Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-08-31
USE or
In the Execution of Criminais-Edison's
Opinion-Experiment.


When Mr.. Thomas A. Edison was
asked how criminals could best be ex-
ecuted under the new law compelling the
use of electricity as the agent of death.
he said: There is NJ reason why there
should be any failure in an execution by
means of electricity. Its use for that
purpose will not require the invention Of
any new machine or the application Of
any principle not well understood. Elec-
tricity of a high tension must he used,
and an alternating current rather than q
straight one.
A straight current flows constantly in
one direction: an alternating current Is
reversed. 1t is as if the generator first
exerted n great push upon the conduc.
tor, and then suddenly a great pull. II
the human body is the subject of such a
varying strain the result is much intensi-
fled. Mr.. Bachelor, one Of Mr.. Edi-
sons right hand men in the laboratory at
Llewellyn park, appreciates this differ
ence. Some time ago he accidentally in
tercepted a current from one of the dy-
namos with his body. Ii was a straight
current and he survived. II it had been
an alternating flow of the same intensity
Mr.. Edison would have lost a valuable
assistant very suddenly.
Speaking Of the method Of applying
the current in executing criminals, Mr.,
Edison said: Il should think it better to
apply it through the arms or legs. 1t
might be sent through the head 10y max
ing connections at the back Of the head
and on the forehead, but | should think
it could be more conveniently done
through the arms, and the result would
be equally fatal. Suppose the prisoner
wore a pair Of handouts. The chain
connecting one with the other would he
separated in the middle by means Of an
Insulating bar. This would take the
place of a link. In this bar the two wires
would he fitted, one joining with the left
handcuiT, the other with the right. They
would be separated from each other.
The metal handouts would give connec-
tons with the prisoners wrists. and then
at the pressing Of a button the current
would pass, and the man would instantly
die. 1t would not require an expert
electrician as an executioner. The al,
ternating electrical machines carry an in
dicator, and when it registered 1900
volts, or ~thCreabouts, the current could
be applied with perfect certainty as tc
its results
"What would be the operation Of the
current upon the man.
THAT is somewhat difficult to say
replied Mr.. Edison. Il do not think that
the electricity kills the man direct. II
acts upon his nerves anf muscles in such
a way that they themselves destroy him,
You know how a little shock contracts
the muscles. Imagine how a violent one
causes every fiber Of the body to rend
itself TO pieces. 1t is not that the cur,
rent directly strikes any vital organ ant
destroys it, but rather that it excites thu
physical forces Of nerve and muscle 10 Q
tremendous and perhaps fatal pitch. Thit
is my view If il. There is no doub
about the death of the subject
Then you approve of execution b.
electricity
Il do not approve Of any execution
said Mr.. Edison, gravely. Il think tlal
the killing Of a human being is AN act ID
foolish barbarity. 1t is childish-un
worthy of a developed intelligence. So
ciety must protect itself but it is no
driven 10 any such means except 10y it
own refusal To be wise. believe in III,
confinement of criminals. There ar,
som that should be restrained all thCil
lives, but killing them destroys the las
hope of making them useful. | woult
have them work. but not in such a way
as 10 conflict with the laborers in fac
tories. No, | am not in favor Of eXecu
tons. but if they are 10 take place clec
tricity will do the work, and il is NOR,
certain and perhapsa little more civilized
than the rope.
1--WE killcdadog here Yesterday, con
tinucd Mr.. Edison. ''Somc people win
were investigating this subject brough
him here, and we consented to do II. Is
far us the unfortunate animals dealt
was concerned, the experiment was
success
Mr.. Bachelor, already alluded to, ha(
charge of this execution, and he de
scribed it. The large dynamos used il
the laboratory develop a straight cur
rent. and. as an alternating one wa
wanted, some little work was needed {,
prepare for theexperiment. Toa dynam,
which sends out a current for some stree
lights in the vicinity of the laboratory
and which develops a current Of 1.20l
volts, Mr.. Bachelor added an alternatin!
cOntriyance. One wire was lhen led on
through a window and connected with
sheet Of tin upon the ground, The othe
wire entered q basin Of water close b,
the tin. The dog-a poor little Inongre
was expected @ stand upon the shee
OF tin and attempt 10 drink III
water. In that case the current woul,
have had a circuit from his lips an,
tongue through his head and body to IN
isgS. Either from an instinct informinI
him If his peril or because he WASH
thirsty, poor doggy declined 10 he ii
own executioner. He hung back and re
garded the tin suspiciously. There wa
a rope attached to his collar, and after
became apparent that he would not in
wife the stroke OF fate. the experimental
pulled upon this rope in such a way tina
the dogs forepaws were forced into III
basin. lie fell instantly without utter
ing n yelp or whine. There was n sligl,
convulsive twitching of the limbs, but