Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-08
OPPOSED TO ELECTROCUTION.
The Electric Light Association Calls
Killing by Electricity Cruel.

The principal feature of the session Of the Ma
tional electric light association convention at
Niagara Falls yesterday was the discussion of
electrical executions. Ferdinand A. Wyman
submitted a paper on the constitutionality of
execution by electricity. 1t was a compilation
of many laws bearing upon the question Of cruel
punishment. The author maintained that the
attempt to put to death by electricity 10 cruel,
and said that the man does not live who can tell
how much electricity II takes to kill human
being.
Il have personally" he said, "conversed
with a man who took a 2, 500 volt shock and he
10 alive and we'll"
In closing he said he had aimed to show that
punishment by electricity is SO cruel that
Legislature ought not to adopt it-so cruel that
the legislature of New York ought to repeal
their law, and 80 cruel that the courts of New
York ought to pronounce the statute unconsti-
tutional
DIR. Otto A. Moses of New York city, who
spoke next, had no paper prepared, but spoke
extemporaneously, and his address was volum-
nous with statistics, scientific facts and STIR
ring appeals to the association to unite in an
effort to discountenance this horrible use Of Q
most valued friend as a public executioner
DR.. Moses claimed that instead of being pain
less and merciful, death by electricity was
most dreadful punishment, one which was for
tunately not known to the Spanish inauisition.
He had before him hundreds Of letters from
nearly all the electric light stations in the
United States In reply to inquiries about the
accidents which had happened in them from
heavy dynamo currents, both continuous and
has not proved fatal it was declared that the
sensations was terrific. While most of the
persons who were injured soon recoved from
the effects they nearly all unite in declaring
the pain OF the shock was agonizing In the eI-
treme.
One most remarkable fact, however, was de-
veloped from this mass Of statistics-viz., that
scarcely any two accidents seemed to be &C.
companied by the same sensations Thew we're
variOusly described as like compression of the
chest In wise, being drawn like wire, being
hammered to death, being stuck full of needles
being cut through with q buzz saw, being
dashed to pieces from . height and being
shaken to death.
comparison of his statistics are that there is no
certainty whatever in death resulting from
heavy currents; that they are invariably &C.
companied by the most terrible pains and that
In the majority Of cases consciousness remains
until the human body IL separated from the
circuit
DR.. Moses concluded by prsising Mr.. Bourke
COCHRAN for his disinterested efforts in the
hemmler case and then offered a resolution call
Ing upon Gov. Hill to use his influence for the
repeal OF the obnoxious Law which now stains
the statute book of New York, as follows:
whereas the law requiring the execution of
criminals by electricity, enacted by the general
assembly OF the state Of New York. was enacted
under misapprehension of the PHILANTHROPY,
importance or value; and whereas the National
electric hight association regards such law a.
IN unnecessary degradation Of the most useful
natural agent that science has ever rendered
available for the service of man be il
Resolved: l. That the National electric liQht
association do hereby respectfully petition the
general assembly of the state Of New York 10
repeal sald Law ut its next session. q That in
view OF tie doubtful expediency of said law and
the petition for its repeal the governor of the
state OF New York or the proper pardoning
fences OF all criminals condemned to be eye
euted by electricity TO imprisonment for life
until said Law be repealed g. That q copy of
this preamble and resolution be forwarded At
once by the secretary Of the association to the
governor Of the state Of New York or other
proper officers, and that the chairman of the
committee on state and municipal legislation
supply copy to each member Of the general as
sembiy Of the state Of New York ct its ne IT ses-
sion, together with copies Of such paper.
- the committee may have at its dspo.sl.
urging the repeal OF said Law.
HE resolution was adopted a. was another
providing FOR committee Of seven with T..
Maher OF Albany chairman, 70 present the
resolution to Gov. Hill.
DIR. c. z. Fell Of Buffalo was present.
an interested listener 10 the address
OF DIR. Otto A. Moses, and was called
on to speak on the subject. He expressed
himself favorable to electric execution. When
he finished be was subjected to . severe crosse
examination by members Of the association.
one OF whom asked, lis there any more sud
den death than taking prussic acid?"
II don't know" replied the doctor ssuuiess
10 BY electricity"