Evening journal., 1889-07-16
IS ELECTRICITY CRUEL 7
More Evidence in the Kemmler
Investigation.
"THIs MEANS MOST BARBAROUy'


Is what Commissioners Gibbons Calls
Capital Punishment by EiectricIty-In-
teresting Testimony In tho 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 = Life.
Bourke Cochran stated, before the refer
ence began, that he wished IL 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 we're he to be put to death
by electricity, even though it be according
10 law
Eiectrocution Strongly Denounced.
Commissioner Gibbons when called upon
10 testify, was strong in his denunciation OF
the use Of electricity for capital punishment
81 have not the slightest hesitancy In saying
that this means Of killing man is most bar
barous, he remarked. "and / trust that it.
never viii be enforced
Electrician John W. Noble was the next to
tell what he knew Of the evil effects OF elec-
irlcity, and be cited for example the expert
ments conducted by a former Witness Harold
7. Brown, on dogs at Edison's 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
ala ttrF It..1 T..
fact Mr. Brown declared the dogs were not
killed outright, but utsuffered lingering death.
Expcrt McAddie's Testimony.
"Now, Mr.. McAddie, tell the referee what
you know about the power Of electricity and
how itsometirnes acts, said Bourke Cochran,
as the witness took his seat
Mr. McAddie describes himself as an ex-
| pert on "atmospherical electriclty.n For
seven years he stated, he had made thor
ough study Of the matter He described the
effect OF electricity on a human icing as a
"eurrent charge" The first effect produced
was unconsciouaness the second paralysis
Of the nerves and muscles and the third q
suspension Of respiration and circulation.
lie doubted II the machine proposed 70 be
used by the state would kill a man, as the
structure Of human beings differed so radi-
cally.
Two points In fact were involved, he said.
First, 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
ali It's natural functions Then, again, science
had not as yet demonstrated the fact that a
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 TIE effect Of the shock would be
slow carbonizing OF his body.
The Effect Upon Human Beings.
The witness then described a case Of light
ming striking a woman, throwing her som,
three feet, where she was left unconscious
with no pulse and no psrcertible action o.
the heart She turned purple In the face
but after a lapse of some hours was resusci-
tated and finally recovered When the wit
ness was asked IL the electrodes in the dealt
dealing machine would have tendency t,
burn the skin he replied that IL was a hare
matter 70 determine The wet sponees ap
piled 70 the elecrrod-s could be well damp
ened with water, but the witness said h,
wouldn't he surprised II the electricity burnes
up the sponges.
When asked by Mr.. Cochran II the witness
ha 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 kin, said the witness
81 know that people are killed by electricity
but how, have not been able to ascertain y
The Dog Dash's Experiences.
Charles Topper, a restaurant keeper O
No. 220 Eighth avenue, took the stand afte
recess He told how his dog Dash has
stepped upon "liver wire in the street OF
Juy 2, and remained unconscious for ter
hours, and thought to be dead. Mr.. Toppe
had his dog with him to prove his assertions
aud when the animal was examined he wa
e found to have sustained several scars from
contact with the electrical current