Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-27

Why Criminals Ap So Self-PoSSrSsed on
the ScaiI0ld.
London Lancet,

I4OHu0l Lancet.
LISA common subject of marvel that
criminals in presence Of immediate OK.
ccutlon arc usually self-possessed, and
often exhibit singular cOmposure. The
doomed creature sleeps through the
night before his violent death, and
rises composed topass through the or
deal. The exceptions to this rule Are
few, and there is 10 reason to suppose
chat the individuals who displayed
greater emotion, or who arc Frustrated
ny the agonlzlng prospect Of death,
feel their position more acutcly than
those who preserve control OF their de-
mcmor. 1t is prevalent but groundlcss
error To suppose the state of mind in
which most capital offenders meet their
doom is one Of scarce or paralyzing
amazcment. Tney retain every faculty,
taste, consideration, and even fancy.
They frequently give tokens Of especial
thoughtlulness, and are punctlious in
the observance pfruleS and the adoption
Of measures to diminish their own pain
and the trouble and sympathetic suffer
ing Of those by whom they
are surrounded, or who will
10 left hurdcned with their
memories. Mentally and physically
the criminal, during the last few hours
ol lis life, in the immediate presence Of
IL cruel death is self-posscssed and
tranquil Ills pulse is even less dis
turbcd than those Of the officials who
are compelled to take part in his
execution. Why is this? The
answer will be obvious on
reflection. The mind has reach
ed what may be designated II dead
point in its tension. The excitement
is over, the agony Of anticipation, the
trembling doubt between hope and lcar
of escape, has exhausted the irritahility
of tie mind. and there is us il were, Il
pause, I'm interval of passive endurance
between the end of the struggle for life
and the bitterness ofromorSe and agony
Of disappointment which may begin ut
death. In this interval the mind IS re-
leased from tension Of its effort for
scll-preservation, and almost rebounds
with n sense of relief that comes with
certainty, even though the assurance
10 that Of impending death. IN the
pause there is time and opportunity for
the recognition of surrounding circum-
stances, which have boon, as il were,
overlooked in the yearning for life,
The clearness Of mental vision, the re-
cogniMncc Of detail displayed ut such i
moment, are remarkable, 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
dclicacy or refinement exhibit charac-
toristic traits Of thoughtiulness. They
are, SO TO say, lifted cut of themselves,
and placed in the new conditions cal
culatcd to awaken feelings Of curiosity,
which seldom fail TO respond The
mental state Of n criminal during the
hours preceding execution presents
| features Of intense interest to the psy-
cholgist. and, rightly eomprehended, i
il to lie feared they would throw new
light on tile supposcdprcparation these
unfortunate persons eylnce foS a fate
which, being inevitable they ut the
final momcnt arc allie 70 meet With a
eomposurc in which hypocrisy or self
deception finds the amplcst scope.