Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-08
IT was A SUCCESS.
DR.. Wards Verdict On Yesterdays Execution
at Sing Sing.

DE-. Wardha Verdict IN Yeeterday'u Execution
at Sing Sing.
At 1920 O'Clock yesterday afternoon the au-
topsy on Loppy, the executed criminal, was
begun by DR.. Carlos F. Mcdonald, assisted by
DR.. Samuel B. Ward OF Albany and DR.. Van
Geissen of Brooklyn. The body was found in
a well-nourished condition and capable Of
proving good test against the dynamo. Tho
organs we're found in slightly congested con-
dition, and there were several indications of
an extra amount Of spleen. The brain showed
almost complete paralysis by the electric cur
rcnt Where the electrodes we're put on the
tissue was slightly burned, but no very great
Disagreement resulted. The face and neck
we're slightly blistered By the salt water acting
MS conductor of the lost current. That death
was instantaneous was evident in the brain and
heart. Rigor morris was very strongly devel-
oped and the teeth we're set over the tongue
Almost the same conditions we're observable as
those developed in the other executions There
was no charring Of the flesh or burning of the
internal organs.
1t is probable that Loppy was killed just as
the whistles of the neighboring factories blew
for the dinner hour, when the engines we're
used entirely for the dynamo. This was one Of
the main reasons why the noon hour was
selected by Warden Brown to carry out the
execution, as sufficient voltage could not be
u
running in the workshops Those witnesses
who could be conversed with as they came
from the prison stated that Warden Brown had
sworn them on their oath not to reveal any
thing. Electrician Davis, who touched the
button which turned on the current, said he
merely performed his work and could not tell
the voltage used to kill Loppy
Chaplain Edgerton was visibly affected when
he came out. His face was as white as a sheet
and he seemed to be completely unnerved. As
hr ma do h L..
dem Office, he was asked several questions. but
he firmly refused to talk and seemed to be glad
to escape from the CHASTITY scene which he had
just witnessed. He came out of the prison i'm
mediately after the execution. At o'clock
the convicts resumed work in the shops iust the
same as though nothing unusual had occurred.
At 8 O'Clock Drs. J. b. Ransom of Da1Inemorh
prison, and s. B. Ward came out Of the prison
and drove to the depot in Warden Browns car
riage. When the reporters asked them for in
formation they shook their heads and laughed.
Drs. Macdonald and Landy will make an official
report of the autopsy to the the state superin-
tendent of prisons. Gen. Austin Lathrop.
At 4 pm. the body Of Loppy was buried in
the little prison cemetery across the road from
the shops on the bluff.
army Of scribes which had beleaguered the
prison for two days. were still standing in front
OF tho wardens office in the middle of the
road, being kept at a distance from the build
ing by the armed guard, when a truck, drawn
by a brown horse and with driver clad in the
striped prison garb, drove up from the north
side OF the prison, took the winding road TO-
ward the cemetery of the prison. a lame
keeper, with ajingling bunch Of big brass keys,
preceded the lmprovised hearse upon which,
strapped with ropes and almost covered with q
horse blanket was n rough pine box, painted a
dirty red, Of a very large size. 1t contained
the remains of Martin D. Loppy. the wife MUIR
derer. who paid the penalty for his crime yes
terday at 8 minutes after noon in the electric
chair.
In the cemetery near the open grave four
convicts, under the charge of keeper, awaited
the arrival of the coffin. In less than two min
utes it was taken from the truck and lowered
into the grave. The wet earth was hastily
shoveled ill., the truck drove off. the four con-
wet grave diggers were marched back to the
prison and the history Of a criminal WAS ended.
Near the shanty a three-by- three-foot wooden
shanty has been erected, in which an armed
guard will be stationed for eight days to watch
and see that no one attempts to exhume the
body. 1t is supposed that after the lapse of
eight days the body will be entirely consumed
by the quicklime thrown into the coffin, and
the guard will then be withdrawn.
DR.. Ward of Albany, who was one OF the wit
nesses, was seen by a reporter. He said: II.
as well as the other witnesses. am pledged to
maintain the strictest secrecy regarding the
execution. will say. however, that in my
opinion 1t was a success. don't believe that
Loppy felt any pain. He was calm and COM
posed when he was being led to the execution
room and when strapped in the death chair.
believe that electrocution is the most success
ful capital punishment. 1t is far preferable to
hanging. j do not see any reason why re-
porters should be excluded from the death
chamber during the execution. believe that
one OF the earliest acts of the next legislature
will be to amend that portion of the law which
excludes newspaper men,"