Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17
WARDEN BROWN REPORTS.
He Relates Ofiicially How Martin Lopp
Was Put to Death.

ne Relates Omcially How Martin Loppy
Was Put to Death.
The official report of Warden Brown of Sing
Sing prison ON the execution of Martin b.
Loppy was filed yesterday. The warden certi-
hes that Loppy was put to death at 1850 p. IN.
December z. 1891, in the presence of the wit
nesses and E. F. Davis, DR.. John c. Beekman,
New York; DR.. Wheeler Rider, Rochester; DR..
N. ID. Ellsion, Newburgh; DR.. W. f. Douglass,
Middletown; DR.. A. G. P. Spencer Watertown;
DIR. j. F. Barnes, Watkins: DR.. Hiram Barlow,
Walton j. Barlow, Sing Sing; Prof. Louis H.
Laudy, New York; the Rev. Sidney G. Law
(Tombs chapiajn), New Nork; DIR. Carlos F.
Macdonald, New York; DR.. Samuel B. Ward.
Buffalo: DR.. Samuel B. Ward, Albany; DIR.
Nathan E. Brill, New York; DR.. w. T. jenkins,
New York; DR.. Frank G. HOLSTER, New York;
Dr. Eugene Hodenpyl, New York; Dr. Ira Van
Chosen, New York; DR.. ]. B. Ransom. Dannen-
mera prison; John II Valentine, Newburgh;
Cyrus W. Edgarton, prison chaplain, Sing
Sing.
All these men signed the certificate of death.
Attached to the certificate of Warden Brown
was the report signed by DIR. Carl F. Mac
Donald and DR.. Samuel B. Ward:
ITO the warden of Sing Sing
I'm accordance with the provisions of the
statute, we would respectfully submit the fol-
lowing as the execution by electricity of Martin
ID. Loppy at the prison under your charge on
Monday, December Z, 1891. The prisoner en-
tered the room at ll:52.32 o'clock While
Chaplain Edgarton conducted suitable reli
gious services the prisoner walked to the chair
and quietly submitted to the adjustment. of the
straps and electrodes by the prison officials de-
tailed for the purpose. The method of appli-
cation OF the curren. as formerly agreed upon
was by series OF brief contacts not exceeding
fifteen seconds each, with intervals of sufficient
length to permit Of wetting the electrodes. The
first contact was made at ii 4.36 and broken
at l:54. 81. The second contact was made at
IL 30 05 and broken at ii :55. It. The third con-
tact was made at II :55 30 and broken at IL 55 &C.
The fourth contact was made at II sc. O6 and
broken at 11:56. 1872. The first contact lasted
10 seconds. the second contact II seconds, the
third contact 15l9 seconds and the fourth con-
tact 1917 seconds. Total. 50 seconds.
THE readings Of the voltmeter taken by
Prof. Laudy indicated an average pressure dur
ing the several contacts of !, 716 VOLTS with
nearly seven amperes- Immediately after the
interruption Of the last contact careful ex-
animation of wrist pulse and ausculation of the
heart, in which all the physicians present par
ticipated, revealed the fact that death had
occurred, and the prisoner was pronounced
dead at 1905 pm. Death was apparently in
Simultaneous and painless. post mortenl of
the body subsequently made by DR.. Van
Giesen, detailed report of which will be made
hereafter. Signed Carlos +. Macdonald, Samuel
Il. Ward"
The summary of the autopsy is rs follows
SIN looking carefully over the details OF the
autopsy and comparing this report with that of
the Jour previous cases the following points
may be noticed: The passage of current of
this strength, employed in those cases (of
approximately from 400 to l,6O0 volts) and
in this manner, does not do enough to make
any distortion of the face. The local thermic
effects OF the electrodes are limited to the
outer scarf skin. The true skin beneath is not
damaged to any apparent extent Tie epi-
derniis or scarf skin may be separated from,
the deeper skin and resembles an ordinary
blister from which the fluid has escaped Tho
blisters about the knee in this case are like the
ordinary familiar water blister on the hands
from friction. or the biisters which PHYSICIANS
have daily occasion to produce by Irritating
drugs. Where the skin has been exposed TO
the weather and is tougher and more resisting.
as on the forehead and scalp, the blisterinx
docs not take place; whereas, in the more
sensitive, delicate skin of uncxposed surfaces,
as at the fold of the knee joint, the clustering
is more readily induced. Compared with the
four previous executions. the changes in the
skin indnced by the local the action OF the
electrode Is even less in degree in this case.
1t may be pronounced altogether trivial"