10
some o. fen, tho, ,hs Wardan "a Stt Id . -,
inc n snecul.,,on nv m. saI r. 49, W. -
been rroues,ed sew ,ha, 49,, sno ,;.L.,s 80
and these were AVID, son.IIv ona., ~. I'd
Visite,s the Sber,g ana Narjn e. o. -. |
dation of friends and WE'RE ds,r,bu,sa N ,hos. Who
first applied Such an alteration however a0sins,
two officer, so meritorous IN ever resnec, could
have never been entertained a moment by those VINO
know them
Horn Phrsnoiogieall, Erag;n>d-W subio;n n
statement of the chronological deyelonments of The
head Of Adam Horn, made by that experienced Pro-
fessor Of the Science Dr. Wooster of Philad. lpbia
who visited ,he ar he If
ing IL, and politely furnished from ms pen Tor pubica