The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

TnE commission appointed by the
New York legislature TO inquire and re-
port as to the best method of inflicting
the death penalty, after thorough and
careful examination of tke methods
practiced in civilized countries, propose
&c amend the present statutory penalty
by substituting electricity for the gallows.
The method proposed will be sudden
silent, painless and infallibly efficient.
There is very general desire among the
American people that the present barbar-
Gus and inhuman method of execution
shall be done away with, and that if hu-
man life must be taken 10 satisfy the re-
quirements Of society it should be done
as painlessly and mercifully as possible.
In most countries the instruments of the
execntioner are the sword and the gull
iotine, but the advantages they possess
over the halter are not great enough to
make it worth while to change. They
are quicker and surer, and they put an
end 10 all hope of resuscitation, but they
produce such ghastly spectacles as to hor-
rify the most stolid of official life-takers.
The one fact which has operated so long
20 retain the gallows is that its victims
body, if it be disfigurcd, is at least entire.
He is not mutilated. His blood is not
drawn. Criminals whose moral instincts
seem to be wholly gone and who have
net enough spirituality to care for their
souls, often display much feeling concern
ing the fate of their dead bodies. They
should not be deprived of the slight sat
isfaction 10 be taken from the knowledge
that they can go to their graves without
suffering actual dismembermemt.
Every claim Of justice and every argu-
ment of mercy are satisfied by the use of
electricity. Concerning its efficacy in
dealing the dcath-blow, the commission
has produced voluminous and convincing
testimony. Eminent medical and scien-
tific men have furnished the commits
sion with the results Of experiments upon
animals quite as tenacious of life as man.
and have shown just what machinery is
needed TO carry out the capital sentence.
1t could be provided at an expense of
from $3.50 to $500. II would consist of
slightly reclining chair with metallic
head and foot rest. Into these electrodes
would be fastened. The current would
thus pass through all the centres of func-
ticn and intelligence and death would be
80 instantaneous that sensation could not
be possible
The commission also recommend that
all executions occur in one specified pris-
on and that conyicfs from the various
counties be sent thifher as soon as SEN
tence is imposed. The warden of the
prison shall select the day of execu-
ton and twenty-cne citizens shall be
present as witnesses all of whom NAV
be newspaper reporters, but it is desired
20 prevent the publication of descriptive
reports.
The body is TO be delivered to a medical
college for dissection or buried in a pris-
on graveyard in order 10 escape public
gatherings Of the curious and sickly
wakes that We are, continually hearing
Of While some of the details are open
TO severe criticism, the main recommen-
daticn to supplant the slow, strangling.
horrible death Of the gallows with in
stantanecus and painless death, lie un-
doubtedly humane.