Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-05
WHAT THE ELECTRICIAN SAYS.
a Hint as TO the Time of ENecutiOn-An
Order COuntermanded.

ROCHESTER,, y. Y. August IA re-
porter had an interview with Superin-
tendent Barnes, the electrician who has
charge Of the Auburn Prison plant, in
relation to the prospective execution of
kemmler.
"Do You think the execution will be
carried out?" asked the reporter.
Il think it will. replied Mr.. Barnes.
DO you think that the apparatus
will work ciTcctually?'
"As an electrician | have no doubt
that it will. No electrician who under
stands the subject and knows what the
apparatus is can doubt that it will kill
him.
SAYS He WILL NOT SUFFER.
DO you think he will suffer any from
the shock?"
No. The clectrodc will be applied
to his skull and spinal column in such a
way that the current will paralyze the
brain instantly and destroy sensation.
In order 10 feel any pain the sensation
must be carried to the brain by the
nerves.
DO You think there will be any
break of the skim
1--WE hope not. If there should be
the papers would make such fuss
about it. We think that we have that
provided against
Did you ever get Il shock OF clec'
tricity Yourself"
Yes. But cannot stand any amount.
was knocked insenSible by an accident
al current once. The apparatus AT the
Office got out of order one night, and
was called to see what was the trouble
There was an insulated handle that
should have used, but | had a trick ol
running my finger along the edge OF the
machine to feel the current, and this
time it knocked me down, aS the wire
had been crossed by an electric wire.
lay on the floor insenSiblc for short
time, when Sam BemiSh came up stairs
to see what was the matter with the
alarm. aud found ne there"
Did YOU feel any pain?'
Not much. 1t was a kind Of chOk-
ing sensation. as if | could not catch
my breath. got over it in few min
utcS."
you conducted the experiment az
Auburn some weeks ago, when call
was killed by the dynamo?'
"Yes. When We were fixing the cleo
trodes on him he struggled and kicked,
and there was an air Of wonder on his
face. When we turned on the current
he died 50 quick that not change took
place on his features. His eyes did not
close. nor muscle quivcr. and | could
scarcely believe he was dead When
we took the current off, he wilted as if
every bone i'm his body was broken.
KNOWS THE TIME OF ENEcU rloN.
"Have YOU ever met Kemmler?
NO, have never spoken to him.
DO YOU think he has weakened, as
reported in the newspapers"
NO: he was sick with a complaint OF
the bowels in the hot weather. But
do not believe he has broken down as
they say"
"IIow do they feel about him at Au-
burn Prison?"
"Kecper McNaughton and Mrs. Ours
ton hope he will not be executed.
Il suppose you and Warden Durston
are the only ones who know the time oil
execution"
we are the only ones"
"What time Of day will the execution
tak5 place.
1T won't take place between in the
morning and & at night
"Will it be in the forepart OF the
week?"
YES.
Where does the man live who will
finally touch the button?'
"Ic lives in Auburn"
From another trustworthy source 1t
was learned that another experiment IN
killing brute BY clectricity-thiS time
if is 10 be horse-iS to be made by the
supcrintendcnt and the Auburn prison
authorities before the execution Of
Kemmlcr.
Superintendent Barnes had intended
70 start at noon to-day for Auburn to
superintcnd the execution of kcmmler,
but this morning he received telegram
from Warden DurSton. of Auburn
prison. notifying him not to come. The
warden did not offer any explanation Of
this order, but said he had written a
letter