Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-06-06
DEATH IN AN ARM CHAIR,
New Device for the Execution of Criminals by
Electricity.
TFrOm the New York Sim

! New Device for the Execution of Criminals, b.
Electricity.
| [From the New York Sun
MIR. IL. b. Sheridan, the patentee of
some twenty electrical machines, anC
the electrician of the Sheridan Electric
Company. has applied for a patent fol
what he terms " an improved device fol
executing animals condemned to death. >
He 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 patent
office returned the assignment to him,
saying it had no power to receive it, and
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 disfig-
urlng his body. It consists of an ordi-
nary arm chair with legs containing
some substance which will insulate 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 foot rest on which is fitted
brass plate. The back of the chair is
as high as mans shoulders. At the
top is small knob, with a hole for a
peg. The positive wire of dynamo
electric machine runs up the back of
the chair, and ends in the knob. The neg
alive wine runs to resistance coil under
the chair, and thence to the brass plate
IN the foot rest. Another positive wire
runs to one of the brass knobs on the
M oh
tive wire to the other knob. The wires
can be connected with machine 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 foo5-
rest wire is used, some preparation is
needed. A small silken collar is fitted
tightly on the neck of the C. iminal. It |
has on the inside at the back a small
brass button, which fits closely against
the spinal process. 1t is connected
with small silk cable, which hangs
loosely and ends in brass peg. This
collar Is put on the criminal in his cell
Ill 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 arms to
the chair arms and his legs to the
chair legs. The brass peg of the silk
cable is inserted in the hole in the brass
knob at tine back of the chair, and is
there held by screw. The bare feet of
the criminal rest on the brass plate of
the foot-rest. The circuit would now be
complete were it not that the positive
wire IS broken at short distance from
h ,4oI1
l1shed at once by turning a switch, or by
pressing button. The full charge of
electricity enters the criminals body at
the spinal cord and passes out at his
feet. The resistance coil, which it
meets under the chair aggravates its
force, and prevents it from iniuring the
dynamo machine on its return. The
Criminal is killed 1nstantaneousIy and
without pain, as the electricity acts
much more quickly than the nerves of
sensation.
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, would be out
of sight, and the criminal would see noth-
ing but an ordinary chair. The sheriff
could signal the executioner to turn the
switch or he could press button in
the floor, and in a 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 the
government, as he does not wish to make
any money ont of it. Hesays that there
is no possibility of its failing to do its
work quickly and we'll. It will prevent
all such dreadful scenes as the struggles
of Cornetti at White Plains. Mr.. Sher-
idan says that he will manufacture one.of
his arm chairs at once and get it in full
working order. He intends to have
bill introduced in the legislature next fall
authorizing its use