A Museum Visit That Will Seem Like a Trip to Prison

\f7 * July 28, 1927: Another condemned man in today. Eight here now. Wish they wouldn't come in so fast. * Aug. 2, 1927: Hate to have to see those condemned men. But if they need medical attention, it must be given them. Nasal polyps. This chap . . . certainly has nerve. . . . Said that after September the 23rd the polyps wouldn't bother him any. * Aug. 16, 1927: Condemned man in again for treatment. . . . More polyps to be removed. . . . In a few weeks he'll be dead... Don't know what his crime is. Killed somebody of course. * Sept. 23, 1927, 7:00 a.m.: Will make ward rounds early, for execution takes place at ten. * 9:00 a.m: The body will not be claimed. Has wife in the East. Guess she has been sufficiently disgraced. The medical school will be glad to get it. * 9:53 a.m.: The witnesses and the guards are waiting just outside the execution room. . . . And over there is the black coffin. Will soon be filled. * 9:59 1/2 a.m.: No noise. Someone breathing hard. Pale faces. * 10:01 a.m.: Tripping of trap. Black figure hurled into space. No rebound. . . . Hangman's knot. Swollen veins, neck. . . . No movement of body. Stethoscope. Watch. Heartbeat 90. * 10:01 1/2 a.m.: 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . heart regular. Is everything getting black? No--am not fainting. Broken neck. Wish this was over. . . . 85 . . . 86 . . . 87 . . . 88. * 10:02 a.m. : . . . Maybe deserved it. . . . Heart rate twice normal--horse without driver 79 . . . 80 . . . 81 . . . 82. * 10:02 1/2 a.m.: Dull thud. Someone has fainted. My assistant will care for him. . . . My 53rd hanging--God, I wish there were no more of these. 40 . . . 41 . . . 42 . . . 43 . . . 44. Usually takes 11 minutes--only two gone. * 10:04 a.m.: . . . Hangman walking about. Good fellow. Who would want his job? 65 . . . 66 . . . 67 . . . 68. * 10:09 a.m: Heartbeats slowing down. 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5. . . . Oxygen supply shut off. 11 . . . 12 . . . 13. . . . Will not be long now. 18 . . . 19 . . . 20. * 10:11 1/2 a.m.: Surely must be dead. Don't want to make any mistake. Will be five minutes, though, before crowd gets out and he is cut down. * 10:12 a.m.: No sound. * 10:12 1/2 a.m.: Dead.