New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
ELECTRICITY OR THE ROPEi
PROPOSED INNOVATION IN CAPITAL PUN
ISHMENT,
CITY AND COUNTY oErIcERs on THE SUBSTITUTION

CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS ON SUBSTITUTION
OF ELECTRICITY FOR HANGING.
With Dam Driscoll lying under the very
shadow of the gallows which is to terminate his
illspent life, while his counsel are busy with the
last efforts to save his neck or to postpone his
end aud with the whole community under the
stress Of nervous tension that invariably comes
upon it when an execution is imminent, only to
be relieved when the loud, shrll cry Of Extra
from the mouths of vociferous newsboys shall an
nounce the completion Of the tragedy; the ques-
tion recently raised regarding the substitution of
some other method of executing criminals in place
Of hanging acquires especial interest
On the basis of the elaborate and exhaustive re-
port on the subject of new mode Of execution
prepared by commissioners appointed for the pur-
pose, Elbridge T. Gerry, Alfred p. Southwick and
Matthew Hale, bill was introduced in the State
Senate last week by Senator Coggeshall abolishing
execution by hanging and substituting for the rope
current Of electricity sufficient to cause death
which shall be continued until life is extinct.
The purpose of the change proposed is two-fold:
to produce death in the quickest and least painful
manner, and to lessen the chances Of cruel bung-
ling work on the part Of the executioner and re-
duce the horribly slow, though necessary, prepa-
rations for terminating life.
In short, it is a step toward humanity and
decency that is proposed. The effect on the
criminal to be executed and the other inmates
Of the prison where the dreadful scene is to take
place, OF hammering and carpenter work in the
jail yard whenever the gallows is set up, is re-
garded rs simply cruel and the painful details of
binding, Gaping and otherwise preparing the I'M
fOrtunates who die on the galows have always
been described as trying in the extreme to the
necessary. lawful spectators, to the criminal and
to the attendants having these duties to perform.
The machinery of executions has always been
slow and tedious in its operation like that of the
criminal law itself
ONE SHERIFF HAS HANGED MS MAN.
In New-York City the execution of criminals
has generally been performed in as careful and
merciful manner as was possible, so long as the
method prescribed by law that of hanging, was
in vogue-and the same may be said Of executions
throughout the State; for in most places now the
work is attended to by the same person who will
execute DriscOll tomorrow, his services being
called on by nearly all the sherfs in the State
1t is a thing for sheriff personally TO do this
work with his own hand the most notable excep-
ton being that of the hand now upon the helm
Of the National Administration.
But with all this care blunders have been
made even in this city, where not many years
ago most distressing death was suffered through
the nervousness Of the executioner. who mad
vertently misplaced the knot. But it has long
been felt that even when everything is done
properlv the present mode Of execution is revolt
ing The criminal may suffer pain and may
have not CLEAN Of consciousness after the rope
is cut: vet the violent character OF hanging
whether II operates by the falling of a heavy
WEIGHT which raises the bOdy-as in this country
or. as in England, by the falling of the body
tbrongh n trap. in either case breaking the neck
nv force. has made it seem too much like butch-
cry TO he continued longer in these enlightened
DAYS when the appliances Of science NAV SO
readily he utilized to produce death WIN i'''
ma cilinerv and less apparent means. . No
Tho commissioners in making their report. re-
viewed the custom Of different countries ana ~
ferent ages. and pointed out that inc ess.n.'aa
difrerence between the methods employed by savage
ntions or in early and less refined ages was
difference in. brutality All meIhotS '" Erorob
@nilIotine or the military bnllet-are objected 10
on that ground. we'll rs on the Ground OF re-
tv humanity and absence Of disfgurcment, seem
to be required in such community as TINS
WHY CRIMINALS ARE EXECUTED.
Tb-ro are some who. regarding the in1iction OF
tbc death mentality as intended primarily not TOT
the removal Of the criminal from the society TO
which he has become a menace. but for the warn
ing of his class that they must deslst from muir
the public in all their details. and that those
details should be sufficiently horrible to act as
deterrent. A gentleman who discussed this sub
iect with TRIBUNE reporter yesterday insisted
that every execution ought to take place IN the
CITY Hall square, in order that the attending
crowd-which he assumed would consist OF the
evil-minded and the evil-doers-might see how
dreadful was the end of such maefactors
But in view of the consequences of familiar
ling thou ghtess spectators with the sight or Vlo
lent. albeit legal death; of the testimony OF those
whose duties have compelled them to witness
many executions that the sensibilities become
dulled to such an extent that the idea that h'i-
man life IS involved almost disappears; re-
calling the descriptions Of public executions IN
old times. when the most solemn act OF society
,vas turned into grand show: and recalling that
IN countries like France. where the execution OF
criminals is by the guillotne or on the block the
lower orders are not less but more prone TO shed
blood on their own account.it IS probable that
there are not many who would coincide with TINS
oninion as to the desrability OF pubic executions
n there he any virtue in capital punishment
as n deterrent from chine, It seems as though the
unutterable sOlemnity OF a disappearance from
public view and an execution OF Whlch the Pm PIN
he announcements alone can reach the public,
would be quite as effective in that dlrecti0n. IN
the bill introduced by senator 1oe - sbs bo5y
nrohihjtion Of religions or funeral services anu
limitation Of permissible accounts in the newspa- |
pers to mere Improvements Oh 'ic i"oo VI ~
cution are provided for.
SHERIFF GRANT FAvORs THE BILL
A TRIBUNE reporter called on various ohcers
Of the city and county, and found that in the |
main they favored any change in the law thai
would conduce to the quiet and orderly execution
of criminals. do away with the sensational eie
ment. and. especially relieve them of the duty OF
ii srotcbino their fellow-men. Sheriff Grant said
'tbat no was decidedly in favor Of that provision
~ the hin directing that executions take place IN
tho States prisons under the direction of State
oxccutioner The latter provision was, virtually |
in force now. for one man superintendent execu.
tlopS M h omnloved directly by the State than
that he should have now; forty employers ci In