St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-08

city Ill Europe, still have been threat
ened - actually threatened - because
some scum of the streets had died on the
operating table while was endeavOring
to establish a new surgical truth. But"
he added triumphantly, IL have place
where no public sentiment ever enters.
Not breath of popular prejudice dis
turbs the air. My grandeSt experiments
are conducted there. l will show you
wonderful things at the prison, to
which L am the surgeon"
Next day he took me to the prison.
We'll might he boast of the absence of
public sentiment there. When the pom
derouS doors rolled nOiSeleSSly behind
one there was as complete isolation as
though one were transported to the Dog
star. Never shall forget the impress
sion that massive structure, with its
awful capabilities for inflicting human
suffering, made upon me. The silent
tragedies daily enacted there were ire
mend0uS.
The hospital connected with this
prison was one of the most complete l
have ever seen. Here my friend held
undiSputed sway, and here some of the
most advanced surgery of the day
originated.
''To-morrow," said he, 81 shall have a
magnificent subject for dissection. A
nihilist is to be executed. He assassi
mated high police official. Such mus
cular development! l will show him to
you.
THE PRISONER RECOGNIZED.
lie led me through corridors innumer-
able to cell IN the very heart of the
prison. Here, guarded by two keepers
who never removed their eyes from him,
sat my old friend, Ivan HammaSon. His
feet were shackled to the stone floor,
but his hands were free. But he did not
seem pleased to see me. He was cool
and seemed anxious l should go. When
l stretched out my hand for his the
guards interpOSed; no one was allowed
to touch the prisoner.
When l explained under what circum-
stances L had known the prisoner. the
surgeon merely remarked:
'Ah, then, the pOSt-mOrtem will have
so much the more interest for YOU"
HummaSon remained reserved and
naughty. L was embarrassed and anxious
to express my sympathy, yet not know
ing how to do so. The surgeon walked
about the prisoner eXclaiming:
GLORIOUS! What a development!
shall make preparations of most of the
body. All, my friend, you are fortunate!
Your skeleton, white as snow, will be
an ornament to the muSeum!"
All the time the keepers never once
removed their steady, maddening glare
from the prisoner. took my leave of
Hummason feeling profoundly de-
pressed. AT the last moment l caught
a glance of his eyes, full of pathoS and
entreaty. L could not understand at the
time what he meant: l remembered
afterward.
My friend, the surgeon, with the air
of comforting an immense favor, invited
me to witness the execution, which was
to take place at noon the next day. At
first | secuted the idea. Nothing would
induce me to attend this hOrrid exhibit
ton. But as the time drew near ter
rible fascination drew me to the spot.
At first thought l would walk around
the walls of the prison; but before
was aware of what was doing L found
myself presenting the ticket which
would admit me.
The surgeon met me with look of
perpleXity on his face.
A SUDDEN ENDING.
"a most wonderful thing has hap
pened," he said. 1.-The man is dead.
Died in his cell soon after our visit. |
cannot account for it. The keepers say
soon after we left yesterday the prisoner
rose to his feet, stretched his left arm
forward, and with his right fist struck
Jne upper ana inner part OF the out
stretched arm violent blow. He be-
came aShy pale, staggered and fell. In
less than five minutes he was dead. 1t
is most singular. l cannot make it
out"
Together we went to the place where
Hummason's dead body lay naked on
marble slab. No one could fail to be
struck by the magnificent proportions.
''We will make an autopsy" said the
surgeon. Il confess | cannot under
stand why the man died. Itwas simply
impossible that he should do himself
violence"
Then 1 told him of the capsule of
glass inserted beneath the skin of
Hummason'S arm. and suggested
that it might have contained poi
son and placed there for just
the emergency that arose-eScape
from public execution. l could now
understand the look of entreaty IN Hum
mason's eyes. He feared would divulge
his secret before he could put his plan
in execution.
On the under side of the arm where l
had placed the capsule there was
livid-loOking spot. The surgeon. taking
a scalpel, cut through the skin and came
upon some pieces of broken glass. A pc
culiar Odor arose from the wound. He
threw down the knife and exclaimed:
81 would not dissect that body for 10000
rubles. That glass capsule contained
aconitia.''