The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-20
HOW TO DIE EASY.
MYSTERIES INTO WHICH THE GERRY
COMMISSION HAS BEEN INoulRlNc.

The oarrotc and the GuiIiotinc--Deatb
by Prussic Acid--A Flash Of Lightning
Il Best.
How shall we execute our criminalsi
To certain degree a distressing question
TO inquire into, but in reality most humane
investigation. Experts are divided In their
opinions upon the subject, and when experts
disagree-why, experts disagree. Some hard
shelled experts Of very conservative frame
Of mind nail their colors 10 the mast and hold
that Jack Ketchs hempen moose, also known
as Judge Lynch's ''cravat," is the proper
thing when n the proper place.
Others of more advanced frame OF mind
suggest the garrote. The guillotine also has
its advocates, especially among the inbabi-
tants of sunny France, and there are those
who favor prussic acid a. some other violent
poison. Gas comes In for share Of favor;
water has its disciples; but the enterprising
students OF this country seem TO he pooling
their issues in favor Of electricity
Not to be behind the times, an American
physician has invented flash OF lightning,
said to be almost equal TO the natural article.
In this instance 1t all came about through
the inquiries made a year ago by Commodore
Gerry's commission, appointed 70 inquire
into more humane method of executing the
death penalty.
At that time select number Of prominent
physicians were consulted and asked In the
interest of science 10 answer a series Of ques-
tious upon the subject of capital punishment.
Among the physicians consulted were DIR. X.
J. Kaufman, graduate Of Berlin, Paris,
Edinburgh, Toronto and New York, and q
gentleman who has devoted much time to
the study of electricity while pursuing his
medical studies.
Il,- t,x,r cc.,A xrfA
the barbarty of executions by hanging, and
before making his report to the commission
began work upon an electrical machine,
which was to produce miniature flash Of
lightning or continuous electric spark twelve
inches long and calculated TO produce death
IN the two-hundredth part Of a second.
This may seem TO be quick work, but IL IL
comparatively slow when we take into Con-
sideration that the genuine article, s'rsal
lightning I" produces the fatal result In the
ten-thousandth part of a second-at least that
Is about as near as IL has been accurately
gauged up to this writing.
One of the first questions asked by the
commission was in regard to death by prussic
acid or any other strong poison. Taking
prussic acida basis, Dr. Kaufman replied
that there was case on record in which
man swallowed an ounce Of prussic acid aud
yet only expired twelve minutes later, after
suffering great agony. DR.. Kaufman thus
concluded that prussic acid was not quick
enough and could not be relied upon, and In
addition that prussic acid and its salts were
used in commerce, and that it would not be
advisable to teach the public mode of death
which would be comparatively painless
The second question referred to the garrote
and guillotine, and, according to the doctors
replies, these systems are comparatively an
| them were seeking for a more humane and
scientific method of executing criminals.
The garrote, says DR.. kauffmann, is worse
| than hanging, az by its use death is only
caused by strangtilation or suffocation. Suffo-
cation, he also claim., 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, il DR.. Kaufman remem-
bers rightly statistics show that over s0per
| cent. of persons hanged die from suffoca-
tion.
| One of the last questions asked the physi-
| clans by the commission, said DR.. Kauff
| mann, was:
"'What would you suggest as a better way
of death in criminal cases, and what would
| yo,. suggest TO compensate for the difference
| in effect upon the criminal casesf or words
| to that effect
Death from electricity, replied the doctor
in substance, either by shock or by conver-
sion of the animal fluids into gases, causes
| very little change in the body. Indeed, tho
| greater the shock the less change there is in
the body. Therefore death from an intense
shock, which would kill man in say the
one-hundredth part of a second, would make
no visible change in the body. Now, as there
is an insufliciency 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
entilc, 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 ad-
mtted 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
good condition for scientific research that
| they will prove Of incalculable value to
| physicians
The miniature flash of lightning outlined
by Dr. Kaufman could be 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 1t has also beer
suggested that the criminal might be placed
in room and that the air should be gradu
ally withdrawn, thus giving the condemned
man painless death. TINS system is objected
to as being quite as painful as hanging, fol
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 mos
pungent gases, and accordingly charcoa
would cause painful death. Carbonic ga
has also been talked of as comparativel,
desirable form of inficting death, but il 1
opposed on the plea that it is not quicl
enough.
After reviewing all the suggestions mad
there would seem to be no doubt that elec
tricity will be the executioner's weapon il
the future, and that, combined with deliver
| ing the bodies of executed persons to phys
clans for the purpose Of scientific research,
will strike quite as much terror into ev
} doers hearts as that well termed ''relic G
barbarism," the hangmans noose.-Ne'
| York Herald.
, | Tt.x1,a n.a., art. G.,ar