DEAD MEN MADE TO SPEAK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 15 June 1880, Page 2

DEAD MEN MADE TO SPEAK.

The execution of John Hall rnd Buricli Smith for the murder of Major was witnessed by ■» gloting crowd numbering thousands, animated 1)/ a blnodthi.stness tint would have don*' credit to a R&mrtn rabble in the time of the Cassars. A feature never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it, w a s the display of the devotional sentiment of the wild, fantastic} exuberant sort, common pmong negros. on the scaffoldj an 1 during a few hours previous to the execution. A nutttbef of songs were «mlg by theni and other prisoners in the gaolj wltili* waiting for the sheriff to come and take the condemned men to the scaffold. Among them was a r fiaiu :

" I've found uly robe and it fits me well; l'to tried it on at the gates of hell." The two condemned men and Bill Smith, another negro whose testimony with theirs combined to send eight men to the penitentiary, as members of thrir gang of incendiari s„ who are declared by many to be innocent, kneeled down on the gaol floor and swore they had told the truth, callin , each other "brothers in Bhrist." Hall and Smith came upon the scaffold with their black races wreathed in ghastly smiles and sat trembling in every limbduringthe preliminary preparations. Smith tried tc much a piece of pound cake he hnd in his pocket, but he did not look as if he cnjoytd it. When tire last prayer ii.-nl be n p onounced, and just b fore the black caps were drawn over their faces, they made a few farewel remarks, saying that they hoped to meet all present in Heaven and "God bless yon." As the rope was cut Smith fainted and fell, which gave him and awkward fall, causing him to writhe in agong at the end of the rope. flail died easily. After they h"d been suspended fir eventeen miimres, they were cut down and Dr. Sieger, of Nashville and Drs Byrne »nd Murfee, of this city attempt, d the experiment in resasitation which was after the men had be< n tut down. A nu Tiber of physicans were present, to witness the experiment- After -.he clothing had been taken off, their bodies wore wrappe 1 in hot blankets, a ppl'cations respiration brought, about by the means usually applied fn ases of persons who have been in the water for a long tiui . Ah tin's was preliminary to the application of the e ectricy. Batteries w. re placed in juxtaposition to the spinal cord and different portions of the brain. The effects of the amplication were soon apparent. First came nervous muscular twitching* in those parts of the body with which the battrries came in contact. Th.' temperature was gradually increased until it reached over 1000 degrees.

The effect was immediate. The muscular c ntractions increased, the twitched like men asleep and struggling under the spell of a horrid nightmare. The regular drawing in and expulision of air produced by the appliances referred to were horribly real and lifelike. The suspiration camo with an effort, however and sounded like the gasps of in n struggling for breath. Dr. Sieger put his hands to their wrists. ''The pulse is beiting/' he said, " you can feel it hut faintly," Their eyes n?xt opened nn !er he effect of the electric current an 1 turned aSiut the room in a vacant gaze. There was no sound but the laboured g-.sping at their lips. All in the room stcod stillwitli horror.

'•Gentlemen," said Mr. S'cg»r. "the experiment is concluded. Our m n'n object, was to ihow the effect of cWlnoity upon the muscular cm tves, and we 'wive exhibited that, I think m a remark hiy reaiislic way."—Chicago News.