New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-17
LIGHTNING FOR MURDER
REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSION.

REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSION
HANGING CRUEL AND UNSUCCESSFUL As DE-
Observation-Disclosures NECESSARY UNDER rHs
NEW MODE uF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
ALBANY, Jan IL. - The commissisn. conppsel Of
Elbridge T. Gerry, Alfred r. Southwick and Matthew
Hail. ~ investigate an report the most humane and
practical method of carrying into effect the sentence of
death In capital smt,e their report tho
Legislature today IL embclcs tho results OF much pa
TENT rese ,rch and study Many pages plsd with
review OF all the different mohods OF INJECTING ju IL
cally imposed death sentences from the very earliest
do the present times These historically con
sdered and 1t is aseertaned that there exist civilized
countries at the time only i've different Of
execution. These tho sustinc. used in ten coun
tries the sword used IN nineteen; the gallows 10
three the muskst In two. and the axe in From
their studies the commissioners draw these conclusions
a. That the effort To diminish the
oasess inv"Slns different grades Of mo- al i"rands or
waich capt4i shment is applicable. proved
90 ma, any undue or gecu ar severity in the mode Of
eSS%rrescs he OF e nor to rr,inee Ssterrent eSe
- ns ron iss long Gsog1s o. variSas ms,he. s OF
only are now practically res1rsed to by tbs civilized
To all of the i've vailing methods tina Commission
fads insapsrsbls objections The American method Of
hanging described fsarfuy cruel uncertain liable
to all kinds OF mechanical complications. offering more
than any method opportunities fer suicide and other dis
tressing efforts to cheat justice. for clumsy and
skful the part Of the executisnsr, leaving
the criminal in a condition that encourages attempts at
rcsu.ctation. and as being in the Of par
tcuarly disgusting and horrible Tne Of electricity
is then urged in these words:
PERHAPS potent agent known for tho desruc-
zion human l. Ia electricity. Death result in
for IT'S Ssnss the aiSaaases aud facilities which
has " 70 an ssno prS on
whh be recognzel The velocity OF The electric
great that the brain psraiyzed Upon this sub
Jet and also nIo1 the general ahP.nly OF cleo rcty
communicable from your commission, states -
tn. current down the spinal cord from the head
as b. The application Of we surfaces or rns
proper painless sInct.n OF all the fac9l
resil, suca complete hsry.a, forbid any
The mission witnessed a number OF experim mem is
with electricity a means of destroying animal fe
They performed dogs and from them these de-
auctions drawn:
First That death produced by sufficiently power pl cleo
rc current the most rapid aad humane produced by any
secoad Tst r-susctation after the passage Of s9ch
Third That the apparatus be used shOaa be ARRANGED to
and n,sliigenGe IN The BRAN xo,,a p. chat, with head
aud which the condemned could be seated in
% e an G1' other With TS S Se @
wS o s 81 meta n the e%s Is
supplied from the electric light wires there would b. but
frce, with outside H. no Tever MS
@ The I Plant sG pace
~" line for thai purpose which won aepea somewhat on
the length Of varying from $3.50 $500 H. how
tcoastin Of an alternating machine
which would urnsh electric current Of sufficient power
pense SoaIG be Gotwees $50 AMI 500 ''''""
e cot OF a s.hs S OF p th @ %
ned the expense Of conducting execution would be In
most ysaoe plan woud he to establish places execution
M e ah 5 at be
Independent which could be Independently Of
any ie o. which
use at al me, In on 20 s s SSd eepsSp e
could be failure Of sufficient
The expense OF such double appliance would not in the
pso9 OF ynr n 1ee eSce the %o55 T
be IN ths nature Of permanent
stantiallv no expense in keeping 1t in repair.
Inquiries addressed by the Commission TO all the
Supreme Justices. DistrctAtorneys and sherfs
throughout ths AID 10 all the mere distinguished
medical scientific The sentiment in favor OF doing
away with hanging aad Of substituting electricity was
almost unanimous Befsr. submitting its final recon-
mendaons the Commission thus refers to subject fire.
QuenJy spoken OF in the press
One point remains considered by your commission
Euhsct deterrent effect of capital executions
one principal WIN at the present time the
the s Of the sn OT bo T1cs
The crm after death over his relatives and
aa s:sd ~ men have Occurred
CITY of New York After an execution has been duly
the decea.ed comp and his sympahizers
naae IN s most drunken ana b.asfy ofsc: Eaoges
s as III. ev deeds
OF heroism. "a the punishment Inflicted ope
rating deterrent the very boldness with when ne
the cell 10 the scahed eItOed an act OF
herO sm and evidence OF courage ana valor.
inst al this the execution were to take place IN
ONLY OF the officers o. the law
10 nheton and TO preserve proper record
thereof Immediately thereafter snsrtem exanlns
lion were be body then
be delivered dissection all interest the
criminal practically with his sentence As his
lie IL foreed 70 the State there good
body should not also be the SUBJECT OF forfeit
The Commission also suggested that all executions
take place in state prison rather than in or about
ias the particular counties IN which the erlse
has committed The particular State prison should
be Indicated by the Judge his sentence and the prls
tithsr and there confined until
be executed The this law vsuld be to lessen
the chances OF escape crowds at executions anu
lead TO shorter aud less saeha reports In the news
papers
The Commissions final recon me ndat.ons are given
below Accompanying report is the text or an act
amending the present laws in accordance with the Com
Missions conclusions:
That method Of inficng the death PEN
atv lie abolished and that current OF cleo
destroy fe7ns Tan taneJusy,
be passed thr-ugh the body OF the convict . e....
Second such execution take place IN state
prison be in its judgment ana
and the time OF the execution ne not M 1
BY the except by designating period "thn WHICH
Third that Immediately after the execution post NOR
emit and the led the medical
fessisn buried without ceremony
in the prison cemetery or graveyard with suceh QUICK
line O their immediate consumption.
public accounts OF the execution Dc nm
regards its details
tanei In creating them respectfully submit me
consideration and annex hereto as patt
their report proposed act when they Deie'e VIII 'eoi
effective the changes they have suggested
SETTLING LABOR DISPUTES.