The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-02-08
From the Louisville Commercial January 2e.l
Strange and Wonderful Story.
ResusCitatiOn Of KrieI, the Wife
Murderer.

Resuscitation of KrieI, the WIFE,
Murderer.
1t is Unknown that the unfortunate
Kriel, who suffered death-or was sup
posed to have done so-last Friday went
to his doom grim, implacable and un-
naturally firm. 1t was well known that
his desire to live was paramountto every
other earthly desire His bearing onthe
scaffold was so unnaturally calm that
those who stood near him thought that
the man did not realize that death was
so near, but still clung to life with Ter
rible tenacity.
When the rope that held the trip WITS
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. nei-
ther was the rope drawn 50 closely about
the mans neck that it's mark could be
distinguished, nor was the skin chafed a
particle.
General Whitaker, who was present
at the execution by the request of the
prisoner, and who examined the body as
it hung, declared in the hearing of those
in the vicinity Of the scaffold that pulsa-
ton in the carotid arteries of the neck
was discernibe after the jail surgeon and
his assistants had declared life extinct
No one can question the Generals judg-
ment and discretion, and when he placed
his fingers or. the. arteries and declared
there was circulation still discernible, in
opposition to the medical practitioners
beside him, many felt that there might
beg rounds for the apprehension that the
criminal would evade death.
The circumstances favoring this re-
markable story are strong and connect
ed. After hanging some minutes Kriels
body was placed in the coffin The limbs
remained flexible, the hands opened with
the leastipersuasion and were crossed Oh
his bosom. The eyes that started hall
open when the black cap was withdrawn
remained closed after the slight touch
upon them, and the face assumed an ap-
pearance of mobility and rest.
1 The red flushing in the cheeks came
back to a certain extent, and the darl
coloring on the neck, under the knottet
rope, partially disappeared. The shor
time that elapsed between his being pla
ced in the coffin and being driven away
was also subject of remark.
j No one seemed to have any charge O
The body. and it was driven away in
lonely hearse to the vault at the cemete
u ry.
Now come the closing scenes in thi
strange story.
4 Near midnight light wagon was driy
en- rapidly out Walnut street, in whicl
; were seated three muflled, silent figures
one of them surgeon of great expert
mental knowledge, a firm believer in th,
theory of resuscitation of animal life b,
the galyanic process.
In the wagon was mattress and sey
eral dark blankets The wagon halte,
near the cemetery fence; the horse wa
2 held by the driver, and two men went t
the vault, carrying between them larg
sack well filled. In short time the
returned, bearing with them motion
less figure shrouded in blanket. Th
figure was placed on the mattress, an
in silence the wagon was driven back /.
, the city. The body was conveyed to tb
g surgery of most skillful and learnc
e surgeon, where some ten or twelve exc
ted and expectant students stood anS
t iously awaiting the arrival of the strang
e party. The body was placed in recun
bent position on the table, the elothin
: unloosed and an incision made in one c
$ the veins of the arm Atfirst but sma
drop Of dark colored blood came fortl
: but repeated incisions and manipulation
Q of the body caused it at last to trick
It forth more freely.
: The galyanic battery was applied, ,an(
horrible and wonderful to relate, in les
! than fifteen minutes the warm blood con
g menced to course through the chile
$ body, and at last the eyes were opened
: The students stood appalled, and coul
\ hardly realize the extent of the demon
g stration before them. One of them spok
$ to Kriel, asking him, Are you sensible
$ The eyes answered expressively, and tt
q lips opened Intellectually, for no speec
v came forth. Stimulants were poure
;, down the throat of the revived crimina
e and in less than one hour after he ha
|, been placed in the surgery, Kriel sat u
e and asked them. what have you done
o Am l alive?'a i Z
e The CONSERVATION and yet the prefe
T. sional delight of the spectators W;
loudly expressed.
s The experiment of a reckless class
s students and an able experimentalist ha
resulted in the resuscitation of a ma
9 who had been hung short time prev
s Eous. Steps were Immediately taken
7, save the life of the wretched man. Ju
0 tice had been satisfied by the public ex
:: cution, though life returned. Why shoul
q they deliver upwhat had so providentia
T, ly ana wonderfully been restored?
II None of Kriel's personal friends wel
c notified. Strangers disguised him, fu
Q nished him with means, and by dayligl
IL a man, weak and tottering, but firm an
$ immoyable in Ills demeanor, crossed Il
N river and was last seen by watchful S
s lent friend, who kept near him ON Il
train leaving Seymour, Indiana, on b
way to an unknown, but it is hoped, be
: ter future.
!, This ends this wonderful story. W
! give it as it was given to us, witho,
names, giving the public the privilege
' attaching what Importance they choo'
: . to this strangely plausible story. "
+ express no opinion ourselves, but co
. fess that the closely connecting links al