Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-10
EDWARDS WHO DIE LIKE HEROES.
Are they Hypnotized by Sight Ofthe Gall
lows when They Meet Death Bravely?

From the st. Louis Republic
The composure of Prado, who was guillotined
in Paris few days ago for murder, was so COM
plete that the statement was made that 1.-THE
sight of the guillotine appeared to hypnotic
him." This is a suggestion that may account
for occurrences that have been attributed to
other influences, or for which the cause could
not be ascertained
Why is it that nearly all murderers meet
death with apparent tranquility? 1t is not be-
cause they want to die or even become recon-
ciled to death, for as long as there is any loop
hole chance of law through which they might
escape they never want to give up the fight in
the courts. Nor do they ever, until the last
moment, give up the hope of pardon or re-
prieve. To meet violent death calmly is es-
teemed the bravest act of hero. But the hero
who thus dies does not develop a sudden forti-
tude; he summons the fortitude that has always
distinguished him. Murat, standing before
the ready guns of a detachment of soldiers,
and Andre with the rope around his neck, ex-
hibited courage and GOODNESS that had always
marked their character. The ambition that
made them risk their lives might make them
wish to die in a manner to sustain their reputa-
ton for bravery.
But base assassin, who has no good or glori-
GUS name to leave behind him. who in life, is
a sneaking coward with not sufficient pride to
who trembles when arrested. blanches and
reels when sentenced, and cringingly pleads
for pardon, and at the last begs for only a
few more days of life; how comes it that he
generally walks to the gallows and swings off
without sign of fear? 1t is not bravado. for the
braggart always fiinches when an ordeal comes.
1t is not spirit of resignation, for he is never
resigned to his fate until he faces the scaffold
1t is not despair, for that always shows itself
through the window of the face. 1t is not an
application to self of the brutality that inspired
the crime, for they are all DESTROYS that the
rope shall be properly adjusted and the death
quick, with as little pain as possible.
May it not be that, when the generally low
intelligence and dull comprehension of the
murderer does grasp the thought of certainty
of DEATH all voluntary thought is excluded and
the one idea has supreme control? May it not
be in this condition, with the impelling aggre-
gate force of all the thought Of all the specta-
tors urging him on, that he feels himself ire
sistibly drawn forward by the terrible sight of
the scaffold. and, so hypnotized. is no longer
himself, but only the yielding subject of trans
mitted mental impulse? The hypnotized sub
ject on the lecture platform will eat salt, think
ing it is sugar, and fan himself while he sits
upon a block Of ice. Possibly the eager and
brutal JOY Of the spectators over the opportu-
nifty to see fellow man suffer a violent death
finds lodgment in this hypnotized subject
and urges him on in sort of transmitted &C.
stacy that, through the absence of emotion, has
the semblance of courage. The ignorant and
brutal murderer. who SO often has the reputa-
ton of having "died game" possibly has no
more consciousness of exhibiting game quail
ties than a blind man has intention of showing
his recklessness when he accidentally stumbles
down an open cellar door.