The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-03
BIND TENSION.
Why Criminals are So self-Possessed on
the Scafrold.

1t is common subject of marvel that
criminals in presence of immediate exc
cution are usually self-possessed, and
often exhibit singular composure. The
doomed creature sleeps through the night
before his violent death, and rises COM
posed to pass. through the ordeal. The
| exceptions te shis rule are few, and
there is no reason to suppose that the in
dividuals wha display greater emotion,
| or who are prostrated by the agonizing
! prospect of death, feel their position
more acutely than those who preserve
control of their demeanor. 1t is preva-
lent but groundless error to suppose the
state of mind in which most capital Of
| tenders meet their doom is one of scare
! or paralyzing amazement. They retain
| every faculty, taste, consideration, and
| even fancy. They frequently give tokens
of especial theughtfulness, and are pune
tilious in the observance of rules and the
adoption of measures to diminish their
| own pain and the trouble and sympa-
thetic suffering of those by whom they
are surrounded, or who will be left bur-
dened with their memories. Mentally
and physically the criminal, during the
last few hours of his life, in the imme-
diate presence of a cruel death, is self
possessed and tranquil. His pulse is less
disturbed than those of the officials who
are compelled 70 take part in his ezecu-
ton. Why is ahis? The answer will be
obvious on reflection. The mind has
reached what may be designated "dead
point" in its tension. The excitement is
over, the agony of anticipation, the trem-
bling doubt between hope and fear of
escape, has exhausted the irritability OF
the mind, and there is, as it were, a pause,
an interval of passive endurance between
the end of the struggle for life and the
bitterness of romance and agony of dis
appointment which may begin at death.
In this interval the mind is released from
tension Of its effort from self-preserva-
ton, and almost rebounds with sense
of relief that comes with certainty, even
though the assurance be that of impend-
ing death. In the pause there is time
and opportunity for the recognition Of
surrounding circumstances, which have
UCCu, do ~ nCIC, OVCilOOhC0 III VIC Soi u
ing for life. The clearness of mental
vision, the recognizance of detail dis
played at such q moment, are remark
able, not only on account of the strange
circumstances under which they occur,
but in degree. Men and women who
have for some time previously exhibited
no trace of delicacy or refinement, ex-
hibit characteristic traits of thoughtful
ness. They are so to say, lifted out of
themselves, and placed in the new con-
ditions calculated to awaken feelings of
curiosity, which seldom fail to respond.
The mental state of criminal during
the hours preceding execution present
features of intense interest to the psychol-
ogist, and, rightly comprehended, it is to
be3feared they would throw new light on
the supposed preoaration these unfortu-
nate persons eviuce for fate which, be-
ing inevitable, they at the final moment
are able to meet with a composure in
which hypocricy or self:deception finds
the amplest scope.-London Lancet.