The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1882-07-20


ing periWig. But the cunning was frust-
rated, despite the weakness Of the sher-
if, as Johnson showed signs of life, even
after hanging half an hour. An exami-
nation was made, the apparatus discov-
cred and the man effectnally and finally
hanged on the following day. Whether
any tube was inserted we are not told.
but there was evident collision in the
case Of the man hanged at Cork in 1867.
His body was carried by his friends to
predetermined spot, where a surgeon
made an incision in the Windpipe, and
resuscltated the man in six hours Letus
hope that the rest of the story is not
quite true, to the effect that the fellow
went to the theater the same evening
The William DUEL who was hanged
IN LAO, who came to himself again when
just about to be dissected at Surgeons
hall, may. like Ann Green, have surviiv-a
ed through some peeuliarity il the neck
or some clumsiness on the executioner,
without any collision or cunning among
his friends. In 1887 man named Kelly
was sentenced to execution at Trim, ii
ireland, On the early morning of the
day intended to be his last he contrived
to cut his blanket into strips about four
inches wide, join them together with
strong wooden threads and form a
double sling, This he passed under his
arms, fastned the ends at his neck and
there provided an iron hook to receive
the halter. Thus accoutered he pro-
ceeded to the place Of execution. IT is
supposed that he found means to bride
the hangman, to whom he made re-
quest to draw up close to the pully and
crafty maleuver did not succeed. Kelly
had not allowed for the stretching Of the.
strips Of blanket by his own weight, the
point of the hook fastned into his wind
pipe and gave him such pain that he
struggled violently. He was, allowed
to hang until he was really dead,
when the sling apparatus was
discovered. A successful attempt to
cheat the gallows once brought an under
sheriff into trouble. William Barrett.
executed in Tyron in 1859, contrived to
wear some kind of a concealed collar,
which prevented strangulation; he was
cut down apparently dead, but after
ward recovered. Mr.. Aunsley, under
sheriff, as a punishment for allowing
Barrett thus to evade the law, was fined
91Oo and imprisoned for two years.
I'm former times the mode in which
conducted led occasionally to a Illustration
of the laws intention The unhappy
culprit, after the halter was adjusted
around his neck, was pushed SO as to
slip or slide from a ladder. Asphxia was
sometimes produced without any dis
location Under the modern arrange
ment a trap door opens in platform on
which the culprit stands, occasioning a
sudden and considerable fall, from which
recovery is much less probable. This
change led to the Illustration of a plan
that might possibly have been successful
under the old system William
Brodie was executed at Edin-
burg in 1898. His friends had prear-
ranged for his resuscitation, but the tall
Of the drop was greater than had been
expected, and he was quite dead when
taken down. There is an old Scotch say
ing, "Brodie's drap was too much for
Brodie," which, we believe, refers to
the case of this same William Brodie,
The ''drapH or drop was too much tor the
vital organism to resist.
A reprieve has sometimes arrived too
late to save the poor wretch in whose
behalf it had been obtained. More for
tunate was a burglar who was hanged in
17O5, for the reprieve arrived when life
was only half extinet.~- He was quickly
cut down, placed under medical care,
and restored. "A reprieve of another
kind from the effects of foolhardy trick
came little too late. In 1906, a youth
aged IL, and named Matthew Watson,
resolved to make q small attempt at
hanging himself, Ito see how it felt
| He went into ce, lar, and succeeded
| more completely than he had intended
for he was found hanging with life quite
extinct. A strange mania this, but the
examples to illustrate it are more nuner
4 zoe,
"A question arises which very few liv-
ing persons are in a position to answer,
| viz: What are the sensations experien-
ced during han.ing? Some of the few
who have been able to give any account
I Of their consciousness at so critical
moment say that, after the instant of
j pain, the chief sensation is that of mass
i Of brilliant colors filling the eyeballs.
The Quarterly Review, volume IS, treat
| ing on this matter says: An acauain-
lance of Lord Bacon, who meant to hang
himself partially, lost his footing, and
was cut down at the last extremity, hav-
/ ing nearly paid for his curiosity with
his life. He declared that he felt no
pain, and his only sensations were Of
4 fire before his eyes, which changed first
4 to black and then to sky blue. These
4 colors are even source of pleasure
Il a. NJStpt. iS1Olllf1SAAstC, WlO WdS CACCuGCO
in France during the religious wars, but
was rescued from the gibbeta the inter.
cession of Marshal Turrene, complained
that, having lost all painin an instant, he
a had been taken from a light Of (which the
| charm deied description. Another
4 criminal, who escaped through thu
breaking of the halter, said after a sec
ond or two OF suffering light appeared
and across it most beautiful avenue o
trees. All agree that the uneasiness j.
quite momentary, that a pleasurable feel
ing immed iately succeeds, that colors o
various hues start up before the eyes
and that these having been gazed at 70,
& q limited space, the rest is oblivion. Thu
mind, averted from the reality Of the sit
uation, is engaged in scenes the most re
mote from that which fills the eyes Q
4 the spectator. Medical men have paie
much attention to the anatomy of tn.
neck and throat in regard to the circum
stances which bring about asphyxia, sui
location or choking, and they say tina
some necks possess power of resistin,
these effects to q very remarkable de
Igree.
a Rich Philosopher.
ii Mr.. Darwin's will by which, as til
X, hoe !, l,.oe IN f5,lT1