The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-06-03
TORTURING WITH ELECTRICITY.
TIE Agony which the KILLERS OF the Car
Were Compelled TO Undergo.

the presence OF General Lorls MenKoH'
Russakoff was electricized by powerful
batteries, and forced by the intolerable
agony he suffered to answer the ques.
tions put to him.
Park Benjamin, the scientific expert,
said to a New York reporter: "The idea
of torturing criminals by electricity is
not original with the Russians. 1t Is
a British invention, and was first sug'
eested about five years ago by an Eng
lish mechanical journal, in commenting
upon the execution of criminals by
electric shock instead of by hanging
The English writer wanted to do away
with the cato nine tails, which Is ad'
ministered in England to garoters and
other criminals of certain classes, and
use the electric battery, as he somewhat
grimly expressed it, so as to produce alb
solutely indescribable torture (unac'
companied by wounds or even bruisesl
thrilling through every fiber OF such
miscreants. There was an American In
ventor who had design for inhicting
this species of punishment. He fitted
brackets of iron on the arms and thighs
of the criminal, and placed in them wet
sponges. When connected with cur
rent OF electricity the shock would by
this system pass through the legs and
shoulders, and avoid the vital parts OF
the body.
"The torture inflicted by electricity
is one of two kinds-by contraction OF
the muscles at rapidly recurring intervals
and by burning with sparks. The tor
lures Of old days, when not done by fire
or compression, were the straining and
tearing asunder of the muscles. OF this
kind were therack, scavenger's daughter,
and the cages of Louis XIV, in which a
man could stand up or lie down. The
electric shock exactly reverses these
conditions. 1t produces an enormously
rapid contraction of the body of the
muscles at very short intervals. The
degree of pain produced is about the
same. The force of the electricity has
to be nicely graded, as too powerful
shock would numb OF kill man.
"The other method is by condensing
number of intermittent sparks on the
flesh This burns the skin, and at the
same time produces contractions OF the
muscles. If put to the side of the jaw
it would make every tooth ache"
A distinguished surgeon of whom
questions were asked concerning thu
machine said "The best way to ex
plain it is to give you actual experience
then you will know exactly how it feels
Here is a Faradic induction coil.
pull out this tube little way. Now
ct me place this electrode to your hand
There"
"Ohn exclaimed the inquirer, as
tingling, thrilling sensation ran through
every finger, and his hand closed il
an involuntary grasp.
"Does it hurt ?" asked the doctor.
GA little"
DWELL, we'll try again. Now you Sc
/ pull this tube further out l agai
touch it to your hand, and"
"Whoop~ shouted the victim; "tak
it awayl" The feeling was as if tn
hand was crushed in wise. Ever
nerve ached and trembled with pain.
"That hurt, did it? Why that
nothing. Here's something of a yer
different sort"
He fastened to one wire small We
sponge and to the other wire somethin
like a paint brush, with the brush pal
made of fine wire. He put the spong
in the visitors hand and then touche
the back of the hand with the VIII
brush The pain was unbearable. I'll
surface of the skin was scorched m
the muscles of the hand were contrac
ed in violent manner.
"That is called the electric scourge
said the doctor. "If it were dark yc
could see sparks fly from each wir
Imagine the effect if the electricity we
ten times more powerful"
"Could any man bear that torture
"I think not; any man would confe
under it, but it is question what co
fdence could be placed in such Co
fession. A man would confess anythir
to escape the agony"
"What could you compare the pa
top
at would be the same as burniI
alive"
3 "Would it injure the man"
"No-not unless the pain drove hi
insane. If the battery were too powe
full it would kill at once. Applied
9 same parts of the body the scour
!. hurts more than on Others"
; Fun For the Boys.
Mrs. Lewis, the English lady who h
, recently come to this country to reg
I late its domesticity, wants to introdu
= thirteen -year-old boys as house servant