The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-25
DEATH WITHOUT PAIN.
Neat Arrangement for Executing Criminal
Painiessly and Without Disagreement.
New York Special.

Neat Arrangement for Executing Grimm ais
PainiessIy and Without Disagreement.
New York Special.
Mr. H. b. Sheridan, the patentee of some
twenty electrical machines and the electri-
clan of the Sheridan Electrical Company has
applied for a patent for what he terms an
improved device for executing criminals
condemned to death. He accompanied his
application by an assignment transferring to
the government the right to use his inven-
ton. He also intends TO give it to all for
eign governments that may desire it. The
Patent Office returned the assignment to
HIM, saving it had no power to receive it,
and telling him to seek out the proper au-
thorty. Mr.. Sheridan's device is
method of causing instantaneous
death without pain TO the criminal
and without distiguring his body. IT consists
of an ordinary armchair, with legs contain
ing 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 q
foot-rest, on which is fitted a brass plate. The
back of the chair is as high as mans shout
ders. At the top is small knob, with hole
for a 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-rest.
Another positive wire runs to one of the
brass knobs on the arms of the chair, and a
second negative 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 foot-rest wire is used some preparation is
needed. small silken collar is fitted
tightly on the neck of the criminal 1t has
on the inside, at the back, small brass but
ton which fits closely against the spinal pre-
II 80 tad xntfth n n.tl D. L.
which hangs loosely and ends in brass peg
This collar is put OH 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 fas-
ten his arms to the chair arms and his legs
to the chair The brass peg of the silk cable
is inserted in the hole in the brass knob at
the back OF the chair and is there held by a
screw. The bare feet Of the criminal rest on
the brass plate of the foot-rest The cir
cult would now be complete were il
not that the positive wire is broken at a
short distance from the chair. Connection
can be established at once by turning a
switch or by pressing the 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 aggrsvates its force and pre-
vents it from injuring the dynamo machine
on its return. The criminal is killed instan-
taneously and without pain, as the electric
ity acts more quickly than the nerves of SEN
sation. The second method of using the
chair Is to discharge the current into the
palms oil 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 apparatus, ex-
cepting the small collar, would be out of
sight, and the criminal would see nothing
but an ordinary chair The sheriff could
give a signal, the executiOner could complete
the circuit, and the criminals death result
lieves this method of executing condemned
criminals far more humane than by the
often bungling Use Of the moose and scaffOld.