Hoped brain would prove his innocence

1913: Charles Gilbert, imprisoned for 48 years for the murder of a bounty officer, was so determined to prove his innocence that he requested that his brain be examined after his death — believing that "the investigation would corroborate his claim of innocence by revealing that such a brain as his could not have conceived or exercised the Caldwell murder."

Scientists at Yale Medical School complied with his wish and examined his brain. However, I've not yet been able to find any report of their findings.

Sources: Leavenworth Times (Oct 18, 1913); Lincoln Star (Oct 14, 1913)

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 02, 2016
Category: Crime | 1910s | Brain

Comments

If the guy really was innocent then I feel sorry for him. So desperate that his only hope was to have it proven after his death.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/02/16 at 09:13 AM

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