Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-11-01


Rev. Cordello Herrick, CHAPLAIN of
the prison, was in the death chamber
ready for any call that might be made
for his services. He was not wanted
by the prisoner, however, and sat
quietly in the. rear of the chamber
throughout the execution.
The clothing and personal effects of
the prisoner were burned, under d.
rection of Warden Mead, shortly after
the execution.
brain Was Normal.
Naturally almost the entire atten-
ton of the physicians assigned tohold
the autopsy was directed towards dis
covering, If possible, whether the as
sassin was in any way mentally ire
sponsible. The autopsy was conduct
ed by DIR. Carlos F. Macdonald, E. A.
Spitzka and Prison Physician Germ.
The top of the head was sawed off
through the thickest part of the skull,
which was found to be of normal thick
ness, and it was the unanimous agree
ment of the microscopicaI examina-
ton that the brain was normal or
slightly above normal. This demon
strated to the satisfaction of the ply
sicians that in no way was CzoTgosz'
mental condition, except as it might
have been perverted, responsible for
the crime.
Statement OF Autopsy.
The autopsy was completed shortly
before noon, when the surgeons issued
the following brief statement:
1.-THE autopsy was made by Mr.. Edward
A. Spitzka, of New York, under the I'M
mediate supervision and direction of DE-.
Carlos F. Macdonald, of New York. and
DR.. John Germ, prison physician. The
autopsy occupied over three hours and en-
braced a careful examination of all the
bodily organs, including the brain. The
examination revealed a perfectly healthy
state of all the organs, including the brain.
"All of the physicians who attended the
execution were present at the autopsy and
all concurred in the findings of the ex-
aminers.
(Signed)
JOHN GERM, M. d.
CARLOS F. MACDONALD, NJ. D. .
aE. A. SPITZKA."
Body Eaten by Acid.
The body was placed in black
stained pine coffin, every portion of
the anatomy being replaced under the
supervision -of DR.. Germ and Warden
Mead. Shortly afterward it was taken
to the prison cemetery, and an ex-
traordinary preeaution taken to com.
pletely destroy it, A few days ago
under the warden's order an expert
ment was made to determine the pow
err of quieklime in the destruction of
flesh and bone, which was not satisfae-
tory. Warden Mead, who conferred
with some of the physicians. present,
determined, in conjunction with SUI
perintendent Collins, that the purpose
of the law was the destruction Of the
body and that 1t was not necessary to
use quicklime for that end.
Accordingly a carboy of acid was OBJ
tanned and poured upon the body in
| the coffin after II had been lowered
into the grave. Straw was used In the
four corners of the grave as the earth
was put in to give vent TO such gases
as might form.
1t was the belief of the physicians
that the body would be entirely dis
| integrated within ~ hours. During
that time and as long as deemed nee
essary a guard will be kept over the
unmarked grave.
Family of Assassin Hears News.
Cleveland, o.. Oct. 3O.-Next to the
witnesses in the death chamber at
Auburn prison where Leon Czolgosz'
life was shocked out of existence,
there were no more interested wit
nesses to the far-away vindication of
justice than little group of men
who had gathered In the local Office of
the press to learn the final act early
Tuesday This group included the
next of kin, the nearest of all human
beings to the assassin, his father and
two brothers, and half dozen of his
former neighbors in this city.
The same seeming Indifference that
has characterized the members of the
Czolgosz family was maintained to
the end, and when the statement that
Leon Czolgosz had been put to death
was told to the old man in Polish his
fingers twitched nervously for min
ute or so, suspicion of tear was
seen to come into his dark eyes and
he made reply in Polish to friend
who acted as interpreter. The old
| mans statement was to the effect
that, inasmuch as it had to be, it
were better that it is all over.