Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-17


the next instant, while the wretched mans knees
were bending beneath him, Warden Burke
pulling handkerchief gave the signal to the
unknown executioner behind the black curtain
over the cell window opposite. and with an al
most noiseless movement the bolts supporting
the drop flew back, the drop fell. and Howard
Schneider shot down five and half feet through
the trap door, and his soul appeared before the
Maker who gave il.
ONLY SLIGHT MOVEMENT.
The muscular contrac tons that followed were
not violent The secure manner in which he
was bound would prevent much activity. The
shock of the drop was SO severe that it seemed
enough to overcome consciousness to a consider
able degree. Three minutes after tine drop fell the
physicians found the pulse beating with q vigor
that made it seem unlikely that his neck had
been broken. Five minutes later there was a
heaving OF the chest. which to the practical
eye of the physicians indicated that strangu-
lation was occurring. Then his hands,
which hung Imply at his side, assumed
a slatish hue, which rapidly deepened until they
were almost dead black. The body became
quite motionless one minute later. The pulse
was still beating, however.
At ll.06 the practiced fingers which were on
his WRIT could not detect futter,
the ears which were against his
chest could not find . throb. There
was no doubt that he was dead then. When
the physicians stepped away from the body
there was only slight movement to and fro
the insensate motion of the pendulum.
LOWERED FROM THE scAfFoLD.
The body was lowered just twenty-five min
utes after the drop fell The coffin, which was
ready Just around the corner from the scstfold,
was brought IN. The body swung easily over it
and in moment it was resting in it, with moth
ing to show that he had not died peacefully,
no fbo shurO hoo~ hat h.
made his face less ghastly. The eyes were
closed and the lips were slightly open. The
face was dark in color and expressionless.
There was nothing to indicate that he had suf-
fered greatly.
In 4 JAIL SUIT OF cLoTHHs.
He died in the clothes furnished by the Jail
officials, with the exception Of his undergsr-
ments And shoes. His coat was . rough piece
Of goods, gray In color. He wore no
vest. and his shirt was Of rough
wooisn material. His trousers we're % much
at the bottom. The shoes afforded the oniy in
dication OF tho circumstances under which he
had been reared. They wsre small and fitted
him neatly.
TEE MEDICAL EXAMINATION
The jurors crowded about the comm wheh
the black cap was removed. The doctors felt
the neck and definitely announced their opinion
that the spinal column had not been disiocatsd.
The cause Of death was strangulntion.
The cof6n was lifted from under The scadold
over the test weight Of las pounds-iust 1--WE
pounds more than Schneider's weight
1t was taken to Gawler's undertakiuR setab-
ishment The intenti ON - understood ct ths
jail was that the funeral was to take place
privately from there this afternoon.
Some comment WAS made By medical men on
the fact that there was to b NO autopsy to e.
csrtain the condition Of his brain. 1hs SEEM
insiy calm, smotionless manner IN which sehnsi-
der wsnt TO the seaf|old raised doubt e 70