Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-07

was entirely unbound about 7:30 o'clock
and the doctors determined not to hold the
autopsy Immediately. The witnesses left
to return at s:15. When they did return
there was no little surprise felt when Kemm.
ler's bo dy, sagged down and slouching in
the chair where he died, was found un-
touched. Doctors Macdonald and Batch,
however, took it in hand. The Warden was
not seen.
The physicians had been slow to move
the autopsy until indubitabie post-mortem
indications should be observed. q Don their
| return, therefore, they were made. The
cornea of the eye was found much sunken,
and the iris was relaxed.
NOT MUCH DOUBT THERE.
'There can be little question when these
indications are present." remarked DR..
Spitzka. Rigor mortis was also well marked
in the upper extremities, but less In the
lower parts. Dr. Balch pulled off the shoe
from Kemmler's left foot, and with the edge
of his hand struck the knee sharply just be-
low the cap, but the foot upon repeated
trials failed to Jerk forward. The petella
tendon reflex was not present. This indi-
Gated death. The electrodes were with
drawn from contact with the body, hair ad-
herring to the rim of the upper disc.
The doctors then lifted the body to the
dissecting table and laid it upon the back.
Drs. Macdonald and Shrady examined the
head. They found that there was deep
circular imprint on the top of the head
made by the sharp pressure of the
electrodes rim. The spot where a
tuft of Kemmler's hair had been
cut off just before death was found to con-
stitute not more than one-third of the area
of contact with the electrode, and close ex-
animation disclosed that the edge of the
copper within the electrode had slightly
burned the scalp just where 1t had been cut.
CAUSE OF THE BURNING.
Had not Kemmler's desire to avoid dis
fgurement by the cutting of his hair pre-.
vailed, the contact would have been more
perfect. The chances of instantaneous death
would have been greater and possibly dis
fgurement, which he dreaded, would have
been avoided.
Soon after the arrival OF the witnesses a
convict with bucket of water and sponges
entered and undressed the body. Death
evidences were found where the buckle and
straps had sunk into the flesh. The lividity
was tending downward and death pallor was
ensuing.
Kemmler's head measure was found to be
212s inches, or 541% centimeters, being the
horizontal circumference of the skull. The
temperature at the back of the neck was
found to have sunk in the interval of two
tests 20 minutes apart from e91S to 971SS,
which was declared to be post mortem
temperature. Then at 9:57 A. M, three
hours and six minutes after the current
through -Kemmler was stopped, the table
was wheeled beneath the windows, through
which the sunlight was streaming, and at
the call for inspection all gathered around,
while DIR. Jenkins, of New York, prepared
to use the scalpel.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE PHYSICIANS.
The doctors prepared. the following pre-
llminary statement upon the result Of the
autopsy:
We all agree that Inconsistencies was in
stantly produced and death was apparently
painless, Notwithstanding some slight defect in
the electrical apparatus which required q second
contact of the current to insure death.
Extensive charring of the body at
the points of contact Of the electrodes
at seven hemorrhages in the ssrous men,
brane and in the ventricles Of the brain. |
The blood was fluid and dark. In the longitud- |
inal sinus corresponding with the region of |
decided change in the consistency and color Of |
the brain corresponding with point of contact. |
Destructive changes of the blood corpuscles |
were noted.