Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-15
WILL DIE PAINLESSLY
The Preparations for Killing
Kemmler Completed.
He Will Give Up the Ghost Sitting In
an Easy Chafr-Description or
the Chair, Metai-SoIed
shoes, Etc.

The proceedings on the day of putting
to death of Kemmler, the murderer, who
is 10 be executed by electricity at Auburn,
n. Y, SO far as they are at present ar
ranged, will be as follows: On whatever
morning shall be decided upon in the
week OF the execution the prisoner will
be notified; and whatever opportun-
ity he desires for religious cancellation
and farewell words will be given him.
These over, just before the hour fixed
upon for the execution the officers will
enter his cell, and the death warrant will
be read. His shoes will then be removed
and a pair resembling regular army
brocans will be substituted. In the sole
| Of these there will have been inserted a
metal plate covering the whole sole, and
connecting with wires passing out through
the heels. While one officer is making
this change Of shoes another will fasteH
the prisoners hands together in front,
and will place around his body, just be-
meath the armpits, q stout leather strap
with q buckle fastening it in front, and
snap hooks projecting from each side at
the back. Another officer will place
upon the back Of the prisoners head a
peculiar close fitting cap, apparently of
black rubber, made around..a small metal
piece in the center. 1t will look some
what as if made by taking q rubber foot
ball, and with a metal cap at the hole for
a center, cutting off the end of the ball
into a sort Of hood. The cap will fit over
almost the whole of the head, from the
base Of the brain to well toward the fore
head. Inside of it, in the center about
the metal piece, will be a spiral arrange
ment Of copper wire, about five inches in
diameter, and made to fit down over the
part Of the head hat it will cover. The
wires, just before the cap is placed on
the prisoners head, will be covered with
sponge saturated with salt water.
While these arrangements are being
put on the prisoner will be sitting on q
chair in his cell. This chair, not differ
ing apparently from an ordinary one, but
which is being made especially for the
purpose, will be connected with wires
leading TO another o and the prisoner,
sitting in the chair, will, without know
ing 1t, be subjected to a current Of cleo
tricity 10 light to be felt, bit heavy
enough to give an expert electrician in
the other room an exact measurement, by
the use OF what is known as the "Whet-
stone bridge" of electrical resistance Of
the man. This will take only an instant,
and will be done before the officers have
the prisoner ready to leave the cell.
From the cell the procession will be
much as now to the execution room,
where the deputies and other persons
permitted by law to witness the execu-
ton will be waiting.
Near the center of the room, raised
upon a small platform about eight inches
above the floor, will be a chair, made
somewhat like q large reclining chair.
The long, straight frame that forms the
slantipg back will be of hardwood pieces,
three inches square, and will be long
enough so that If q seven-foot man should
lie in the chair his head would rest upon
the back. The seat and arms will be of
plain wood and without any peculiarities.
The upper part Of the back frame on each
side will be fitted with q slot, in which
will slide bac9 and forth a small arrange
ment with q ring at the top and a thumb
screw beneath. The rings are to receive
the hooks in the back of the belt about
the mans body, and the screws are to
fasten the arrangement in place at the
spot where the rings will meet the hooks,
which will vary according to the height
of the prisoner. In front of the chair
will be a foet-rest. something like those
in q BARRIERS shop, except that the top
portion, instead Of being fixed, Will be
balanced on q pivot to permit il TO dip
front or back, so that the feet will lie
firmly upon it. This whole foot.rest will
be arranged to slide backward and for
ward, and to be secured with a screw at
the point where the prisoners feet will
rest upon it
From the ceiling over the back of the
chair and over the foot-rest will dangle
two flexible wires, like those from which
small electric lights swing. On the wall
st one side will be q small round dial at
tached to q brass instrument. A hand
upon the dial will indicate the intensity
of the current that will pass ever the
wires. Near 1t on the wall will be .
snail double pole switch, a brass instru-
nent similar to the familiar switch used
to shut of or let on the current wherever
electricity is used, but designed especially
to shew at q glance whether the current
IL OF or on, In order to prevent accidents
which carelessness in handling the sp-
psratus might bring about. This will be
oil Of the apparatus apparent in the
room.
The prisoner, Immediately upon enter
ing the room, will be led to the chair.
and In q moment will be pushed back
into it, the hooks in the belt about the
body slipped into the rings in the chair
and there fastened in place by the turn
Of the screws. At the same moment his
feet will be raised, the foot rest slipped
under them and fastened by a turn of the
screw, and a strap On top Of the rest will
be buckled tightly over his ankles. In
another moment the two dangling wires
will be fastened, one to the metal at the
center Of the back of the cap and the
other 10 the metal connection on the heel
Of each shoe. A black cloth will be
pulled over the face of the prisoner. the
officers will stand we'll back from the
chair, and at a signal the executioner of
the switch will turn on the current, the
volume of which has previously been
adjusted to suit the resistance Of the