Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-16

TIE ANGUISH OF TIE HEAD AFTER DECAP-
ITATl0E.
Wiwh's G-aa. Experiment - Hypaolzei While
Crimina Vas Uadsr iha Guiilliaa and Made
to Undergo his Sgf.r,2ss-A Belgium
Painters Remarkable IS-


GoerIitz. Germany, OF the TWO murd-
erers, Knoll ana Uaydrich. caused ser
ions discussion OF the auaChr0nism or
inficting death By bcheading. This
brings TO mind that one experience was
left 90 be added Co the g.orieS or hyp-
notism. To had never been thought 10
transmit suggestion 10 an indiYiGua.
about to be beheaied and then accu-
raeslv observe the sensations felt 40 the
moment OF torture.
The celebrated Belgian painter,
Wiertz. whose works are collected in
The Musee Wiertz, BruXe..eS, might be
considered q precursor OF such TEST
Wicrtz was not on adept in occult
sciences. His investigation was impeii-
ed by generosity OF sentiment rather
than through vain curiosity. what
occupied bis mind was the legitimate
question OF the death penalty, aud he
was ceaselessly haunted by the desire
10 penetrate into tho mysteries of death
through the torture Oh the gui.lotine
Isit true this anguish endurcS but
second? What does the culpri, think?
What does he fee. 40 the iata. moment
when the deadly 6ui.e Tails heavily upon
his neck2
Am such questions harrassed the mind
7f the artist NierlE was close Cc-
ouaintsuce OF ri. NJ, the physician in
attendance nc the prison in BruNeiieS,
aud was likewise an Intimate friend or
Or. - scientist, who had Tor more
than thirty years devoted himself 90
The study OF hyDuot.sm. The latter bad
often Lvuu0uLej the painter, who had
already proved 20 bee "a wonderfully SUS-
Cept.5.e subject
Wiertz. favored with the permission
OF NJ. NJ, the prison official, and the
consent OF Dr. D., determined upon
the following experiment, lie would
place himself uuder the guillotne,
where the severed head 0t the con-
denned rolls into the basket and there
be allowed t0 be- put 90 sleep through
hypnotiSm and ordered 90 penetrate the
mental and bodily sensations of the eX-
ecuted. Preparatory 20 this test, few
DAYS before a tecapitatIOn occurred, he
submitted 90 be- put % sleep by DR.. D.,
who influenced him 20 Identify himself
with different people Ia order 90 read
their thOuehts-to penetrate their very
souls and C.Dscieuces-s0 as Co eNqer-
fence all the sentiments which agltated
them. Wiertz proved a most htt.ug per
son for so delicate a mission.
About ten minutes previous 20 the ar
rival OF the condemned the dag OF the
execution N.ertZ, accompanied by his
friend, DR.. D. and two witnesses,
proceeded 90 the g.I.0t.ue aud there,
placing themselves close 90 the taJa.
basket beneath Che scaIo.d, but ulSus-
pected by the public, WIer,z was Eypuo-
lZed bv Che doctor. 81 suc g. go con-
iit0n Dr. D. c5lCe4 t,s 8. IDENTIFY
himself With the ,.Ctw. - follow mi-
lusely all his thoughts sId TO feel and
express aloud the sensations affecting
lhe criminal just at the moment when
lhe kuiie entered his neck. He ordered
dim finally. Just as the head Eel. into the
basket, % MAKE an effort 90 enter that
brain and au5iyZe tho last thoughts
laero Impressed.
The three friends who accompanied
,he painter stood there lu GREATNESS
silence auX.Ously awaiting develop
msuts The tread OF fee, overhead
warns them that the condemned Is be-
ing led by the eXecuuoaer 90 the death
dealing machine.
The culDrit ascends the ScaTo,d; an
other instant and the Cul.tOuua vii,
have aCc0uu ished It's bloody work.
The doctor watches Wlertz and no.
tees that be is extremely pcr,urbed.
he supp'icates pi.eOusly 90 DE awa6ed- /
en-. The anguish depressing him is .
IutoleIab'o. Bus--it Is too .ate-the
knife has fallen.
"What do you feel? What do you
see@' questions The doctor.
The painter, struggling with convul- I
sions. answers, moaning. "a lightning, .
The tbuudoTb5.t has iaueu' on, hor- I
ror. Toe head thinks, the head sees!
4 'It suffers horribly, lt bears, 10 feels, F.
lit thinks. but cauuOJ comprehend what /.
has happened.
at looks for It's body. It seems as IL I
the body must come and join &c. 10 eX- (
poets the dua, blow. TO awaits death,
but death viii not come"
While NiertE was giving utteranceS /
90 these shocking sentences She other 7.
witnesses, VINO had noticed the head .
fa.liog through the bag TO the bottom .
OF the basket, crown downward and .
bleeding neck upward, observed that 10 /.
was looking at them with mouth widely F.
disteudcd and teeth tightly c.iucbed. f.
The arteries still pulsated palpa5ly .
where the knife had severed them and .
the warm blood sDUrted cut, scattering .
The eyes, the face, the hair.
The painter continued his woiul .
lamentations.
".Ah, what hand is this strang,ing .
m9? An enormous mercile,s hand. /.
On! this pressure brushes me. Moth I.
ing but large red cloud do / see. I.
Shall i ever .iborat5 myself from this
accursed hand? Let loose, You mon 4.
Ster, Nainiy 90 struggle with both
my hands. What IS this / iee.2 Al /.
open wound AID my blood lowing.
I'm nothing 0g. head rent FROM the
body
To was only after long suffering that
must nave seemed endless iu It's eudur- .
aDCe that the Cecapitated mead realized (
its separation from the body.
NiertZ had again subsidized into SOM
nOience, and Dg. D. continued his in
teryQ&atOrieS.
What DO You see u0w2' Where are /
yI2N The painter answered: Il 1y
no oTeu space ike wheel through a
, IRE. Eut-am I dead? Is all over wftn .
Z nee On i they would only Join my
Woody with my head again. Oh. men
nave mercy; restore my body 70 me and
shall live again. I still think. 1 still
see. Yet remember every thing. There
tre my judges clad in dark robes. They
after my sentence, Oh, my poor be-
reaved wife. Ny wretched. unfortu-
safe child. lou love me no longer. You
abandon me. Iiy0u only would uuite me
With my body should be with you again.
NO. You are jnsensible 90 nv en-
treaties. But love you still, my poor
darinEs Let me bat embrace you
'nce asain. Come, my little child. No?
"a sbudder with fear. Oh. un-