New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-12
ELECTRICITY AND DEATH.
DOES TIE POWER OF TIE CURRENT VARY
FRANKLIN l.. POPE THINKS THAI AN ELECTRIC
FORCE MIGHT KILL ONE MAN AND

FRANKLIN l.. POPE THINKS THAT AN ELECTRIC
FORCE MIGHT KILL ONE MAN AND
ONLY SHOCK ANOTHER.
The only witness examined at the William Kemmler
writ OF habeas corpus reference before Referee
Becker yesterday morning, in the law office of W..
Bourke Cochran in tho Equitable Building Frank
lin L. Pope, Of Newark ~ j., electrical expert,
in the employ of the Westinghouse Electric Company
Mr.. Pope said that he had been studying electricity
for thirty years, and acquainted with almost every
branch of IT, In HIS examination by Mr.. Cochran, at
tomcy for Kemmlcr the witness said that the sensl
veness OF different persons electric shocks varied
greatly. If dozen people clasped hands in row
and weak current from medical battery were passed
through them, some would be unable TO stand It and
would let 60. while Others not affected by much
stronger shock. He furthermore said that Wheat
stone bridge, while 1t was universally regarded as
perfectly Trustworthy In measuring the electrical re-
sistancc of inanimatc bodies, could not, in his opinion
accurately determine that Of living organism
In support of this he described the results Of
series OF experiments he had tried in the Office of the
electrician of the Western Union Telegraph Company
on Wednesday. He had had his resistance measured
with the Wheatstone instrument used by the company
ard found that it varied greatly with the strength Of
the current When a current with electro-motivc
force of volt passed through him, his resist
G,3O0 obms. At ten volts it was 5,14O
ohms; fifty volts, 1850 ohms and 100 volts, $500
OhmS. lie thought that this variation was due TO the
chemical action Of the electricity the fluids Of the
body.
The maximum voltage of the Westinghouse dynamo
producing tho alternating current was $780, the wit
ness continued while the committee of the Medlco-
Legal Society appointed TO investigate the subject
ported that current of from 1000 to loo volts
ought to be used Mr.. Cochran then
examined Mr. Pope at length on
tho comparative strength of lightning and artificial
electricity. by the latter said the witness. six
tccnnch spark the longest he had ever known to
be produced, while flash of lightning sometimes
half mile long. The eectro-modvo force of light
ming was infinitely greater and its horsepower more
powerful than that Of artificial electricity. Yet men
were often struck by lightning and not killed. OF
course the inference that Mr. Cochran wished have
drawn from this that If heavens thunderbolt
not fatal in every mans would certainly
DO.
Mr. Pope was OF the opinion that in execution by
electricity thc criminal would be burned. He said
arc light could bc produced under water. AMI
hence It was unlikely that the soaking of the sponge
lining of the electrodes with water would prevent tho
burning of the flesh Besides, strong current would
boil water In few seconds and thus scald the flesh.
To cum up. Mr.. Pope believed that tho effect Of
current Of $50 volts human being would do
pend entirely the resistance of the subject and tho
efficacy of the contact Under the samo conditions, ono
man might DC hIlltu Nnllc duOlHtr was On4y sHbhuJ
injured
In reply to a question Of DistrictAiorncy ouinby.
Of Erie County, the witness said that he remembered
only two three persons who had been killed by tho
alternating current While IT was possible that such
death would be painless and instantaneous It was
by 10 means certain. In his cosscxamination by
Deputy Attorney General Poste, Mr. Pope said that T.
was possible 10 raise the voltage OF Westinghouse
alternating dynamo TO 1000 or even 1000 II the
speed OF the 9IInatllro increased pOpoft0natey.
Mr. Cochran then drew from the witness that 1850
volts was the maximum which the dynamo could pro-
luce with perfect safety. TO generate this voltage
speed Of 500 revolutions per minute was necessary,
and If this increased TO 600 revolutions there
would be great danger of the bursting of the arnau
In closing the witness said that in his opinion no cleo
trio current could be generated that was absolutely
certain 10 Kill in every instance.
Matthew Hale. Of Albany a member OF the state
Commission which drew up tho law governing en-
ocutlors bv electricity had been asked 10 appear
witness but olegraphcd that he could not be present
before Monday. Is Mr. Cochran VIII act as pail
Ing, the hearing adjourned until Monday morning