Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-01-20
Electricity as an Executioner.

The revolving scenes accompanying the
execution of several criminals in this vi
ciniiy are well calculated TO bring TO pub
lie notice the disadvantages Of hanging
as mode of capital punishment.
The teachings of science are needed
and sought for in the building OF prisons,
in the management and care of convicts,
and in every modern correctional system !;
and vet In so simple and easy a process as
the extinguishing of human life they are
utterly ignored. $500 -.
The most certain and painless death
known to science is caused by the light
ming stroke, or by, what amounts TO the
same thing the electric shock. When a
powerful discharge Of electricity is re-
ceived In the body existence simply stops,
and the reason is obvious. Helmboltz
has proved that, for any vibration which
results in sensation TO reach the brain
through the nerves, one tenth Of second
of time is required. Furthermore, time
Is also needed for the molecules of the
brain TO arrange themselves through the
effect Of that vibration, through the mo-
tions and positions necessary To the com
plction of consciousness, and for this an
additional period of one-tenth Of second
is expended Consequently, il, for ex-
ample, we prick our finger with pin it
takes two tenihs of second for us 10 feel
and recognize the hurt. 1t can easily be
conceived, therefore, that if an injury Is
inflicted which instantly units the nerves
to transmit the motion which results in
sensation, or IL the animating power Is
suddenly suspended by an injury 10 the.
brain before the latter completes con
sciousness, then death inevitably follows
with no intervention of sensibility what
ever.
Now a rifle bullet which traverses the
brain in the one -thousandth Of second.
manifestly must cause this instant stop
page ct existence, and proof OF this is
found in the placid faces OF the dead, and
in the fact that there is nothing more
common than to find men lying dead on
the battle fields, shot through the brain,
but with every member stitiened in the
exact position IL was in when the bullet
did Its work. But rife ball is slow be-
side the electric shock. Persistence of
vision iinpresses lightning flash on the
retina for one sixth Of second, but its
actual duration is barely one one hundred.
thousandth OF second.
The effect of the shock on the system is
excellently described by Prof. Tyndall,
who, while occurring before large audi.
ence, Inadvertently touched the wire lead.
ing from fifteen charged Leyden Jars, and
received the whole discharge through his
body. Luckily the shock was not power
full enough 10 be fatal but as the lecturer
regained his senses he experienced the
astonishing sensation of all his members
being separate and gradually fastening
themselves together. He says, however,
that :" life was blotted out for sensible
interval, and he dwells with much stress
upon the opinion that there cannot he a
doubt that, TO person struck by light
ming, the passage from life to death occurs
Without consciousness being In the least
degree implicated. II is an abrupt stop
page of sensation, unaccompanied by u
pang." So much for the death which, by
suitable alteration Of the law, we would
have substituted for slow strangtilation.
The next point Is ITS practical accomplish.
ment.
Instead of building gailows and pro-
yiding rope, the Sheriff, advised by q com.
petent electrician, would procure pow
ertul Ruhmkorf coil and heavy battery.
These instruments would rarely need re-
plscing and would last indefinitely Cor
other executions. The battery and coil
should be OF sufficient strength TO deliver
an cighieen-inch spark In case of there
being more than one person TO be executed
all OF the condemned would be conducted
with all due ceremony TO the place OF
execution, the left hand OF one man hand
cufied 10 the right hand Of his neighbor,
and the conducting wire fastened to brace
lets on the disengaged wrists OF both
criminals, If only two are to be hanged.
or 10 the wrists OF the outer men. If more
than that number are 10 suffer. The cul.
prits being seated so rs 10 be seen by the