Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-04-23
ELECTRICAL TORTURE.
The Agony Which the Killers of the Cxar
Were Compelled To Undergo.
New York Eun

New York Sun.
According to a dispatch from Geneva
ltoussakof and Jalibof, the killers OF the
czar, have been mercilessly put to torture
III the presence OF Gen. Loris McbkoR
houssakof was electriclzcd by powerful
batteries and forced by the intolerable
agony he suffered to answer the unoo-
tions put to him.
Park BeDjamln, the scientific expert
said yesterday: "The idea of torturino
criminals by electricity is not original
with the Russians. 1t is a British inven.
tion' and was first suggested about five
years ago by an English mechanical
journal, IN commenting upon the execu-
ton OF criminals by electric shock instead
OF by hanging. The English writer
wanted to do.away with the cat.o'-nine
tails, which is administered in England
to garroters and other criminals of
certain classes, and use the electric bat
eery, as he somewhat grimly expressed
II, 80 as to produce absolutely indescrl-
oaDle torture elunaccompaniedb by wounds
OF @ even bruises). thrilling through every
nore OF such miscreants. There was All
American inventor who had design for
1lnhlcting this species OF punishments.
he Tilted brackets of iron on the arms
and thighs Of the criminal, and placed in
them wet sponges. When connected
with current 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 klnds--by contraction of the mus.
cles ut rapidly recurring intervals. and by
burning with sparks. The tort,lrcs of
Old days, when not done with fire or com
preston, were the straining and tearing
asunder of the muscles. or this kind
We're 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 con-
dltlons. 1T produces an enormously rap.
III contraction of the body of the muscles
at very short intervals. The degree of
pain prodnced is about the same. The
force of the electricity has to be nicely
graded, az q too powerful shock would
numb or kill man.
The other method is by condensing
q number of intermittent sparks on the
flesh. This burns the skin and at the
same time produces a contraction of the
muscles. If put to the side of the jaw 1t
would make every tooth ache
A distinguished surgeon Of whom ques-
tlons were asked concerning the machine
said: "Thc best way to explain it is to
give you actual experience; then you
will know exactly how it feels. Here is
Faradic induction coil. / pull out the
tudc little way. Now. let me place
this electrode in your hand. There"
"Oh," exclaimed the enquirer, as a
tingling thrilling sensation ran through
every finger, and his hand closed in an
involuntary grasp.
Does ii hurt?' asked the doctor.
"a little
"Well. we'll try again. Now. you see,
! pull this tude further ont. ag;ir
touch it to yonr hand and
"Whoop!" shouted the victim: s;take il
away" The feeling was as If the hant
was crushed IN wise. Every ncrv.
ached and trembled with pain.
"That hurt, did it? Why that's moth
ing. Here's something of a very differ
ent sort"
He fastened to one wire small. we
sponge, and to the other wire something
like paint brush, with the brush par
made Of fine wire. He put the spong,
in the visitors hand, and then touchee
the back of the hand with the wire brush
The pain was nnbearable. The surface
of the skin was scurched and the mus
cles of the hand were contracted in vi
olent manner.
That is called the electric scourge,
said the doctor. "If it We're dark yor
could see sparks fly from each wire. I'm
agine the effect if the electricity wer.
ten times more powerful"
"What could you compare the pan
to-"
at would be the same as burning
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