The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-06-13
TORTURING III ELECTRICITY.
Tho AaBHt which the Killers NJ tho
CzaT We're coin npeiIcd 10 UudcrpO.


Russakoff and Jalibof, tho killers Of
the Car of Russia, were nercilcssly put
TO torture. Russakof was elcctriciaed
by powerful batteries, and forced by the
intolerable agony he suffered TO answer
the questions put to him.
Park Benjamin, the scientific export,
said to New York reporter: "Ihd
idea of torturing criminals by electricity
IL not original with the Russians. 1t is
British invention, and was first sug-
gested about five years ago by an English
mechanical Journal in commenting up
on the execution Of criminals by electric
shock instead of 10y hanging. The En-
glish writer wanted 10 do away with the
cat-o'-nne-tnils, which il administered
III England to garroters aud other GRIM
inals Of certain classes, ANA uoo tho oies
trio battery, as he somewhat grimly ex-
pressed it, so ms to produce absolutely
indcscribable torture, unaccomrnnled by
wounds or even bruises, thrilling
through every fiber of such mscrcans.
There was an American inventor who
had design for inilicing this species OF
punishment. He fitted brackets OF iron
on the arms and thighs Of the criminal,
and placed in them wet spongcs When
connected with current of electricity,
the shock would by this system poss
through the legs and shoulders, and
avoid the vital parts OF the body.
The torture inflicted by electricity
IL of two kinds-by contraction ol the
muscles at rapidly.rrcurring intervals
and by Burning with sparks. The tort
urcs Of old days, when not done by fire
~ compression, were the straining and
tearing asunder Of the muscles. o. this
kind we're the rack, scaycmgcr's dmgh-
ter and the cages Of Louis NV, III
which man could not stand up or lie
down. The electric shock exactly re-
verses these conditions. II produces IN
enormously-rapid contraction in the
body Of the muscles mt very short inter-
walls. The degree of pain produced IL
about the same. The force of the cleo
tricity has to he nicely graded, as II too
powerful shock would numb or kill a
man.
1.-THE other method is by conlcnsing
number of intermittent sparks on the
flesh. This burns the skin. aud nj the
same time produces contractlons Of the
muscles. If put to the side vi the jaw 1t
would make every tooth ache.
A distinguished surgeon, OF whom
questions were asked concerning the
machine. said "l'hc best way to cX-
plain it is to give you actual cXpcrl-
cucc then you will know exactly how
it feels. Here is Faradic induction
coil. pull ont this tube little way.
Now, let me place this clcctrode in your
hand. There"
ooh !" exclaimed the inquirer, ms n
tingling, thrilling sensation ran through
every finger, and his hand closed in an
involuntary grasp.
"Docs it hurt :" asked the doctor.
"a little"
"Well, we'll try again. Now, You
see, | pull this tube further ont.
again touch it to your hand and"
"WhoopW shouted the victim take
it away T.
The feeling WIS as if the hand was
crushed in wise. Every nerve ached
and trcmbled with pain.
"That hurt, did it? Why, that's
nothing. Here's something Of very
, different sort.
He fastened to one wire small wet
sponge, and to the other wire something
like paint-bnish, with the brush part
made Of fine wire. He put the sponge
= in the visitors hand and thon touched
> theback Of the hand with iLe wire brush.
d The pain was unbcnrabic. The surface