The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-16
THE SHERIFF'S EXPERIMENT.
cut him down." said the

"He is dead-cut him down. said the
county physician.
The rope was severed and the body of
the giant murderer Dick Masters, was
placed on a stretcher and hastily carried
of by four of the sherifrs deputies.
The hanging had taken place in the Jail
yard of n little village in one of the coun-
ties of Texas bordering on the Rio Grande.
Only few officials had witnessed the
execution. a hanging in that county was
regarded as an ordinary affair in the tur-
bulent days following the war
The body was carried to a large room
over a vacant store and laid out long
table.
In the room were several batteries and
other instruments used by electricians.
1t was the private laboratory of Sheriff
Winter. whose scientific fads had made
him talked about all over Texas.
Winter was a quiet, resolute man of
middle age, whose medical studies had
been interrupted by the war. and whose
official position was the result of his
poverty and popularity.
In his quiet den he spent his leisure hours
In scientific experiments. and electricity
was his pet hobby.
The hanging of Dick Masters came at
time when the sheriff was longing for
fresh subject. lie firmly believed that with
the ala OF eleclflCtly ne Gouil ItSlctt q
man to life after he had been hanged,
if his neck had not been broken.
The dead malefactor had no relations or
friends to claim his body and nobody
cared TO interfere with the sheriff.
Winter shut himself up in his laboratory
and removed the covering from the felon's
brutal face.
strong as bull" he said. looking at
the form on the table Fortunately his
neck is not broken. Let those fools in town
laugh at me if they WILL l VIII show them
what science can do
lie paced he floor. excitedly talking 10
himself
Men have been hanged before" he said.
without killing them. There was that TEL
low who. after his execution in Dublin
revived and went TO the theater that night
Then there was a ease in England ana
one in Russia Now. if there is any virtue
in electricity. there viii be one in Texas.
But / must get TO work.
The sheriff bolted the door and moved
about brisldy. making a great clatter with
his Instruments
Several times he went to the windows and
peered out but a circus in another quarter
Of town had left his neighborhood desert
ed and he fell assured that there was no
DANCED OF Interruption.
The evening shadows deepened into night
and through the closed blinds OF the lab-
oratory might have been seen a bright
light within.
1t was a noisy town that night and the
streets were fun Of revoiers
Several times the crowds passing the
sherif's room thought that they heard
the sounds of scufiing and falling bodies
and more than once - mutaeo shout was
heard. but the pleasure seekers on the
street went their way without stopping TO
Investigate.
The following day the sheriff was not
to be found at his office or in any OF ms
usual resorts
''Where is the old man. asked one OF
his deputies when he met the mayor
WHO. sheriff Winter? He went 10 his
laboratory with the body OF Masters yes
terday and ] have not seen hIm since
Il don't think he could stay there all
night with q dead man" said the deputy
"He might" replied the mayor. II have
known him 20 lock himself up for two days
without food when he was eNperlint atihS.
II he thinks tlat Inc can restore t"at dsta
man 20 life he win stay there "a week
The deputy pulled out his watch. IL Vas
10 o'clock.
Il viii wait until noon" he said. "aud
ther [ viii beard the lion in his den. The
fact is. I must see the old man on impor-
tant business"
Twelve o'clock struck, ana sun the sher-
.T was missing
The mayor. the deputy and several
others went to the laboratory.
They knocked once. twice, a dozen
times.
They shouted. but there was no answer
Finally. after waiting nearly an hour.
they made Il mighty effort and broke do"a
the door
A strange sight met the astonished eyes
Of the mayor and his companions.
THE room was total wreck
The floor was covered with broken chairs
and Instruments. and the table ma been
overthrown.
on every hand it was evident that a ter
rble struggle had occurred.
Sheriff Winter lay on the floor stone
dead and the marks about his throat
showed that he had been strange /!
few feet from hun lay the dead body o.
the felon.
The faces and the garments of the two
men bore the marks Of hard hsnt.
The spectators Of this horrible sight felt
their blood run cold.
There could be only one explanation.
Masters had evidently revived. and upon re-
gaining consciousness and strength ns lad
that he was assaultinS the very m n
grave.
convict's resuscitation, or had il come
about naturally?
This question il was impossible 70 an
swer. and the inquest threw no light upon
the case.
The fair v-as kant out Of The revsna-