The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-12
A SHOCKING EXECUTION.
FOurteen-Feet Fall from the Scah0ld-The
Criminals Head Torn on.
From the London NelOs.

DUBLIN, Thursday night.-Andrew Carr, con-
victed of numbering his paramour, was executed
allowed was fourteen feet from the trap, and when
the bolt was withdrawn the jerk was so great that
the head was instantly severed from the body, and
the rope recoied with force to the trap. At the
inquest which followed, the Governor OF the prison
deposed that the surgeon Of the prison was respon
sible for the length OF the rope used. 1t used
against the Governors own opinion.
witness, after the drop fell, observed the recoil
of the rope and believing some accident had oc-
CURED, went and looked into the trap and saw the
body lying in the yard beneath decapitated. The
head was lying several feet from it, and the blood
The surgeon, Dr. Minchen, deposed that he feared
the rope fastened too tight round the neck, and
this gave greater force to the fall. He would not
attribute the accident to the thinness of the rope,
although the head was as cleany severed as If by
knife but he rather attributed it TO the ghtness OF
the fastening. There was no disease OF the neck.
The machinery was in perfect working order.
The chaplain deposed that the prisoner complained
strangle Of c1oke me before my timer The jury re-
turned verdict that the mishap was the result Of
accident.
From the London Times.
The cap was drawn over his face, and the specta-
tors awaited the fatal signal In terrible suspense 1t
was but for a moment. The bolt was drawn, the
wretched man fell, andthe horrid spectacle was
witnessed. A drop Of fourteen feet had been ar
ranged in difference to the opinion OF learned pro-
lessor who prescribed this length as necessary in
order to produce instantaneous death by dslo-
eating the neck. The truth OF the theory was Indeed
established, and the experiment proved successful
of the rope, and then with sudden snap the head
was wrenched or and flung distance OF several
feet to side OF the yard, while the trunk dropped
10 the other side, CHASTITY mass with the nerves
twitching convulslVely from the violence OF the
shock.
The fragments OF humanity were quickly gathered
up and placed in coffin TO await the inquest, which
was held at IL O'Clock. Captain Boyd deposed that
he became aware OF what had happened by the sud-
den reco of the rope and hearing the sound OF the
! body falling into the yard. Every precaution had
been taken to execute the sentence as humanely as
| possible. The rope was sound, and the whole APP
paratus in perfect order. The height OF the drop
had been fully discussed, and many considered four
teen feet too great fall-an opinion in which he
concurred himself, believing eight feet enough; but
the surgeon of the prison, being anxious to lessen
the sufierings OF the convict thought that length
| necessary to produce instantaneous DEATH
Dr. Humphry Minchen the prison of1ceT, deposed
that all the parts were divided completely across
and the vertebra fractured, which alone would
cause immediate death. He could not account fol
the decapitation ordinary principles for the fall
was less In proportion than that of KEkey, the las
! executed prisoner in Klmafnham jail. Some OF The
force OF the fall is usually expended In Tightening
the noose that in the present case the
moose was frightened beforehand
The Kew. Mr.. Anthony stated that before the
prisoner went on the drop he heard him complain
that the rope was choking him before the time
| Other witnesses bore testimony te the humane con
| duct OF the Officials The jury found that the de
capitation was the result OF accident, for which tn
prison officials were net 70 blame and that Carr Wa
duly executed. He was list 10 in weight.