Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-06-07
DEATH IN AN ARM CHAIR.
A New Device for the Execution of Criminals .
Electricity.

"A
Electricity.
[From the New York SUM-
Mr.. Ell. b. Sheridan, the patentee OF
some twenty electrical machines, ana
the electrician of the Sheridan Electric
Company, has applied for patent tor
what he Terms an improved device for
executing animals condemned to aeatn.
He accompanied his application py ah
assignment transferring to the govern
ment the right to use his invention. he
also intends to give it to all foreign gov.
ernmeuts that may desire it. The patent
! office returned the assignment 10 MN;
saving it had no power to receive 1t, ana
telling him to seek out the proper
authority.
Mr.. Sheridan's device is method OF
causing instantaneous death without
pain to the criminal, and without distig-
uring his body. 1t consists of an ordl-
nary arm chair with legs containing
some substance which will insulate the
body of the chair from the floor. Inc
arms end in two brass knobs, on which
the hands cf the criminal will rest. me
chair has a foot rest on which is fitted a
brass plate. The back OF the chair Is
as high as Il mau's shoulders. At the
top is small knob, with hole for
peg. The positive wire OF q dynamo.
electric machine runs up the back OF
the chair, and ends in the knob. The neg
ative wile runs to a resistance coil under
the chair, aud thence to the brass plate
In the foot rest. Another positive WIRE
runs to one nf the brass knobs on the
arms of the chair, and a second mega
tive wire to the other knob. The wires
can be connected with a machine miles
away by conducting wires.
The chair is III condition to be used
in two ways, MS the two sets of wires
are not operated together. II the foot-
rest wire is used, somo preparation IS
needed. A small silken collar is fitted
tightly on the Leck of the C iminal. 1t
has Oh the inside at the back small
brass. button, which fits closely against
the spinal process. 1t is connected
with a small silk cable, which hangs
loosely and ends in q brass peg. This
collar is put on the criminal i'll his cell
il the same manner as The Moose end
used in hapsings. He is then brought
out with feet bored, and is seated III
the chair. StrSpB fasten lis arms to
INC tJtiE bIulS uGil 'llS " VIC
chair legs. The brass pes of the silk
cable is inserted in the hrls- il the brass
knob at the back tf the chair, ard is
there held by u screw. The bare feet of
the criminal rest on the brass plate of
the foot-reEt. The circuit would now be
complete We're it not that the positive
wine is broken at short distance from
t&e chair. Connection can be estab
liEhcl at once by turning n switch, or by
pressing button. The full charge Of
electricity enters The criminals body ut
the spinal cord AID passes out Mt his
feet. The resistance coil, which it
meets uuder the chair asgravates lis
force, and prevents it from ipiuring the
dynamo machi.e on it's return. The
& jmlnal is killed nstantaneousiy and
without pain, as the electricity acts
much more quickly than the nerves Of
sgusation.
The second method Of using the chair
is to discharge the current into The palms
OF the hands through the large brass
knobs. In this case no collar is needed,
and the subject need not be barefoot. In
either case all the wires and apparatus,
excepting the small collar, world be out
- 'i-Ni tll' NOli u oet IcUt-
ing but nn ordinary chair. 1ne sheriff
could signal the eXecutlouer to turn the
switch OF lie could press button in
the floor, and ia u. second all would be
over.
Mr.. Sheridan says that he invented
this machine in the interest of humanity,
and that he gives the invention to tie
government, as he does not wish to make
any money ont Of it He says that there
is no possibi ity of its failing to do its
work quickly ana well. 1t will prevent
all such dreadful scenes rs the struggles
OF Cornettl at White Pltins. Mr. Sher-
ldan says that he will manufacture one Of
his arm chairs at ooce and get it i'll full
working order. He intends to have
bilS introduced III the legislature next fall
authorizing its use.