strange but true story from The Illustrated Police News
One of the most ingenious engines of destruction ever put together, was that of young American named Pillsbury, at Chelsea, London 1880.
The machine consisted of two perpendicular pieces of joist about two feet apart and reaching from the floor to the roof of the barn. About six feet from the floor had been adjusted in a piece of wood, a large, sharp axe, so that it moved up and down in a groove.
This axe was held in its place by a water pot filled with water, attached to a lever, which in turn was made to support the axe.
A hole had been made in the water pot so that when sufficient water had leaked from it to overcome the leverage above, the axe would fall.
When all arrangements had been made, the young man got upon his knees, and, putting his head through an aperture made at the bottom, slowly and calmly awaited death.
He had previously supplied himself with about two pounds of ether, and while the water was slowly dripping from the pot he placed the ether in his mouth.
When found the head was only hanging to the body by a small piece of flesh. If anyone says the yanks are not the most ingenious people in the world, and that this quality is not strong even in death, call his attention to Pillsbury’s invention.
