Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-08-08
THE FIRST EXECUTION BY ELECTRI-
City TN AMERICA.

VIM, Kemmler, who cruelty stabbed to
death his mistress, year ago, was
executed by electricity under the new law
at Auburn, N. Y, on Wednesday last.
This is the first execution by electricity
that has taken place in the world. A tele-
gram gives the following account OF it:
Kemmler breakfasted lightly between 5 and
G. Afterward religious services were neld:
He made his own toilet and was COOL ana
without apparent dread. Kemmler dressed
himself in suit Of gray mixed goods. About
his neck he buttoned turned down collar
with a checked tie of lawn stuff. His hair ne
combed and brushed with great care and ms
shoes were well polished. After he made nm
stranger who held by his side pair OF clip
pers. The warden explained to Kemmler he
must have the top of his head shaved. The
prisoner demurred. He had taken great pains
dressing his hair, and besides, as ne explained
to the warden, he did not want to be disfgur-
ed. Reminders hair is dark brown and Wavy,
with curl that fell on his forehead: " this
he was proud. In the shadow OF death his
vanity asserted itself. His hair, however, was
cut, but the curl was saved Kemmler entered
the death chamber about half-past six and
assisted in preparing himself for death. He
was placed in an ordinary chair by the war
den, who introduced him to those present,
after which he made brief farewell remarks.
There were no prayers in the death room.
Reminders nerve was something wonderful.
He never faltered. He directed the adjust
ment of himself in the chair and cOunseled
the warden to moderation to secure perfect
safety.
At 6:sS door at the right Of the execution
chair leading toward the execution room
opened, and Warden Durston's figure appear
ed in the doorway. Behind him walked
with carefully arranged hair clustering
around his forehead. He was dressed in a suit
of new clothing, sack coat, and vest OF dark
gray material, trousers OF mixed yellow
was exposed directly below little bow OF
lawn, black and white-c check pattern.
This was William Kemmler, the man who
was about to undergo the sentence.
Behind him walked pr. W. Il: Hopghton
the coolest man in the party. He did not look
about the room with any special degree of In
terest. As the door was closed behind him
and carefully locked by an attendant on
either side, he looked as though he did not
know exactly what to do.
"Give me chair, will you," said the War
den. Some one quickly handed him wooden
chair, which he placed in front and little to
the right of the execution chair, facing the
little circle of men.
Kemmler sat down composedly, looked
about him, and then up and down without
any evidence of fear or special interest in the
event. His face was not stolid. 1t was not
Indifferent.
He looked, if anything, as though he was
rather pleased at being the centre of attrac-
ton. Warden Durston stood at the left of the
chair with his hand on the back of it, and al
most at the moment that Kemmler took his
seat he began to speak in short, quick periods.
HNow, gentlemen" he said, 'this is William
Kemmler have warned him that he has got
to die, and if he has anything to say he will
say it,
and said in high key, without any precision,
as though he had prepared himself with the
speech: We'll, I wish every one good luck
in this world; and l think 1 am going to a
good place, and the papers have been saying a
say"
With the conclusion of the speech he turned
his back on the jury, took off his coat, and
handed it to the Warden. This disclosed the
the trousers down, SO as to expose the base OF
the spine.
DR.. Fell stepped forward with the long
syringe in his hand, and quickly, but suf-
fciently, wetted two sponges which were at
the electropedeS, one on top of the head and
the other at the base OF the spine.
The water which he put on them was i'm.
pregnated with salt.
tion with sharp 'All right" which was
echoed by others about him.
Ready" said DurstOn, again, and then
..good-bye,' he stepped to the door and
through an opening spoke to some one in the
next ROOM But to whom will probably never
be known.
In almost immediate response stop was
made and some of the witnesses saw registered
4312 electricmeterS.
The shock was given at 643H and was con-
tlnued about Is seconds. Two minutes after
the current was cut off there was evidence Of
respiration. AS soon as possible the current
was returned. then cut off, and again respira-
tion was evident after few moments. Saliva
exudcd from the mouth, the chest heaved and
there was a wheeling in the throat The
shock was again put to the prisoner who, the
doctors remarked, was unconscious from the
moment of the first shock. After short time
smoke appeared at the back-the flesh was
burning. The man, the doctors said suffered
No pain, however. The Warden says the vol
tage at first shock was at 1900 volts, which
ran down to a point not named. After the
third contact of four minutes the man was de-
clared dead in thirteen minutes from the time
OF the first stroke. When the mask was taken
off Reminders face, his eyes were found half
open and his expression, while not normal or
placid, was not horrifying to see.