Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-08
FATHER OF THE LAW.
DIR. Southwick Pronounces 1t an Unquan-
fled Success.


BUFFALO. August 6.-Dr. A. Z. South
wick, father of the electrical execution
law said TODAY in an interview: Il feel
Just as I have always felt on this matter
There is nothing against the system al all
and the fact is there has been great deal
OF senseless sensational talk about the ex-
ecutiOn. For instance, the big story in re
gard 10 the sickening spectacle of froth,
saliva. etc, coming from kemmler's mouth
is ridiculous. 10 was a perfectly natural
thing and was caused by the muscular
contraction of the stomach. IL was moth
ing unusual AZ all In fact, party Of
ladies could sit in room where an eXecu-
tion of this kind was going on and not see
anything repulsive whatever. If the mis-
take of ordering Of the current so quickly
had not been made there would have been
none of this talk
THE BURNING OF THE FLESH
was also exaggerated That was caused
simply by the fact that the sponge under
the electrode was too small a light
current was passing through then, and
the sponge having dried out the cleo
Kemmler's nerve affected those there about
as much as anything II looked to me,
though. as an evidence of mental incapaci-
". He seemed 10 be without fear and
helped % adjust the straps in way that
was simply astonishing. No, sir; do not
consider that this will be the last execution
bv electrOde. There will be lots of them
II has been proven that the idea is correct
and I think the law is the best one. The
execution was a success. kemmler never
know what happened him and died abso-
lutely without pain.
STRENGTH oF THE CURRENT
There is said by all the physicians TO be
no doubt that Consciousness was stricken
instantly from his brain. The fact that he
was not instantly killed is the result of inn
proper contact or Of insufficient voltage or
pressure. Contact certainly was not per-
feet at the head, for two-thirds of the con
tact was upon the mans thick, smoothly
brushed hair, the clipped spot being one
third the size OF the electrodes diameter.
Warden Durston says seventeen humid
red volts of pressure OF current was first
applied TO Kemmler. When questioned to-
night by the Associated Press correspond
ent II the twenty incandescent lamps on
the circuit 10 indicate presence OF current,
were burning when the bolt was discharg-
ed into the murderer, he stated they were.
They should not have been. The moment
before switching the current into kemmler
the test lamps should have been cut out
Each lamp consumes 90 volts
hence the 20 took 1000 volts
az once out Of the current sent to kemmler.
That left 700 TO cause death. The best au-
thorties state that fifteen per cent OF the
current is stopped az the points OF contact,
and that eighty-tive is thus expended in the
body. Eighty-fve per cent. of the 700 volts
not consumed Yesterday by the test lamps is
5g5 volts Of pressure. This is not enough
10 surely kin man instantly with good con
tact. and that Of yesterday was not perfect.
The Warden says all was working right
this morning, though last night at midnight
his appliances were in such order that he
was not certain whether the execution
would take place to-day, even though he
had summoned his guests 10 the prison at
an early hour.