The Dickinson press., 1888-05-12
HOW TO DIE EASY.
MYSTERIES INTO WHICH THE GERRY
COMMISSION HAS BEEN lNQU,RING.
how Shall We Execute Our Criminals: !:
The Garrotc and tho Guillotine-Dcath
by Prussic .tcid-A Flash of Lightning
Is Best.


The Garrotc and tho oGuillotine-Dcath
by Prussic .Acid-A Flash Of lightning
Is Best.
How shall We execute our criminals!
10 a certain degree distressing question
to inquire into. but i'll reality most humane
investi cation. Experts are divided i'll their
opinions upon the subject, and when experts
diSagrpc-why. experts disagree. Some hard
SEEDED experts of u Very conservative frame
cf mind nail their colors to the mast and hold
thai jack ketch's hcmpcn moose, also known
as Judge Lynchs ''cravat,' is the proper
thing when III the proper place
Others OF Il more advanced frame of mind
suggest the garrote The guillotine also has
lis advocates, especially among the inhahi-
tants OF sunny France, and there are those
who favor pruSSr acid or some other violent
poison. Has comes in for share of favor;
water has its disciples: but the cntcrprlsing
stAentS uf this country seem to hc pooling
their issues i'll favor of electricity
Not to he hchind the times, un American
physician has invented flash of lightning,
sand to he almost equal to the natural article.
In this instance it all came about through
the inquiries made a searago by Commodore
Gcrrvs commission, appointed To inquire
into more humane method of executing the
death penalty.
AT that tim" select number of prominent
phySiriallS were consulted and asked in the
interest of science to answer n series of Qllus
| 1i"'!s upon Til" subject "f capital punishment.
| Among, the phNScials consulted We're DR. l..
| j. kau,f.na:n. II graduate of Berlin, Paris
| Edinburgh. Toronto and New York, and
| gentleman who has devoted much time To
the study of electricity while pursuing his
medical studies
DIR. Kaufman was much impressed with
the blraarity nj executions by hanging. aud
before n,aklng his report to the commission
| bn,aH w''rK upon an electrical machine,
wA!,:i was t" produce I, miniature flash nf
l.,1t:nn, "r ''"ntinu"tS electric spark twelve
ii''.Ies Q ;. :tirl calculated To produce death
i. "a .s,-iu t,irc,ith part of Il second.
-. iitay ,rain To he quick work. hut il is
| GO ,.i'il,rl, slow wien take into cun-
81. l;,;i'ni TIA: the grauine article, real
| Ii ;;siiia, prmiucrs tine fatal result i'll the
t .oll,'in II part of II second ut least that
| j. Il OF i!car as it has been accurately
ga 81 u. tn It's writing.
| b,." nj the first questions asked by tlm
coii:is .''n WAS i'll regard tn death by rr,lSSi:
a. III amy other strong poison. Taxing
pa. ii acdas n bisis, DR.. kauifnann replied
| that there WAS Il case on record in which IL
lnan Swallowed an ounce of prus,ir acid .,lnl
yc, only xi,ii'el twelve minutes later. ,,t!rr
suffering great agony DIR. Kaufman thus
concluded that prussic acid was not quick
cnn,,sh and could not he relied upon, and in
addition that prlissic acid and its salts were
Used in commerce.. and that it would not bu
advisable to teach the public n mode of death
which would be comparatively painless.
The second question referred to the garrote
a.i,l .elilntine, and. according to the doctors
lci,ics, these systems are comparatively an
ccnt and barb;rous and nations employing
them We're seeking for II NOR" humane and
SCI .'itii" method Of executing criminals.
| 'Vln Earrote. says DR. kautfuann, is VERSE
| tha!i hanging, ns by its uSe death is only
| c,ls;d by sti'angulntIon or sutfortlon. Suiio-
| cation h. also ri;li! ., is the cause of dcl..i
| in The great ma nity of executions by h;,u.
| ing, AMI i, The grcat objection To the use ui
the rope. In fact. if DR.. kauilmann rcili"ln
bers rightly. statistics show that over 80 per
cent. of persons hanged die from slilu;,-
| ton
| One of the last questions asked the phy>i-
ciams hy the commission, said DR.. Kaui
! manu. was:
"'What would you suggest as n better w;y
Of death in criminal cases. and what would
yu,. suggest To compensate for the difference.
| in effect upon the criminal cases word,
u that effect
Death from electricity, replied the do'-;"r
in substance, either by shock or hv n convcr-
sion Of the animal fluids into gases causes
very little change in the body. lidrrd the
greater the shock the less change there is in
\ ~. a.,
shock. which would kill man in say tn"
one hunlr-tl part of second, would make
no visible change in the body Now, rs there
is an insuilicicncy in this country Of bodies
for the purposes of scientific research DIR.
E;uifman suggested that the bodies of all
c,:rrutrd criminals should be turned over to
I r proper authorities for the purpose of Sci
cntilc, pathological and physiological re-
search
la DR. kauffmann's opinion criminals
would dread such disposal of their boli.,
more than death itself. Naturally it is al-
mittel that there are 50 few execution hat
thu bodies thus furnished would not supply
the demand, but it is claimed that bodies of
criminals killed by electricity will be in s,lrh
| a good condition for scientific research that
| thrv will prove Of ncaculablc value to
| physicians.
The miniature flash of lightning outlined
by DR. kauffmann could he applied to the
criminals either standing or sitting down,
aud the base of the skull is suggested as the
most Suitabs. spot. though other physicians
| favor tho back of the neck 1t has also been
suggested that the criminal might be placed
in n room and that the air should be gradu-
ally withdrawn, thus II wing the condemned
man q painless death. THIS system is objected
to as being quite painful as hanging, for
death would be caused by s.ltfmation.
The fumes of charcoal have also been advo
Gated. but are opposed Oh the plea that they
range with chlorine gas, one Of the most
punsent gases, and accordingly charroa!
would cause a painful death Carbonc gas
has also been talked of as comparatively
desirable form of nflictng DEATH but it is
opposed on the plea that it is not quick
enough.
After reviewing all the Suggestions made
| tricity will be the cSccutoner's weapon in
| the future, and that, combined with deliver
1 ing the bodies of executed persons to physi
clans for the purpose OF scientific research, ii
/ Will strtk. quite rs much terror into evil
doers hearts as that we'll termed relic Of
ball,arisln," the hangman's noose.-New
| York Herald.
Water Tight Compartments IL Snare.
| 1t is we'll understood by those who are
| familiar with the construction Of foreign
steamers that water tight compartments are
a snare a,.] q lelusion. In many they
:r.. hardly. tlri,t enough TO hold common