New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-06-29
.Torturing bY Electricity.


Park Benjamin, the scientific expert,
says: s"The idea of torturing criminals
by electricity is not original with the
was first suggested, about five years
ago, by an English mechanical journal,
in commenting upon the execution of
criminals by electric shock instead of
by hanging. The English writer want
ed to do away with the cat O. nine tails,
and use the electric battery, so as to
produce NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. torture,
thrilling through every fibre of such
miscreants. There was an American
inventor who had a design for inflicting
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 of two kinds-by contraction of the
muscles at rapidly recurring intervals
and by burning with sparks. The ter
lures, of old days, when not done by
fire and compression, were the straining
and tearing asunder of the muscles.
Of this kind were the rack, scavenger's
daughter, and the cages of Louis XIV,
in which man could not stand up or
lie down. The electric shock exactly
reverses these conditions. 1t produces
an enormous rapid contraction in the
body of the muscles at very short inter-
walls. The degree of pain produced is
about the same. The force of the cleo
tricity has to be nicely graded, as q too
powerful shock would numb or kill q
man.
1.-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 the
machine said: ''The best way to explain
it is actual experience then you will
know exactly how it feels. Here is a
Parable induction coil. pull out this
tube little way. Now, let me place
this clcctrode to your hand. There"
''Oh!' exclaimed the inquirer, as a
tingling, thrilling sensation ran through
every finger, and his hand closed in IN
involuntary grasp.
''Docs it hurt? asked the doctor.
IA little.''
swell, we'll try it again. Now, you
see, pull this tube further out.
again touch it to your hand and-''
''Whoop!' shouted the victim; stake
it ay!'' The feeling was as if the
hand was crushed in a wise. Every
nerve ached and trembled with pain.
''That hurt did itp Why that's
nothing. Here's some of very differ
: ent sort"
He fastened to one wire a small wet
sponge, and to the other wire something
like paint brush, with the brush part
made of fine wire. He put the sponge
in the visitors hand, and then touched
the back of the hand with the wire
brush. The pain was unbcarable.
The surface Of tho skin was scorched
and the muscles of the hand were con-
.tracted in a violent manner.
''That is called the electric scourge."
said the doctor. eff it were dark you
could see sparks fly from each wire.
Imagine the effect if the electricity
were ten times more powerful
''Could any man bear that torture p'
II think not; any man would confess
under it, but it is a question what con-
fidence could be placed in confession.
A man would confess anything to es-
cape the agony
..What could you compare the pain
to p
.'It would be the same as burning
alive.''
''Would it injure the man,
':No-not unless the pain drove him
insane. If the battery was too power
full it would kill at once. Applied to
some parts of the body the scourge
hurts more than on other parts.''