Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-03

| 80 CIV VI iHpeHulnS ueatn ana, even IL
| &c did not, that the resulting rightly
OF the muscles of the neck would prob
ably interfere with the action OF the
moose.
FREAK SCHEMES.
Public discussion of reforms in capt.
tai punishment has called out all kinds
OF freak schemes of late. One which
smacks somewhat OF the CARROT Is the
invention of Prof. Esclangon, editor of
the Pars Scientific World. Upon the
mead OF the man to be executed is
placed sort Of divers helmet In
front OF this are two small holes CO.
inciding with the inner corners of the
| wearer's eyes. From the top of the de-
vice curves two arms, each terminat-
Ing In a cartridge-iike continuance con-
tanning sharp needle. The two nee
dies are aimed directly at the eye holes
ana when an electric current is closed
they are released by hair triggers
which send them darting through the
eyes ana straight into the brain. The
inventor claims this method of death
to be absolutely instantaneous and
painless. After the execution the he'll
| met Is removed without leaving any
trace Of Disagreement. The device has
been suggested as a substitute for the
| guillotine.
George Jeremias, a Columbus. Ohio
q
combining some of the gruesome prin-
ciples of the garrote, gallows and cleo
trio chair. The criminal Is strapped to
a seat, his head resting in n helmet,
with powerful side clamps fitting over
the ears. A lever at the side of the
chaiT releases a spring which rotates
the head clamp and literally wiring 8
the culDrits neck. The chair is then
Strengthened out horizontally to form
a stretcher for bearing the corpse to
the post-mortem room.
A wild scheme for electrocuting MUIR
derers is that OF a physician, who
would place the prisoner in n cell so
narrow In dimensions as to confine him
Immediately beneath long, sharp cleo
trode. like the point of n lightning rod.
| Ills shoes and stockings being removed
and his bare feet being restricted TO q
conductor occupying the whole floor,
his doom would be caused by an arti-
fetal thunderbolt generated in power
| full machine nearby.
| A steel death mask, which fits over
the head and extends to the chin, is an
| other OF the recent freak devices for
| instantaneous execution. 1t Is composed
Of elastic steel springs locked in such a
manner as to give the entire contriv-
ance a somewhat globular form. Two
great eye apertures are left in a sort
i-ofTiSorIn- front--When- certain me-
chanism Is released the steel sides of
the curved form suddenly straightens
and crush the skull within.
PARALYSIS PRODUCED.
A more humane method of dispatch
| Ing criminals is devised by DR.. O. b.
| Squeers, Of Philadelphia. He would
| employ death chair and death mask,
but a chemical agency would be de-
pended upon to do the fatal work.
| While bound securely to his seat the
murderer would have strapped over his
nose and mouth an alright covering,
which might appear at first glance to
be a football players nose-guard. Con-
meeting with this is q rubber tube ter
minating i'll large atomizer having a
bulb at one side. When this bulb is
compressed forms of dydrocyanic acid
are sent whizzing up the tube and into
the death mask. The instantaneous
death of the condemned Is due to par
alysis OF his respiratory functions.
WITHOUT WARNING.
A similar proposition is to confine
sentenced prisoners in an upright cell,
into which powerful asphyxiating gas
may be introduced while they are
asleep. This specially constructed death
chamber would not differ from the or
dianry cell in general appearance. To
make It absolutely alright a curtain
would be dropped noiselessly over the
| nth a NdiNS WOulQ duInlI Il SUI
fcient quantity OF gas to insure death
before alarm and awakening. Were the
entire scheme carried out the law
would fix the time Of execution be-
tween two specified dates. leaving the
exact day and hour to the discretion OF
the warden and executioner. The GRIM
inal would be given no intimation of
the time when he would retire for his
Hast. sleep.
Another proposition is to replace the
gallows or electric chair by the hyper
dernic syringe. Chloroforming, poison
ing and drowning, by painless and
prompt means. have also been pro-
posed.
ELIMINATION OF PENALTY.
Many members OF Congress would
eliminate the death penalty altogether
from our new possessions. Even cruel
Russia set us this example $50 years
ago. when she eliminated capital pun
| ishment from all cases except treason.
Belgium. Brazil, Holland. Italy. Portu-
gal. Venezuela, Costa Rica and Guate-
mala have done likewise. as have
Michigan, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and
| yOT5xy