The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-06-19
NV YoRNs pEATH cAP.
Preparations for the First Exc
cution Under the New Law.

The preparations for tie killing Of
Joseph Kemmler al AubGrn, during the
week be- nning June y. are progressing
favorbly. The apparatus by means Of
which the murderer IS 10 Be put 70 death
Is nearly compietetl, and the other details
1 for the carrying ont for the frst time Of a
law requiring the execution of the death
penalty by electricity are rapidly being
arranged by the warden Of the prison.
upon whom the law imposes the duty Of
experimenting the execution. Harold
T. Brovn, Of - and q Wall street. the
I electrical engineer who has conducted
the preliminary experiments upon the
avsiiability Of electricity as a substitute
for hanging. bss charge Of the manufsc-
ture ami setting up Of the apparatus in
the three state prisons, and has devised
I that part Of the machinery Necessary to
bring about the easy and prompt appli-
cation Of the death-iealing current.
The priaeipal parts OF the spparatds.
The machine FOR the generation OF The
current, were secured a good while ago,
and have been laid away waiting for tsie
{ time % come 20 use them. They are or
dinaTy Westinghouse dynamos Cor the
generation Of the alternating currents
which experiments upon dogs and other
animals have shown to be peculiarly
deadly in their effect. Probably II the
Jynamos bad not been secured a good
while ago there would have been some
difficulty about getting them at all. fg
the Westinghouse Company that makes
them IS bitterly opposed 70 their being
used for sueh purpose. and said when
I it WIS first announced that the alterna-
: ting current had been decided upon for
use in executions that it would sell no
machines 70 the state. Bat the dynamos
had already been secured
The proceedings on the day Of putting
to death Of Kemmler, 50 far as they are
at present arranged. viii be as follows:
On whatever morning shall be decided
upon in the week Of the execution the
prisoner win be notified. and whatever
Z opportunity he desires Tor religious con
ISOLATION and farewell wouls Will be given
him Thee over, jast before the hour
fixed upon for the execution the officers
viii enter his cell and the death-warrant
viii be reai lis shoes will then be Re-
moved, and 4 pair resembling regular
army .bnogans viii be substituted. Inthe
sole Or these there viii have been inser-
te,l a rnetal plate covering the whole sole,
and connecting wifh wires Passing out
through the heels. While one officer II
making this change of shoes, another
viii fasien the prisoners hands together
in front, and viii place around ais body
Just beneath bis armpits. a stout leather
strap, with buckle fastening u in front,
and snap hooks projecting from each
side at the back. another officer viii
place upon the back Of the prisoners
head peculiar close-iitting cap, appar-
entity Of black rubber. made around a
small metal piece in the centre. Il
viii look somewhat as If made by tax
ing a rubber football. aud with 4 metal
cap at the hole for a centre. cutting
off the end Of the bail into a sort Of
hood The cap viii Sc over almost the
whole Of the bead, from The base Of the
brain to well toward the forehead Ia-
side oft. in the centre about the metal
piece, will be spiral arrangement Of
copper wire, about Eve inches in Diane
ter, and made 70 fit down over the part
Of the head that It will cover. The wires.
jast before The cap Is placed on the prs
ouer's head. will be covered with sponge,
saturated with salt water.
While these arrangements are being
put on the prisoner will BE sitting on a
chair in his cell. This chair. not differ
ing apparently from an ordinary one. bot
which Is being maize especially for the
purpose. will be connected with wires
leading 10 another room. and the prison
er. sitting in the chair. viii, without
knowing It, be subjected u current Of
electricity too Light TO be fet but heavy
enough to give an expert electrician in
the ether room an exact measurement,
By the Use Of what is known as the
"Whetstone bridge, Of electrical resist
ance Of the man. This viii take only an
instant AMI will be done before the offi-
Gers have the prisoner ready to leave the
cell.
From the cell the procession viii be
much IS now % the execution room,
where the dePgtiss and other persons
permitted By law to witness the execu-
ton will be Whiting.
Near the center Of the room, raised
upon a small platform about eight inches
above the aoor. vill be a chair, made
somewhat Ike a large reclining chair.
The long, straight frame that fgrns The
slsnting back viii be Of hard u09l pieces,
three inches square. and viii b= long
enough 20 that ifa seven foot man should
lie in the chair his head would rest upon
the back The seat and arms viii
be Of plain wood and without any peculi- /
aTities. The upper part Of the back
frame on each siie VIII De- 6i.ed with a
slot, in which viii slide back and forth 4
small arrangement w5sh a ring at the top
and a thumbscrex beneath. The fingsare
to receive the hooks in the bacS Of the
belt about the mans body end tie screws
are 10 fLs;en the arrangements in place
at the spot where the rings will meet the 7
hooks which will vary. according To the
heighth Of the prisoner. Ia front Of the
chair viii be a foot-rest, something Ike
those in a BARRIERS shop. except that the
top portion. instead o. being fixed, viii
be balanced upon pivot to perBiit it to
dip front or back, - that the feet will be
firmly upon it. This whole f,ot rest viii
bearanged TO slide backward ani for
ward and 70 be seeured with screw at
the point where the prisoners feet viii
rest upon II.
From the ceiling over the back of the
chair and over the foot ret will daagis
two flexible wires, Ike those fsom which 4
small electric lights swing On the walI
az one side sill be 4 small round dial At /
taclsed to . brass instrument A hand 1
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