Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-07-20
USE OF ELECTRICITY
In the Execution of Criminals-Edison's
Opinion-Experiment

ecuten Cluer Cne new law compelling the
use of electricity as the agent of death,
he said: There is no reason why there
should he 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 high tension must be used,
and an alternating current rather than a
straight one.
A straight current flows constantly in
one direction an alternating current is
reversed. 1t is as if the generator first
exerted a great push upon the conduc-
tor, and then suddenly a great pull. If
the human body is the subject of such a
varying strain the result is much intensi-
fed. 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. 1t was a straight
current and he survived. If it had been
an alternating flow of the same intensity
Mr.. Edison would have lost valuable
assistant very suddenly.
Speaking of the method of applying
the current in executing criminals, Mr..
Edison said: II should think it better to
apply it through the arms or legs. 1t
might be sent through the head by maxi
ing connections at the back of the head
and on the forehead, but l 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 be
separated in the middle by means of an
insulating bar. This would take the
place of link. In this bar the two wires
would be fitted, one joining with the left
handcutf, 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
dictator, and when it registered 1900
volts, or thereabouts, the current could
be applied with perfect certainty as to
its res ats
current upon the nan2"
llIdt 10 SOlueN lldt 'iil.lCult u say,
replied Mr.. Edison. Il do not think that
the electricity kills the man direct. 1t
acts upon his nerves and muscles in such
a way that they themselves destroy him.
You know how little shock contracts
the muscles. Imagine how 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 and
destroys it, but rather that it excites the
physical forces of nerve and muscle to a
tremendous and perhaps fatal pitch. This
is my view of it. There is no doubt
about tho death of the subject"
Then you approve of execution by
electricity3'
Il do not approve of any execution"
said Mr.. Edison, gravely. IL think that
the killing of human being is an act of
foolish barbarity. 1t is childish-un-
worthy of developed intelligence. So
ciety must protect itself, but it is not
driven to any such means except by its
own refusal to be wise. believe in the
confinement of criminals. There are
some that should be restrained all their
lives, but killing them destroys the last
hope of making them useful would
have them work. but not in such a way
as to conflict with the laborers in fac
tories. No, l am not in favor of eXecu-
tions, but if they are to take place cleo
tricity will do the work, and it is more
certain and perhaps little more civilized
than the rope.
I'VE killed dog here yesterday, con-
tinued Mr.. Edison. ''Some people who
We're investigating this subject brought
him here, and we consented to do it. bSo
far as the unfortunate animals death
was concerned, the experiment was q
success"
Mr.. Bachelor, already alluded to, had
charge Of this execution, and he de-
scribed it. The large dynamos used in
the laboratory develop straight cur
rent, and, as an alternating one was
wanted, some little work was needed to
prepare for theexperiment. To a dynamo
which sends out current for some street
lights in the vicinity of the laboratory
and which develops current of 1900
volts, Mr.. Bachelor added an alternating
contrivance. One wire was then led out
through a window and connected with q
sheet of tin upon the ground. The Other
wire entered basin CT water close by
the tin. The dog-a poor little mongre
was expected % stand upon the sheet
OF tin and attempt to drink the
water. In that case the current would
have had a circuit from his lips an6
tongue through his head and body to hi'
legs. Either from an instinct informing
, him of his peril or because he WASH
; thirsty, poor doggy declined to be hi
I, own eXecutioner. He hung back and re
,, garded the tin suspiciously. There wa
, a rope attached to his collar, and after i
became apparent that he would not in
: vite the stroke of fate, the experimental
D pulled upon this rope in such way tina
a the dogs forepaws were forced into thu
4 basin. He fell instantly without utter
9 ing a yelp or whine. There was Sigh
= convulsive twitching of the limbs, but
9 SO far as human eye could see, no lif
= was in him for a single instant after TIN
9 passage of the current. Death was 81
n sudden that it seemed impossible that h
: could have suffered a single pang. H
. was buried near the place of his takin,