The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-23
PROVES DEATH ON
|. GALLONS TORTURE
Pre-arranged Test of Murderer s
Execution Experience Bears
Out Claims Of Clergy.
journal Special Service.

journal Special Service
Jersey City, N. J., Dee. 23.-Edwin
F. Tapley, Jr. murderer, hanged yes
terday at the county jail, was tortured
to death. Tapley gave incontestablc
proof that for n many seconds after the
a7s o. bn conscious tap With Ha the agony
of death upon him, the poor wretch,
steadfast to purpose announced hours
before the execution, signalled his con-
dition with amazing clearness and de-
liberation. He did this by motions of
the hand that could not have been
spasmodic--motions that were careful
ly rehearsed by Tapley in his cell early
yesterday morning. w..
Nothing was left undone in the prep
arations Of this test to give it dignity
and scientific value The problem to
be solved was Of immense Importance
to the cause of humanity The sur
prising statement made months ago
by Rev. Emil A. Meury, a prominent
clergyman Of Jersey City, that dying
murderer sin the hangman's moose sig
ness, had shocked and amazed the peo-
pie Of New Jersey. but Dr.. Meury s
test was not absolutely convincing
New Jerseys legislature still hesitated
to abolish the ancient gallows.
=. Volunteered for Test.
Tapley volunteered for a test. he
did more than this, suggesting it him.
self to atone for his crime by an act
| in the cause Of humanity.
DR.. Carleton Simon, the well-known
expert on mental diseases, assumed per
sonal direction of the work. He saw
/ Tapley in his cell and arranged the sig
nails. These signals were known to two
| Of the condemned mans spiritual ad
| visers, Rev. w. J. Smith and Rev. A
Mayo, both of Jersey City. II
sTapley had agreed to make the fol
lowing signals if life and conscious
ness remained after the fall of thu
drop:
First, to raise the right forearm a!
high as the hands at the elbow woulc
permit; then contract the thumb anj
forefnger three times, while pressing
the left hand rigidly against the lef
hip. - 49, =. =,
If by the time the tortures of SLOW
death had not robbed him of all con
seriousness, Tapley was then to revers
the signal, raising the left arm, con
tracing the thumb and first finger an,
pressing the ring hand motionless t.
the right hip.
The Signals Given.
Tapley, dangling from the moose at
| ter the released weights had sent hi
body high in the air, to fall with.
jar at the end Of the rope, writhed flo
an instant in commissions. Then tn
twitching hands fell and the arms
bound across the back at the elbows
Strengthened out full length. TO tn
watchers in the secret of the signal
no thought remained that spark Q
consciousness remained in Tapley
body, which hung three feet above tn
floor under the gallows beam.
But suddenly Tapley's right forear,
rose slowly, steadily, until the han
was well in front of the body. The1
with startling precision, the thumb an
forefnger gave the signal.
< Three times, with terrible deliber;
ton. Tapley's thumb and first fnge
: Strengthened and contracted. His lei
hand was pressed tightly against til
hip, it's fingers twitching convulsive]
= in evidence of the mighty effort p,
>: forth by, the dying man to hold the
seriousness was creeping over the braj
forefnger was faint. 1t was absolut
ly clear, however, and then the nerv
less fingers relaxed from the last supe
human effort. The hand dropped Ill
lead. Tapley had ceased to suffer. H
heart continued to beat slower ar
n slower for four minutes; but the bra
e was at rest.
i; e That Tapley was alive, .. conscio1
and in mortal agony for nearly fl
minute after the fall of the drop
4, true beyond doubt. Taplev was a n
e gro, intelligent and educated above h
s. class. ......~ :: -. -