Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-07
Execution by Electricity.

Mr.. I'll. B. Sheridan of New York,
the patentee of some twenty electrical
machines and electrician of the Sheri-
dan Electric Company, has applied
for patent for what he terms an i'm.
proved device for executing criminals
condemned to death. He accompan-
led by an assignment transferring to
the Government the right to use it. 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 re-
ceive it, and telling him to seek out
the proper authority. His device is q
method of causing instantaneous death
without pain to the criminal and with
out disiguring his body. It consists of
an ordinary arm chair with legs con-
tanning some substance which will in
sulate the body of the chair from the
moor. The arms end in two brass knobs
on which the hands of the criminal
rest.
The chair has foot rest on which is
fitted q brass plate. The back is as
high as mans shoulders. At the top
is 8 small knob with q hole for a peg.
The positive wire of 8 dynamo cleo
trio machine runs up the back OF the
chair and ends in knob. The mega
tive wire runs to a resistance coil IN
der the chair and thence to the brass
plate into the foot rests. Another pos
tive wire runs to one of the brass
knobs on the arms of the chair, and
second negative wire to the other knob.
The wires can beconnected vita a ma
I los hx-x1 IL
is IN d condition to be used in two WAYS
If the foot rest wire is used some pre-
parotion is needed. A small silken
collar is fitted on the neck of the Grim
inal. 1t has on the inside at the back
a small brass button which fits closely
against the spinal process. It is con-
nected with small cable, hangs loose
ly, and ends In brass peg. This col
lar is put on in his cell in the same
manner as the moose end used in hang
ing. He is brought out with feet barred
and seated in the chair. Straps fasten
his arms and his legs to the chair.
The brass peg of the cable is inserted
In the hole in the brass knob at the
back, and is there held by screw.
The bare feet of the criminal rest on
the brass plate of the foot rest. The
circuit would be complete were it not
that tie positive wire is broken at
short distance from the chair. Connec-
ton can be made at once by turning q
switch or pressing button. The full
charge of electricity enters the crimi-
nails body at the spinal chord 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 re-
turn. The criminal is killed instanta-
neously and without pain. The second
method of using the chair is TO dis
charge the current into the palm of the
hands through the large brass knobs.
In this case no collar is needed, and the
subject need not be barefooted
In either case all the wires and ap-
paratus, except the small collar, would
be out of sight, and the criminal would
see nothing but an ordinary chair. The
sheriff could signal the executioneer to
turn ithe switch, or he could press the
button in the floor, aud in second all
would be over. Mr.. Sheridan said he
invented his machine in the interest oil
humanity. He says that there is nc
possibility of its failing to do its work
quickly and we'll He will manufacture
one of his arm chairs and get it in full
working order. He intends to nave 8
bill introduced In the next legislature
authorizing itsuse.