The Western news., 1903-08-12
DEATHBYBEHEADIN0

DUA i II ID DLIlLAUlNU
DOES THE GpiLLoTlNE END ALL SIGNS
or FEELING,
DR.. Charles Lancaster, Contends That
Sensation Remains For Some Time
After Decapitation-Cites Tests on
Turtles-ARrees with DIR. Cinel.
DR.. Charles Lancaster of Plainfield,
N. j., who writes the subjoined letter
under the date Of Aug: 18 to the New
York Herald, is nearly 81 years old, but
In spite Of his great age it is plain that
he takes keen and lively interest in
affairs Of the present day. He says:
noticed in the Sunday issue of the
New York Herald of Oct. an article
under the caption "Does Life Remain
on Decapitation?' in which the theory
Of DR.. Cinel Of Paris is seriously criti.
ctsed, but cannot bring my mind to
agree with the critics. / think DR.. Ciuel
as right in claiming retention Of sensa.
tion for three hours after decapitat:on
Of a subject, but as to the ability to
hear, see and smell, am not SO clear,
while I think it possible. But the main
point centers in the tests, as stated by
DR.. Shrady, that have been made and
noted upon various criminals after de-
/, oapitation in an effort to find evidence
of sensation latter the first shock' and
resulting in no evidence of the least sigp
Of pain.
DR.. Shrady asserts with considerable
positiveness that death Of the decapitat.
ed criminal is instantaneous. Here ]
differ from him, It must be remembered
that "the life Of all flesh is the blood
thereof" The ancient Hebrews under
stood that, and upon it based their rule
not to "eat flesh with the blood there
Of" Now believe that so long as the
blood retains any degree of warmth aft
'Ar removal Of the head there is in both
head and body feeling and possibility
Of pain.
With all respect for the eminent doc.
tor whose statements I am criticising; I
must notice one test which he mentions
namely, by touching sensitive nerves.
which results in nothing but certain
"twitching," due, as he says, to mus
cular contraction, Will the doctor tell
as whence comes the twitching? Is il
not due to feeling?
But finally he tells us that criminals
have been induced to promise to make
certain facial contortions after being
guillotined to indicate that they were
still conscious and suffering pain, but
In no case have the physicians been able
to discover signs of life. Give the vic.
tim the "benefto Of the doubt" " Perhaps
he forgot it.
Now let Us compare the victim in
such a case with the appearance of a
cold Hooded animal, sea turtle for
example, ander the same condition. I
bave picked up the heart Of one of these
animals which had been lying with the
nesentery out of doors and partly in the
sun during half day, first irritating it
slightly with a straw and noticing that
: 1t throbbed or pulsated in natural meas
ure and apparent force, showing five or
nix pulsations. took this heart, wrap
ped in paper, and carried 1t II miles in
the country. and, being evening, laid
1t away till the next morning, and then,
about o'clock, exhibited it to school
for young ladies, to show them the per-
sistenoy Of life of a cold blooded ami
NAL, and the heart on being pricked
with pin still responded with three or
four faint pulsations.
Another, but fresh water turtle, I
captured, cut off it's head and laid the
creature on board in the sun and Wis
tied 1t every day for nine days, and to
the last day it did not fail to draw q
leg toward the body If given a moderate
blow with stick. In both these cases
believe the action of the animal was
prompted by feeling. if not pain. Now,
ask, is there any quantity Of vital
force or sanctity of life supposed to be
vouchsafed to those cold blooded ami
mails which is not shared also by man?
Finally, my contention, is that the
guillotine r. no punishment. The funo-
tion OF punishment is to inflict pain,
mental or physical, and when there il
no pain there is no punishment. Now,
the scientific gentlemen tell us there Is
no pain in death by decapitation, but il
live to see the law of capital punish
ment effaced from American statutes
and all punishments administered with
out spirit Of revenge, but in perfect
accord with the highest state of Chris
tian civilization now claimed for the
most advanced nation shall thank God
for the deliverance frop the last smiroh
borrowed Of paRanism.
A Unique Collection.
A Philadelphia man owns q mos
unique assortment Of pieces Of blottine
paper, collected by his father, who wal
long an official Of the White House,
each of which bears, reversed, the sig
nature Of president from General Har
rison. who died q month after his cleo
tion in 1S41. to Garfield. On one sheet
the most highly priced Of the lot, the
last official letter signed by Presiden'
Lincoln was blotted before he was as
sassinated by Booth.