The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-10
HOW TO DIE EASY.
MYSTERIES INTO WHICH THE GERRY
COMMISSION HAS BEEN lNQUIRlNG.
How Shall We Execute Our Criminals
The Garrote and the Guiiiotine-Death
by Prussic Acid-A Flash of Lightning
Il Best.
a our criminaisl

HOW snail We tNe'utc oui
To n certain decree a distressing question
TO inquire into, but in reality a most humans
investigation. Experts are divided IN then
opinions upon the subject, and' when experts
disagrce-why, experts disagree Some hard
shellel experts Of a very conservative frame
OF mind nail their colors - the mast and hold
that Jack ketch's hempen moose, also known
as Judge Lynch's "cravat," Is the proper
thing when in the proper place.
Others of a more advanced frame OF mind
suggest the garrote. The guillotine also has
its advocates. especially among the inhabi-
tants Of sunny France, and there are those
who favor praSsic acid OF some other violent
poison. Gas comes IN FOR a share OF favor
water has its disciples. bat the enterprising
students of this country seem 10 be pooling
their issues in favor OF electricity
Not 10 be behind the times, an American
physician has invented a flash Of lightning,
said to be almost equal To the natural article
In this instance il all came about through
the inquiries made = year ago by Commodore
Gerry's commission, appointed TO inquire
into a more humane method Of executing the
death penalty.
At that time a select number Of prominent
physicians were consulted and asked IN the
interest OF science 10 answer a series OF ques'
tious upon tho subject Of capital punishment
Among the physicians consulted were DR.. h
] KauTmann. "A graduate Of Berlin, Paris,
Edinburgh. Toronto and New York, and a
gentleman who has devoted much time TO
the study of electricity while pursuing his
medical studio.
Dr. kaufman was much impressed with
the barbarity Of executions by hanging, and
before making his report 90 the commission
began work upon an electrical machine,
which was 10 produce "a miniature flash Of
lightning or continuous electric spark twelve
inches long, and calculated 10 produce death
IN the tw,-hundreith part Of a second.
This may seem 70 be quick work, but it is
cOniparat ycly slow when we a into con
sideration that the genuine article, real
lightning produces the fatal result IN the
tan-.houSandth part OF a second-at least that
is about as near as it has been accurately
gagged up to this writing.
One OF the first questions asked by the
commission was in regard t0death by prussic
acid or any other strong poison. Taking
pruSsic acidas a basis, DR. Kaufman replied
that there was "a case on record IN which "A
man swallowed an ounce Of prus-ic acid and
yet only expired twelve minute later. after
suffering great agony. DR.. kaufman thus
concluded that prussic acid vas not quick
enough and could not be- relied upon, and in
addition that pruSSic ..cid and Its salts were
used in commerce., and that IL would not DO
advisable to teach the public a mode Of death
which would be comparatively painless.
The second question referred to the garrote
and guillotine, and, according 10 the doctors
replies, these systems are comparatively ali
cient and barbarous, and nations employing
them were seeking for a more humane and
scientific method OF executing criminals.
The garrote, says DR.. Kaufman, Is worse
than hanging, as by It's use death Is only
caused bystrangulation or suffOcation. Suifo-
cation, he also elaine. is the cause OF death
in the great majority of executions by hang
ing. and is the great objection to the use of
the rope. In fact, If DIR. Kaufman remem-
bers rightly, statistics show that over SOper
cent, Of persons hanged die from suffOca-
ton.
One of the last questions asked the physi-
clans by the commission, said DR.. kauif-
MANN, was:
"'lNhat would YOU suggest as a better way
Of death ia criminal cases, and what would
yoit suggest % compensate for the difference
in effect upon the criminal cases. or words
To that effect
Death from electricity, replied the doctor
la substance, either by shock or 10y a onver
sion Of the animal fluids into gases, causes
very little change IN the body. Indeed, the
greater the shock the less change there IS in
the body. Therefore death from an intense
shock. which would kill "a man in say the
one-hundredth part of "a second. would make
no visible change in the body Now, rs there
is an insuflicicncy in this country OF bodies
for the purposes Of scientific research, DR..
Kaufman suggested that the bodies Of all
executed criminals should be turned over TO
the proper authorities for the purpose Of sci
.entific, pathological and physiological re-
search.
In DR.. Kauffmann's opinion criminals
would dread such disposal Of their bodies
more than death itself. Naturally it is adj
mitted that there are so few executions that
the bodies thus furnished would not supply
the demand, but it is claimed that bodies of
criminals killed by electricity will be in such
a good condition for scientific research that
they will prove of incalculable value to
physicians.
The miniature flash of lightning outlined
by DR.. Kaufman could he applied TO the
criminals either standing or sitting down,
and the base OF the skull is suggested as the
most suitable spot, though other physicians
favor the back Of the neck. Ii has also been
suggested that the criminal might be placed
ia a room and that the air should be gradu-
ally withdrawn, thus giving the condemned
man a painless death. This system is objected
10 as being quite rs painful as hanging, for
death would be caused by suffocation.
The fumes Of charcoal have also been advo
Gated, but are opposed on the plea that they
range with chlorine gas, one of the most
pungent gases, and accordingly charcoal
would cause a painful death. Carbonic gas
also been talked of as a comparatively
desirable form Of inficting death, but IL is
on the plea that 1t is not quick
After reviewing all the suggestions made
there would seem to be no doubt that cleo
tricity will be the executioner's weapon in
the future, and that, combined with deliver
Ing the bodies Of executed persons 10 physi-
clans for the purpose OF scientific research, it
III .t..L. x...f. nc much farrnr into aytl |