Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-16
EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

A law passed by the New York legisla- ture last winter requires that after January i next all criminal executions ill the state shall take place by electricity except in the cases of those persons whose crimes were committed prior to that date. This law was the result of report made by com mission appointed by Governor Hill which consisted of Elbridge T, Gerry, Matthew Hale and Alfred P. Southwick. This com mission conducted series of experiments, made chiefly by electrical experts upon dogs, and recommended electricity. The law, however, as passed, made no pro vision for any uniform system of appica- tion through the state. Hence, as the com mission has done nothing towards pro viding methods of application, the Medico- Legal society took up the question, and at its monthly meeting this week heard the report of committee appointed to de termine the best form of applying an electrical shock to cause instant death. The apparatus recommended in this report will undoubtedly be adopted fer use by the state.
 After repeated experiments, made chief ly upon dogs, plan was devised satisfac tory to the committee and an apparatus designed A leather rest holds the crimi- nars head, and bands across his forehead and face keep him from moving. A metal bar tipped with a ball for an electrode is fitted to the top of his head. Another simi- lar bar and ball touches his barred back be- tween the shoulders and oyer the spinal cord The electrode which touches his head is connected with the positive pole of the current. The one on his back is con nected with the negative pole. When the poles are joined the current will pass downward through the head, and go out through the pole at the back. Electric cur rents ditfuse themselves as broadly as the conductor will permit. The currents, therefore, almost completely fill the head and neck, swelling pear shaped and taper ing again enter the negative pole. This swelling of the current will cut every point of vital energy in the brain and the great nerve passages leading downward through the neck. Death is instantaneous and
 without shudder.
 After describing the process and effect of the electrical current the report recom- mends that the death current be admins manner:
 A stout table covered with rubber cloM and having holes along its borders for binding, or a strong chair, should be pro cured. The prisoner, lying on his back or sitting, should be firmly bound upon this table or in the chair. One electrode
 should be so inserted into the table or into
 the back of the chair that it will impinge
 upon the spine, between the shoulders | The head should be secured by means of sort of helmet fastt ned to the table or | back of the chair and to this helmet the
 other pole should be so joined as to press firmly with its end upon the top of the | head. We think a chair i ; preferable to a
 table. The reophores can be led off to the | dynamo through the floor, or to another room, and the instrument for closing the circuit can be attached to tho wall The electrodes should be of metal, not over one inch in diameter, somewhat ovoidal in shape, and covered with thick layer of sponge or chamols skin. The poles and the skin and hair at the points of contaC t should be thoroughly wet with warm
 water. The hair should be cut short. A dynamo generating an electromotive force | of at least 5000 volts should be employed Either continuous or alternating current
 may be used, but preferably the latter The current should be allowed to pass for
 thirty seconds.
 Other states will watch with interest the | results of electrical executions in NewYo ork.
 and it is probable we may yet be spared the ghastly scenes that have frequently been tL 6 l result of bungling work on the part of
 amateur hangmen. If we are to have the
 death penalty at all it ought to be admins | tered in the most effective and least seL-
 sational way possible. The method recom-
 mended above seems adapted to all exi-
 gencies.
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