The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-04-02
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.


/ In the year 1928 Margaret Dickson was
/ tried At Edinburg for the murder Of her
[ child, supposed to have been born during the
/ absence OF her husband. After her c0ndem-
nation she behaved in the most peniteut
manner, acknowledged her infdeity, but
constantly and steadily denied that she had
murdered her child or even formed an ides
Of so horrible n crime. A. the place OF e1-
ecution her behavior was consistent with her
former declaration, and she was hanged
After execution her body was cut down and
delivered to her friends, who put it into
cart to be buried at her native place; but
the weather being sultry the persons who
had the body In charge stopped to drink at
= village about two miles from Edinburg
While they were refreshing themselves. one
of them perceived the lid OF the coffin move,
and uncovering it, the woman Immediately
sat up, when most Of the spectators ran n
with every sign Of trepidstion-
4 person who was drinking On the house
had recollection enough TO bleed her in
about an hour after she was put to bed ard
next morning she was so recovered as 20 be
able to walk to her own house. BY the
Scottish law, which is partly founded on that
Of the Romans, a person against whom the
judgement OF the count has been executed
can suffer no more in future, but is thence
forth totally excupated and It is likewise
held that the marriage is dissolved by the
execution Of the convicted party. Mrs Dick
son having been thus convicted and executed
the kings advocate could prosecute her no
further, but he filed bill in the high court
Of iusticiary against the sheriff for emitting
to fulfill the law. The husband OF this re-
stored convict married her publicly a few
days after she was hanged and she lived
about thirty years afterward.
A case is given in which q young lady
arose out Of her coffin and appeared before
the family at supper pale and frightened,
but fair to see as before death" The
doctor, the priesr, and the undertaken saw
tie error Of their way, but the priest alone
made amends by cfaciating AZ the young
lady's wedding year after he had preached
her funeral seTmon. PetrsTch when mid
de-aged men, lay twenty hours in q trance,
and narrowly escaped being buried alive.
We have often heard the story Of the consul's
wife who was buried alive and released from
her painful position by robbers, who broke
open the coffin TO steal the lady iewelry.
Among the other stories of resUscitated vic
tins Of apparent death, is one Of an old
gentleman who was revived by one of his
skeptical friends putting burning taper to
his nose. His life was saved, but the sad
story Of his escape from the very Jaws Of
death was ever afterward told by the Scared
and crimson beacon on his face.
\ number OF stories are given of the re-
vival Of hospital patients after they have
been carried ont TO tie house. This
seems q very. common occurrence in Europe.
Two Of the most terrible statements are Of
children being born IN the tomb, one Of
whom, according to Mr.. Mackay. being dis
covered by a lucky incident, lived to he q
man, aud occupied for several years the post
of HeutenautCeuera on the frontiers Of
Cherez
Several instances are given Of persons who
have been c0Enizaut Of what was going on
around them. yet powerless 10 stop their
burial one case IS given Of a schoolmaster
who, had it not been Tor the arrival Il a sis
ter, would have been buried alive. The
passionate grief Of the sister caused the eve
lids Of the deceased to quiver, and the
truth was discovered
It is impossible TO prol0ng the list Of ex-
amples, but enough las been already said
TO show the wickedness of hasty funerals,
and the necessity of establishing proper
system of tests. Does it ever occur to the
minds Of the Americans that funerals are
often conducted very quickly in this country,
as well as in Italy and the warm countries
of Europe IT IS doubtful If the bodies of
the poor people who live in the tenement
houses Of our large cities are examined very
closely before they are inferred; It is doubt
ful if the greatest care Is exercised IN tins
matter in the rural districts, where good
physicians cannot be At the death-hcds OF
sick persons, and where rich and poor alike
are often iutrUsted to doctors who are
neither famous for learning or intuition.
The writer I'm Bc'grqria is inclined to think
that one Of the needs of the world 81 the
present moment is a simple test and not a
complicated series Of tests, which would he
out of the reach OF the poor and beyond the
reach Of inexperienced or badly-paid doctors.
II will be reassuring TO have that test as
soon as possible Chicago Inter Ocean