Year: 1879

Atlanta Constitution.


The hanging of Knox Martin, il
this city, attracted an immense Assem-
blage. As Martin dropped, a number


Of eager doctors gathered around biz


suspended form. After the slight con


vulsivo movements had stopped, they


began to apply tests to discover when


animation ceased. 1t had become gen
orally known that an effort would be


made to restore Martin TO life. BY


many 1t was treated jestingly, but with
the little knot of professional men
about the scaffold the matter was O
serious one. The report OF the pro-
posed experiment had spread through
the crowd, and it was with the utmost
difficulty the police could keep any
thing like order. In ten minutes all
the doctors bad pronounced Martin
dead. With distrust natural when
doctors had such an interesting subject
IN prospect, Sheriff Price made them
look him in the eye and give their
opinion. Still to prevent any possible
trouble in. the case the experiment
proved unsuccessful, the Sheriff would
not let the rope be cut until fully
fifteen minutes had passed. Mr. Cotton
had no sooner cut the strand than the
eager hands of the medical men cased
the rope to the ground. 1t was the
work of an instant to remove the loop
from his neck, and efforts were at once
taken TO restore the dislocated bones
to place and relieve the pressure on
the spinal cord. The coffin was pulled
from under the scaffold, and the dead
body placed therein. Several persons
took hold, and surrounded by physi.
clans, students and curious spectators,
the coffin was hurriedly taken to the
crown OF an adjacent hill. Here
cow-shcd had been covered with can.
vas. A guard of police was on hand,
but nothing could restrain the i'm.
petuosity of the crowd. The coffin
was brought in and laid on the ground.
Several persons roughly crowded in,
until the air became so hot and close
that breathing was difficult opera
ton. The crowd outside pressed up
to the shed and now and then a plank
would be pulled off to give better
view Of the interesting proceedings
within. Some of the more adventur-
Gus started to mount the top of the
shed, while the apprehensive cries of
those inside, fearful Of falling in,
mingled with the curses and demands
of more room. They pressed hard on
the body of the negro, and even had
he been half alive, his chances of
resurrection would have been small


Just as soon as the coffin dropped to
the ground, Martins shirt, pants and
shoes were torn of, and then began a
vigorous rubbing of his legs and arms,
while efforts were made 10 restore
breathing by alternate pressure and re.
Taxation on the chest. His head was
raised, and in q minute strong gal.
vanic battery was attached. All be-
gan to work and watch for the least
signs of returning consciousness. The
perspiration poured from the brows of
the experimenters, and with moro than
one of them there was o feeling of
taintness. Remarks, not expressive of
the least possible chance of the doctors
success, were fully passed around, but
still tho medical men worked away,
and the spectators craned their necks
for glance now and then at the object
OF so much interest. AT last convuls.
i've twitching Of the muscles of the
face was noticed, Then a movement
was describable in bis limbs and finally
the most remarkable and satisfactory
portion Of the cxperiment-the body
gave three deep drawn gasps for air
After that the efforts seemed to meet
with no response, and shortly the doc
tors ceased operations.


The experiment proved an interest
ing if not entirely successful one. With
the usual length of time for hanging,
and a place whore plenty of pure air
could have been obtained, there is some
probability that Martin might have
been revived.


The crowd finally began to disperse
Martins body was placed in an ex-
press wagon and taken to the medical
college. Hero it was dumped, sans
everything but bis white shirt, into the
receptacle at the loot Of the elevator
The long pulling rope was attached,
and the body hauled up TO the dissect-
ing room, heavy load for four pair
of hands. Thrown out on the floor,
the magnificent proportions of the
murder were the subject of comment,
his Elk feet or more of height showing
fine manhood. From casual ex.
animation Of his neck, it was determ.
ined the fall had produced dslocation,
and his death was an easy and i'm
mediate one. Another fact worthy of
comment was the exceeding small
forehead Martin had, the cranium slop-
ing back almost directly from the eye.
brows.