Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-08-07

comment and sur
prise among the physicians. The jaw had
not fallen, and the pleasant expression
with which kemmler had greeted the wit
nesses as he entered the execution room
still fingered about his features. The body
was lifted from the chair and placed on
the table in the center Of the room. 1t
still preserved its rigidity. Then con
vict was summoned from the prison to
take off the clothing. The removal re-
vealed a scar nearly five inches in diameter
where the second electrode had passed
against the base of the spine, showing
that the current had burned through into
the flesh.
The Autopsy.
The autopsy was very formal in character
and was conducted with great care. The
first step taken was to bind clinical ther-
mometer to the nape of tho neck and take
th8 temperature. The record demonstrated
that the man was dead beyond all ques-
tion. DR.. Jenkins welded the scalpel,
and he was assisted by Drs. Shrady, Spitz-
ka, Mcdonald and Southwick The heart.
lungs and other organs were taken out
and their condition noted carefully They
were all put in Aiueller's fluid for preserva-
tion and future examination The top OF
the skull was removed and the brain taken
out. This was the most interesting feat
ure of the examination as the theory on
which the claims of greater humanity for
this method of execution are based IS the
theory that the electric current paralyzed
the brain Instantly and thus destroys "a
sensation. The physicians found evidence
of the effect of the current on the forma-
ton of the skull, on the blood and on the
brain tissue directly beneath the point Of
contact which satisfied them that the
paralysis of the brain was immediate.
Consciousness Instantly Abolished.
The following statement was dictated to
the special correspondent of The United
Press by DR.. Spitaka before the witnesses
left the execution room: "There is no
doubt that consciousness was abolished in
stantly at the first contact. The first cur
rent did not destroy all vital phenomena.
but some reflex phenomena or phenomena
of vegetative life resisted. and that think
you can safely say was due to the fact that
the voltage was not constant or strong
enough Concerning the strength of the
voltage, DR. Spitzka said that he had writ
ten TO DR. Mcdonald some time ago ex-
pressing a fear that it would be too weak.
DIR. Spitzka said that he had noticed some
curious phenomena in connection with the
experiment-one OF them the post-mortem
signs which appeared Immediately after
the first shock.
DIR. Spitzlxa's Inconsistencies.
It was shortly after this that DR.. Spitzba
said: II am no friend Of electrocution. /
am sure this settles electrocution. And
that man deserved if ever man deserved
a quick DEATH Later DIR. Spitzka said to
the correspondent: II believe this system
of execution superior to hanging aud to
this last expression Of opinion DR.. Nc
Donald, who was standing by, gave a
hearty assent.
DR.. southwiclS Is Satisfied.
DR.. Southwiok. the father Of the eleetri-
eide system, was satisfied with the exc
oution as first experiment He said to
the United Press correspondent that
Kemmler was dead at the moment Of the
first contact and that there was no respira-
tion afterward; there was nothing but
muscular contraction. Besides. as there
was no consciousness after this first shock,
it did not matter whether or not the cur
rent was kept on all day The law pro-
videdthat the current should be kept 20
ing until death occurred Dir. Mcdonald
said that there was no doubt that uncon-
sciousnes was instantaneous. "Had the
voltage been higher, said DR. Mcdonald,
'the time would have been long enough"
Other Physicians Pleased.
DR.. Balch said "The man was instantly
unconscious. Sensation was dead in him
after the first shock. But think that if
he had been allowed to continue TO respire
he would have revived" DR. Daniel ex-
pressed the belief that Nemmler died at
the first shock. He said lie thought the
execution was a success and that it had
demonstrated the superiority Of electricity
over hanging.
DR.. shrady's Editorial.
The following is a copy Of an editorial
which DR.. George T. Shrady, editor of The
Medical Record, of New York, telegraphed
last night to that journal: Execution by
Electricity"
''The heightened agony Of suspense re-
garding the efficiency Of electricity as a
means of executing criminals has been
finally terminated in the legal killing of
Kemmler As was reasonably antici-
pated, death was instantaneous, and so far
as can be judged the unfortunate subject
of the experiment died without pain. The
spectacle presented was, however, by no
means edifying to such as hope for i'm
provements of the old methods.
Legal Murder as Zine Art.
Although science has triumphed the
question OF the humanity Of the act is still
an open one. But shall we call il a triumph