New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
MIR. GERRY ON DRISCOLDS DEATH
AN ARGUMENT FOR ELECTRICITY.

TOO MUCH LEFT TO THE SKILL OF THE bAhoo-
TONER IN HANGING.
Ebrdge T. Gerry, q member Of the Commission whose
report recommending the substitution of electricity for
hanging. in criminal executions, was made the basis
of a bill introduced In the Legislature by senator
Coggeshal recently, among those present at tho
execution Of Daniel Driscoll. Speaking of the matter
afterward he said to TRIBUNE reporter:
"The execution as orderly and well conducted
as 1t Is possible imagine. Death was instantaneous
and panless The neck was instantly broken and
there was no struggle and Disagreement The face
showed only the pallid hue Of death and the only In
dcatlon Of violent death was the mark OF the rope
Notwhs landing this absence Of all that renders hang
ing Objectionable, regard the execution OF this morn
ing as furnishing strong argument In favor OF sub
sttutng electricity for hanging as means OF execut
Ing condemned criminals. And why1 The very TACT
that comment on this execution as successful one
intimates that there might have been different story
to tell. Last week there was different story 10 te
for q man who was hung then had his head pulled
his body and the most revolving scene possible
was the result There have been many cases. all over
the country and even in this city, where death has
not resulted from q broken neck, as in DriscolPs
case but from stranguaton and where the death was
not instant and painless but long and horribly palm
full
"Now 1t comes right down to this Does the State
intend that tho execution OF Grimm
ais shall be brief and painless, or long
in the report of the Commission, there are many
methods Of prolongng the torture Of dying criminal
superior to hanging but II the latter, as Is assumed
there be doubt that electricity Is more certain
to produce instant, painless death than hanging Inc
only other method In vogue anywhere that compares
with IL in certainty is the garrote but that has been
used In Spain alone civilized nations, and Is oo-
Objectionable Of its physical destructiveness to
that portion Of the body which attacks. There can
be no failure in the Of electricity The current
can be tested for intensity just before use ana the
result set beyond a possibility Of doubt In the ex-
periments with dogs, made for the Commission, the
heart OF the animal was instantly reduced 10 pulp
and life was extinct, beyond all chance of reSuscita-
ton
"There can be no donbt. either, that execution by
electricity would be quite as impressive as that by
hanging There nothing impressive ABOUT the
execution saw this morning The man stood before
and presently his body rose three feet into the ar
aud that all saw. Such an execution might DO
as public as you like without there being anything
in its details act deterrent to other criminals,
which will not result from the fact that the GRIM
inal has deprived Of life. II the State INTENDS
to deprive him life without orturing him. then ne
should be put to death without running the further
risk from bungling executioner, of what the state
does not intend to nfict The present cxecutioner
NAV die. or for other reasons substitute may take
his Mace and so far as the satisfactory execution o.
this morning due to his skill, the adyanage Oi
hanging
the chance of equal skill the part OF another eA
greater certainty will result from the adoption OF
more scientific method, condemned criinindS enouiu
not be subjected" . - ror,
"Tbere has been some adverse comment on your
suggestion to limiting the newspaper reports VI
the details OF an execution , ,.,
There was no intention In that to Interfere WIN
the liberty of the press 1t was desired only 70 n'
notification Of such details OF the prisoners ue-
meanor and bear.ng as would elevate him INTO nero
and deprive his class OF the lesson the state seeks 20
give them by the execution. Drisccl hlmseii never
could understand how when he Intended TO NIL SONS
one else he could be guilty Of murder IN hlnhg
Reeze Clarity and his friends to this day look on MN
as a martyr. All that SORT 6: thing ard the celeorty
and sympathy he gains by It, Is nens'- g sPcisy
and should be discouraged. We find. however, that
the Legislature had anticipated our action In the amend
ments passed last year BY the present law only the
twelve reputable citizens may be present at an ex-
euton and, as told Of the reporters who were
present this morning. they we're there not because the
press was recognized by the state as participant ID
such an affair." but because the Sheriff recognized theh
as reputable citizens. .
"Of course that gives the Sheriff control OF the pub
city of the details for he make his own conditions
in admitting the press but II depends on who the
Sheriff is, what may be reported. As to the Objection
to our recommendation that religious services oe
permitted over the body OF an executed criminal
that does not offend religious sentiment. we
took care to study the requirements OF the Cafhoc
Church. and found that such services as were desir-
able might be held without the presence Of the body
be such as will conduce to tho public welfare