St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-29
Preparations Almost Com
pleted for His Eleetroeu-
tiOn in Auburn Prison.
The Condemned Murderer Ap-
0parently Uneoneerned as
to His Fate.
Physicians and Press Repre-
sentatives Inspect the
Engine Of Death.
Not Over a Score of Pers ons
Will Witness the Oper-
alton.

AUBURN, N. Y, April 2s.-The first
day OF the week fixed for the electrocu-
tion of murderer William Kemmler is
drawing to a close, and Warden Ours
toms lips are still sealed as to the pre-
else day OF carrying out the dread sem
tence. The condemned has not mani
tested the slightest concern as to his
last day on earth, while the score or
more of newspaper correspondents that
haunt the hotels and prison corridors.
are consumed with curiosity on the sub
ject. The warden adheres infleXibly to
his resolution to permit but two news
paper men, representatives of the two
press associations, to witness the ex-
cutiOn, and nothing will move him. The
arrivals to-day outside of horde of
New York reporters have included cleo
trician Davis, assistant to Harold P.
Brown, who will get the electrical ap-
and conduct final test: District Attor-
e. Macdonald, of New York, and DR..
Southwick, OF Buffalo. DR.. Macdonald
was chairman of the electrical commits
sion that recently made number of
experiments with the apparatus at Sing
Sing, Auburn and Clinton prisons, and
Dr.. South wick was member of the
commission that framed the new law.
Their arrival
Created FURRY
among the press representatives, who
took it as an indication that the eXecu-
tion would occur on the morrow. But
developed except that prepara-
tions for the last act continued to be
made. The chair of death, about which
so much has been written and SO little
known, was to-day shown press repre-
by Warden Durston. 1t was
found stored in the state shop of the
prison and the entire mechanism of this
mysterious accessory was fully ex-
planned. The chair is large,
comfortable looking affair
and but for the numerous OminOus-
looking straps attached to its arms and
sides, seemed to invite the spectator to
be seated and enjoy siesta. One of
the party sat In the chair to represent
Kemmler, while the warden proceeded
to strap the man about the body and
limbs and adjust the electrodes to the
top of the head and base of the spine,
and pronounced him ready for the
deadly volts. In the same room
were two other chairs similar
in design and material. They
were all manufactured within
the walls of the prison under the direc-
ton of Warden Durston. and are in
tended for use in the two other places
where electricity Is to be used in exc
cutting crfminals-Sing Sing and DAN
nemora prisons. In the room adjacent
to the one where the chairs were stored
two convicts were working, Industrious
ly applying coat of black walnut stain
to a mysterious-looking box. The war
den was asked what it was, and he re-
piled,
KEMMLER's COFFIN.
The chair has now been removed to
the room of execution and the coffin will
follow tomorrow. The interment will
be in the prison graveyard. 1t is given
out that all communication with the
prison will be suspended tomorrow and
all telephone and telegraph wires cut
out. This probably means that the Off
cials will be too busy preparing for
the event to attend to business,
but 1t may mean that the eXecu-
tion is to take place that day and
it is this speck Of doubt that worries
the watchers. The Western Union has
established branch office across, the
road from the prison to expedite busi-
the avalanche of matter that is now put
upon the wires nightly. The latest
news about Kemmler is that he is still
alive. and NJ one knows definitely at
what hour or on what day the laws
thunderbolt will be sent through his
body. 1t had been almost settled upon
that the execution was take place
Tuesday, but the machinery of
the death room had not been put
in order when working hours were
over this evening, and it is believed
now that the arrangements will not be
completed until late tomorrow. Warden
Durston, who is in absolute charge,
said this afternoon that the execution
certainly would not occur during the
next twenty-four hours. OF course, in
compliance with the law requiring
secrecy, the warden will not divulge
the exact time, yet it is understood about
town that twill be.some time On Wednes-
day. The contract whichHaroldP. Brown,
the electrician furnishing the dynamo,
has with the state was for one year
from May 1. 1889. Mr.. Browns rela-
tions with the state authorities do not
appear to be of the most harmonious
kind. and there is well-founded rumor
tonight that he would willingly see
The Execution Deferred
until after Wednesday. Should it be
delayed until after that day, and should
anything go wrong in the working of
the apparatus, Mr.. Brown would not be
responsible. Perhaps because
the authorities desire to hold him re-
sponsible it will be determined to have
the killing done before the contract eX-
pires. Mir. Brown left New York on
Sunday, presumably for Auburn. When
asked in the Grand Central station by
the newspaper men who were bound
for here if he were going to Aub urn, he
said: .'Oh, no. l am going to SyTa-
cuse, Ithaca and some other places on
personal business" 1t may thus result
that after all he will not move the lever
which will make KEN mler dead man,
He is sensitive about acquiring that
nOtoriety. This question of who will
of the many that are puzzling all in
oulrers. A train this afternoon brought
district Attorney G. M. Quinby. DR.. G.
M. Daniels and DR.. A. z. SOuthWick,
all of Buffalo, where the murder of
Mrs. Tillie Ziegler, KemmleI's mistress,
was committed. DR.. Southwick is the
man who first gave strong impetus to
the movement to substitute electricity
for the rope. He was opposed to hang
ing, and one day when man III Buffalo
was killed accidentally by an electric
shock the idea of this new method of
death was suggested to the doctor.
MI. Quinby is the district attorney
who prosecuted the case against Kemm-
Ter. DR.. Daniels is one OF the physicians