Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-02-10
FROM DEATH To LIFE,


FROM DEATH To LIFE.
Resuscttatton of KrieI the Wife e-Mur-
derer-The story Of his Wonderful
Escape from the Death Penalty. by
r:ni.ea sses ssr"sS'niisn.a 60 Lite, and !: . ssn, n
Away into Obscurtty.
From the Louisville Commercial, Jan. 2s.
We purpose laying before our readers one
of the most startling events that has trans
pired for many years in our midst. 1t is so
well authenticated, and yet so incredible,
so terrible, and with an air of truth sur
rounding ii, that we cannot refrain from
giving to the public what has been rumor-
ed vaguely for some days in portions of our
1 city.
/ 1t is well known that the unfortunate
Kriel, who suffered death-or was supposed
to have done so-last Friday went to his
doom grim, implacable, and unnaturaly
firm. 1t was well known that his desire TO
live was paramount to every other earthly
desire. His bearing on the scaffold was so
unnaturally calm, that those who stood
near him thought the man did not realize
that death was so near, but still clung to
life with terrible tenacity.
When the rope that held the trap was
severed. and the body fell, it was q subject
1
! position of the legs and feet remained en-
tirely UNCHANGED, showing tremendous
exercise OF will and control Of nerve. The
neck was not broken, neither was the rope
drawn so closely about the mans neck that
its mark could be distinguished, nor was
the skin chafed a particle.
Gen. Whitaker, who was present at the
execution by the request of the prisoner,
and who examined the body rs it hung
declared in the hearing OF those IN the vi
cinity of the sc fold, that pulsation in the
carotid arteries of the neck were discerni-
bic after the Jail surgeon end his assist
ants declared life extinct No one can
question the Generals Judgment and dis
cretion, and when he placed his fingers on
the arteries and declared there was circula-
ton sill discernible, in OPPOSITION to the
opinion of medical practitioners beside
him, many felt that there might be grounds
for the apprehension that the criminal
would eva0death.
The circumstances favoring this remark
able story are strong and closely connected.
After hanging some minutes, kriers body
was placed in the coffin The limbs re-
mained flexible, the hands opened with the
least persuasion, and were crossed on the
bosom. The eyes that stared half open
|
NAMED open 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
celoring on the neck, under the knotted
rc~e, partially disappeared. The short
time that had elapsed between his being
placed in the coffin and being driven away
was also subject of remark.
No one seemed to have any charge OF the
body, and ID was driven away in a lonely
hearse to the vault at the cemetery.
Now comes tbs closing scenes in this
strange story.
Near midnight light wagon was driven
rapidly out Walnut street, in which were
seated three mufied, silent f cures, one OF
them a surgeon of great experimental
knowledge, a firm believer In the theory of
resuscitation of animal life through the
galvanic process.
In the wagon was mattress and several
dark blankets The wagon halted near the
cemetery fence; the horse was held by the
driver, and two men went to the vault, car
rying between them alarge sack well filled.
In a short time they returned bearing with
them motionless figure shrouded in a
blanket. The figure was placed on the
driven back to the city. The body was con-
veyed to the surgery Of most skilful and
learned surgeon, where some 10 or IL ex-
cited and expeciant students stood anx-
iously awaiting the arrival of the strange
party. The body was placed in q recum-
bent position on the table, the clothing un-
loosened, the chest extended, and an Incis-
ion made in one of the veins of the arm
At first but a small drop of dark colored
blood came forth. but repeated incisions
and manipulatiJns 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 Is minutes the warm blood commence
ed to course through the chilled body, and
at last the eyes were opened. The students
stood appalled,, and could hardly realize the
extent of the demonstration before them.
One of them spoke to Kriel, asking him,
'Are You senslble?" The eyes ans xered
expressiyely, and the lips opened ineffectu
ally, for no speech came forth. Stimulants
were poured down the throat, and the re-
vived criminal. and in less than one hour
after he had been placed in the surgery,
Kriel sat up and asked them "What have
done? Am alive y
The consternat on and yet the pTofes-
expressed.
The experiment Of reckless class of stu
dents and IN able expeiimentalist had re-
suited in the resuscitation of a man who
had been lung q short time previous.
Steps were Immediately taken to save
the life of the wretched man. Justice had
been satisfied by the public execution,
though life returned. Why should they
deliver up what had SO providentiallv and
wonderfully been restored?
None of Kriel's personal friends were
notified. Strangers disguised him, fur
nished him with means, and by daylight a
man, weak and tottering. but firm and i'm
movable in his demeanor, crossed the
river, and was last seen by watchful,
silent friend, who kept near him on the
train leaving Seymour, Ind, on his way Ia
an unknown, but it is to be hoped, better
! future.
This ends this wonderful story. We give
: il IS it was given to us, without names
giving the public the privilege of attach ne
what importance they choose to this
strangely plausible story. We express nc
opinion ourselves, but confess that the
closely connected links and circumstances
: attending the demeanor, death, and ap.
pearance of Kriel entitle it to some cred.
enee.
Nothing in this strange story that has
come to cur ears duplicates in any way
whatever any person or Official connected
with Kriel or his execution.
, We do not desire 20 excite the public
mind by an incredible sensation, but We
feel bound, as chroniclers of public eve:.ls
to give the people, as it has come to us
through several sources, this wonderful
; story.
What the Evening Star IL Doing.
At this time Venus js the evening star anf
evidently she wishes this important fact un
! derstood by all. She is now approaching tue
grand solar centre, and on the 23d of Febru
ary che will reach her Inferior injunction an(
turn her darkened side towards us, reappear