The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-19
Is ELECTRICITY CRUEL7
More Evidence in the Kemmler
Investigation.
"THIs MEANS MOST BARBAROUs,

Il What Commissioner Gibbons Calls
Capital Punishment by EIectrioity--In-
teresting Testimony in the Reference
Before Referee Baker.
New York, July 16-Referee Baker. ap-
pointed by the court to examine into the
merits or dement's of the new mode Of capital
punishment by electricity, resumed his inves-
tigation, and listened to some interesting
evidence.
Fighting for a Life.
Bourke Cochran stated, before the refer
ence began, that he wished it to be distinctly
understood that he was fighting hard-aye,
very hard-to save the condemned murderer
Kemmler, from an awful fate, which would
surely be the case were he to be put to death
by electricity, even though it be according
to law.
Electrocution Strongly Denounced.
Commissioner Gibbons when called upon
to testify, was strong in his denunciation of
the use of electricity for capital punishment
II have not the slightest hestancy in saying
that this means of killing a man is most bar
barous," he remarked, "and trust that it
never will be enforced
Electrician John w. Noble was the next to
tell what he knew Of the evil effects of cleo
tricity, and he cited for example the expert
msnts conducted by former witness, Harold
Z. Brown, on dogs, at Edisons works. The
witness went on to describe the fearful suf-
ferings of the CANNES, which kicked and
squirmed like eels out of water when the
electricity was applied to their bodies In
fact Mr.. Brown declared the dogs were not
killed outright, but suffered lingering death.
Expert MoAddie's Testimony.
SHOW, Mr.. McAddie, tell the referee what
you know about the power of electricity and
how 1T sometimes acts, " said Bourke Cochran,
as the witness took his seat
Mr.. McAddie describes himself as an ex-
pert on "atmospherical electricity For
seven years, he stated, he had made thor
ough study Of the matter. He described the
effect of electricity on a human being as a
"current charge" The first effect produced
was uncon'ciousness, the second a paralysis
of I'll nerves and muscles, and the third a
,uspension of respiration and circulation.
He doubted If the machine proposed to be
used by the state would kill man, as the
structure of human beings differed so radi-
cally.
Two points in fact were involved, he said.
f1rst, that of the resistance of the man, and
second that of the course of the current
The witness believed that one half of man
might be paralyzed and the other half retain
all its natural functions. Then, again, science
Ind not as yet demonstrated the fact that
current can, with any certainty, be driven
through the vital part of a mans anatomy
Continuing Mr.. McAddie said that assum-
ing the condemned criminal was not killed
outright the effect of the shock would be q
slow carbonizng of his body
The Effect Upon Human Beings.
The witness then described case of light
ming striking a woman, throwing her some
three feet, where she was left uncon scious.
with no pulse and no perceptble action of
the heart. She turned purple in the face,
but after lapse Of some hours was resusci-
tated and finally recovered. When the wit
ness was asked if the electrodes in the death
dealing machine would have q tendency to
burn the skin he replied that it was hard
matter to determine. The wet sponges ap-
piled to the electrodes could be well damp
ened with water, but the witness said he
wouldn't be surprised if the electricity burned
up the sponges.
When asked by Mr.. Cochran il the witness
had ever known of cases of people being
struck by lightning and thought to be dead,
he said that he had. "No instrument that
know of is certain to kill, " said the witness.
81 know that people are killed by electricity,
but how, have not been able to ascertain
The Dog Dash's Experience.
Charles Topper, restaurant keeper, OF
No. 226 Eighth avenue took the stand after
recess. He told how his dog Dash had
stepped upon "live" wire in the street on
July 2, and remained unconscious for ter
hours, and thought to be dead. Mr.. Topper
had his dog with him to prove his assertions
and when the animal was examined he was
found to have sustained several scars from
contact with the electrical current