New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-16
rs 1T SURE DEATH I?
THE POWER OF ELECTRICITY.
WITNESSES DECLARE THAT NO KNOWN
,rrr,nrr .o,, crNrpAr1NG cIrRRRNrs 1S

WITNESSES DECLARE THAT NO KNOWN
\ METHoDr OF GENERATING CURRENTS is
Observation-Disclosures OF THE DOG DASH.
A large amount of work done at the session
II the Kemmler reference case before Referee Tracy
c. Becker yesterday four interesting witnesses being
examined as to their knowledge of the cruelty Of ex
ecution by electricity. The first of these was
Daniel L. Gibbons. who has been member of the
Board of Electrical Control Of this city since its
organization He was present at Of Harold p
Browns experiments on dogs at the laboratory OF the
School Of Mines of Columbia College, and said that
in some instances the dogs had not been killed In
SPONTANEOUSLY. "In such the animals seemed
20 suffer the most horrible agony said the witness
at was the most fightfu sight have ever seem
The creatures uttered cries If suffering the most
excruciating pain and when the current was turned
Of. they fell down as II quite exhausted by their
prieal Theodore Moss, who is also a member Of
the Board Of Electrical Control was present for
tine, but heartrendng tho torture of the
dogs that he could not stand it, and left the place
In the tests both the alternating and continuous
currents were used. but l do not think that their
strength in ampers was measured. At least, there
was no machine for doing IT, and the only way TO
have made the measurements by calculations,
and / saw none of these made.
The electric light wires are dangerous to life and
therefore. the Board of Electrical Control requires
Them 10 be properly insulated but they are by no
means necessarily fatal. The effect Of a current is
different on different persons. Just as whiskey is
Some it might kill. while there may be others
10 whom no amount Of electricity would be fatal
In some cases a strong current would paralyze the
nerves and stop the beating of the heart or cause
polarization of the blood. If this latter occurred
think the person could probably be brought 10 lie
again either by passing through him another current
which would neutraze the effects of the first, or by
allowing the results of the original shock TO pass
away of themselves. My conclusion is that no
electrical current can be generated by methods now
known TO science that would kill I'm every Instance.
John II. Noble, an electrical expert employed by
the Westinghouse Company, next took the stand TO
place in evidence the results of the experiments on
tbe electrical resistance of human beings that were
tried at the Edison laboratory at Orange, y. d. on
Friday last The tests an account OF which was
published in The Tribune Saturday went TO show
that the resistance of person varied greatly under
different circumstances.
The next witness called Alexander G. McAdie
who has made special study of atmospheric electric
stv and who was for some years connected with the
signal Service Bureau at Washington. He described
the probable effects Of strong shock OF elecrlciN
on a human being inconsistencies, paralysis vi
the nerves and muscles, rupture OF some Vi
the cells of the brain, and suspension OF respiration
and circulation. II was questionable, he Thought,
whether the current would kill or not, as there are
90 many circumstances that would influence the re-
suit II was possible that the electricity might pass
down one side of the person and paralyze ohe-hah
Of him while the rest of his body would not suffer
severely. If death did not follow Immediately, the
current would burn the to a crisp in time, and
thus end his life. A wet sponge placed on inc
electrodes might postpone the burning. but only for
time Like Nh Gibbons and other Witnesses Mr.
McAdie was convinced that no current had YET oceh
produced that would cause instantaneous death III
every
After recess for luncheon, Charles upper,
who keeps restaurant at NO 20
Fichtb-ave was called the stand
10 relate the experience Of his dog Dash with current
from an electric light wire. About two weeks ago
Dash stepped on a telegraph wire that was lying on
The pavement. The wire was crossed with an electric
light wire from which the insulation had been worn,
so Dash received strong shock. He jumped at least
four feet the air. his master said, and fell back
lon the wire unconscious. Here he lay for some hf
teen minutes every being afraid 10 pull him of
,except his master who prevented from doing :"
by his ncighbors. Finally man stood on coat
iassoed Daeh with rope, and pulled him on the wire
10 all appearances dead. IN great sOgow, the dogs
master and mistress halfbuied him In the back yaiI
being tod by some expert" that that would draw on
ihe cleo richly enough. after he had been wing
There for six eight hOuIs. and every one was con
WINGED that he was dead. twtehng of his eyelashes
gave ev dence Of life and IN few days Dash was as
lively a, ever. H admitted 10 the room Were
,be bea ing vas being held yesterday, and his burns
were examined by the referee DaSh IS pie rHowss
81 cross between Scotch collie aud ST. l}ernair ana
y,as greatly admired by all. His wounds are on his
nose and legs and are not at all serious. o-a, 90
Mr. Me Adie was then called 10 thc stand again 10
finish his testimony. Nothing particularly interest
ing was developed. . d., ho
The hearing viii go at 10 a. m today, when
Matthew Hale Of Albany. of the commission
appointed by the State 10 investigate the suoJecI OF
execution by electricity will probably take inc sianu
Tomorrow ElbrIdce r. Gerry. another member OF the
Commission, is expected TO appear a. Wl1n o;'id
probably not last longer than this week IN this cry
as some evidence would have 10 be taken Bunalo'
end the case was retumable on July o.