Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-19

4
Mr.. H. b. Sheridan. the patentee o.
some twenty electrical machines and tn,
electrician of the Sheridan Electrical
Company. has applied for = patent fol
what he terms an improved device fol-
executing criminals condemned TO death.
de accompanied his application by an
assignment transferring to the govern
ment the right to use his invention. He
also intends to give it to all foreign gov
ernments that may desire it The Pa
tent Once returned the assignment to
him, saying it had no power to receive
II, and telling hmm 20 seek the proper au-
tnorlty. Mr.. Sheridan's device is a meth
Cd of causing instantaneous death with
out PAIN to the criminal and without
distlgurin9 his body. IL consists Of an
ordinary armchair. with legs containing
some substance which will insuiate
the body OF the chair from the floor.
The arms end in two brass knobs, on
which the hands Of the criminal will
rest. The chair has a foot rest on
which Is lifted brass plate. The back
OF the chair Is as high as q mans shout
ders. At the top is small knob with a
hole for peg. The positive wire of
Dynamo electric machine runs up the
back OF the chair and ends in the knob.
The negative wire runs TO a resistance
coil under the chair, and thence to the
brass plate in the foot-res.. Another
positive wire runs to one of the brass
knobs on the arms of the chair, and q
second negative wire to the other knob.
The wires can be connected With a ma
chine miles away by conducting wires
The chair is in condition to be used in
two ways, as the two sets of wires are
not operated together. If the foot-rest
wlre Is used, come preparation is need
cd. A small silken collar is fitted
tightly on tee neck of the criminal. 1t
has on the inside, at the back, a small
brass button, which fits closely against
tae spinal process. Ii is con-
neoted with a small silk cable, which
hangs loosely and ends in a peg. The
collar is put on the criminal IN his cell
in the same manner as the moose end
used in hangings. He Is then brought
out, with feet barred, and is seated in
the chair. Straps fasten his arns to the
chair arms and his legs to the chair.
The brass peg of the silk cable is insert
ed in the hole in the brass knob ut the |
back of the chair and is there held by a |
screw. The bare feet of the criminal
Test on the brass plate OF the footrest. |
The circuit would now be complete were |
1t not that the positive wire is broken at |
a short distance from the chair. Con- |
necti0n can be established at once by |
turning switch or pressing the button. |
The full charge of electricity enters the |
body at the spinal cord aud |
passes out at his feet. The resistance |
coil which it meets under the chair az
gravates its forces, and prevents it from
lnjuring the dynamo machine on its re-
turn. The criminal is killed instant
aneously and without pain, as the cleo
'ricity acts much more quickly than the
nerves Of sensation. The second me-
'hod of using the chair is to discharge
he current into the palms of the hands
through the large brass knobs. In this
,ase no collar is needed, and the subject
iced not be barefooted. In either case
III the wires and apparatus. excepting
he small collar, would be out of sight,
md the criminal would see moth ing out
N ordinary chair. The Sheriff could
i've signal, the executioner could COM
,lete the circuit, and the ORIGINALS
teath result instantly and psinlessly.
DR.. Sheridan believes this method of
'xecuting condemned criminals far
more humane than by the often bun
ling use of the moose and scGffold.