Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-31
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
Resusci tatiOn of Kriel, the WIFE
Murderer-The Story of His Won.
derfuI Escape from the Death.Pen.
atty by Partial strangulatfOn.
From the Louisville Commercial, i6 ]

1 FROM the LOUISVILLE COmmerclal, 40
We purpose laying before our readers
one of the most startling events that has
transpired for many years in our midst.
| It is 80 well authenticated, and yet 80 in
credible, so terrible, and with such an
air of truth surrounding it, that we can
not refrain from giving to the public what
has been rumored vaguely for some days
in portions of our city.
1t lis we'll known that the unfortunate
Kriel, who suffered death--or was sup
posed to have done so-last Friday, went
to his doom grim, implacsble, and unna-
turally' firm. 1t was well known that his de-
sire to live was paramount to every other
earthly desire. His bearing on the scaf-
fold was so unnsturally calm, that those
who stood near him thought the man did
not realize that death was 50 near, but
still clung to life with terrible tenacity.
When the rope that held the trap was
severed, and the body fell, it was sub
| ject of remark that the closed hands and
position of the legs and feet remained
entirely unchanged, showing tremen-
| dous exercise of will and control of
nerve. The neck was not broken neither
| was the rope drawn 30 closely about the
mans neck that it's mark could be distin-
guished, nor was the skin chafed psrti-
Gle.
General Whitaker, who was present at
the execution by the request of the pris-
ouer, and who examined the body as it
hung, declared in the hearing of those in
the vicinity of the scsffold that pulsation
in the carotid arteries of the neck was
discernible after the Jail surgeon and his
assistants declared life extinct! No one
can question the Generals judgment aud
discretion, and when he placed his 3 fngers
on the arteries and declared there was
circulation still discernible, in opposition
to the opinion of the medical prsctition-
ers beside him, many felt that there
might be grounds for the apprehension
that the criminal would evade death.
The circumstances favoring this re-
markable story are strong and closely
connected. After hanging some min
utes, Kriels body was placed in the cof-
fin. The limbs remained flexible, the
hands opened with the least persuasion
and we're crossed on his bosom. The
eyes that started hslf-open when the
black cap was withdrawn, remained
closed after the slight touch upon them,
and the face assumed an appearance of
mobility and rest.
The red flushing in the cheeks came
back, to a certain extent, and the dark
cooring on the neck, under the knotted
rope, partially disappeared. The short
time that elapsed between his being
placed in the coffin and being driven
away was also subject of remark.
No one seemed to hare charge Of the
body, and it was driven away in lonely
hearse to the vault at the cemetery.
Now comes the closing scenes in this
strange story.
Near midnight light wagon was
driven rapidly out Walnut street, in
which were seated three muftied, silent |
figures, one of them O surgeon of great |
experimental knowledge, firm believer |
in the theory OF resuscitstion of animal
life through the gslvanic process. "
In the wagon was mattress aud sew
eral dark blankets. The wagon halted |
near the cemetery fence; the horse was |
held by the driver, and two men went to
the vault, carrying between them large
sack well filled. Ia short time they |
returned bearing with them motionless
figure shrouded in blanket. The figure
was placed on the mattress, and in 81
lence the wagon was driven back to the |
city. The body was conveyed to the |
surgery of q most skilllul and learned |
surgeon, where some tea or twelve ex- |
cited and expectaHt students stood aux
iously awaiting the arrival of the strange |
AoJx t.ia cd in a
bent position on the table, the clothing |
unloosed, the chest extended, and an in
cision made in one of the veins of the
arm. At FIRST but small drop Of dark
colored blood came forth, but repeated |
incisions and manipulations Of the body |
caused it at last to trickle forth more
freely.
The galvanic battery was applied, and,
horrible and wonderful to relate, in less !
than fifteen minutes the warm blood CON-
menced to course through the chilled |
body, and at last the eyes tcere opened. |
The students stood appalled, ana could
hardly realize the extent OF the demon
strstion before them. O0e of them spoke
to Kriel, asking him, "Are you sensible z
The eyes answered exprossively, and the
lips opened Intellectually, for no speech
came forth. Stimulants were poured
down the throat of the revived criminal,
and in less than one hour after he had
been placed 10 the surgery, Kriel sat MP
and asked them, What have you donef
Am silver"
The CONSERVATION and yet the prefes-
sional delight Of the spectators was loudly
expressed.
The experiment Of q reckless class Of
students aud an able experimentalist had
resulted in the resuscitation ofa man who
had been hung = short time previous.
Steps we're Immediately taken to save
the life Of the vretched man. Justice bad
been satisfied by the public execution,
though lie returned. Why should they