New-York tribune., 1890-08-08
THE KEMMLER EXECUTION.
EXPERTS AND DOCTORS DIFFER AS TO IT'S
SUCCESS
THE OPINION GENERAL, HOWEVER, THAT THE
MURDERER'S DEATH WAS PAINLESS
OPINIONS OF DRs. sHRADY, DAN:
IELs AND SoUTHwICK.

Auburn, Aug. (SpecaD.-Of all the physicians
and experts who came here to witness the execu-
ton of Kemmer none except DR.. Shrady re-
mained and he was kept here by the task which
the other physicians had imposed upon him OF
preparing the official statement of the result OF
the autopsy BY this time nearly every physi-
clan in this country and Europe has read his
work, which by many eminent doctors is said TO
be the most valuable addition to medical Htera-
ture published in many years.
At the Jail to-day everything had resumed its
ordinary routine, and the gaping crowd OF yes
terday had disappeared from the jail gates.
Warden Durston was at the Osborne House this
morning with fire in his eyes. The celebration OF the
execution in which he INDUCED had told badly on
his temper He wanted the newspapers to say
that he did not call Kemmler Bill when he ad-
dressed him, but by the more dignitied name OF
William. This goes TO show the kind of man
who had the general superintendence of the prep
arations for the execution. With the stories pub
lished he found no fault although many OF them
went far beyond the bounds of truth in picturing
the death scene. All of the physicians unite in
blaming him for the unsatisfactory result. The
machinery not together in one room, as it
ought to have been, where the physician whose
duty it was to pronounce death could see the num-
DER OF VOllS WHICH Wcrc paSSllp tuIough bnc "heo
into the body. Had Kemmlers death been a
painful one his face would not have had the
quiet and peaceful expression noticed by all when
the body laid on the operating table.
Frank Fish, the Canandaigua murderer, was
told to-day how Kemmler died. 1t caused him not
tremor and he continued his banjo playing in
his customary lively manner, but with his keepers
only as listeners.
DR.. Shrady talked freely this morning to The
Tribune correspondent about the execution and
Kemmler's manner. DR.. Shrady is absolutely op
posed to capital punishment, but he said that
there was no doubt that kemmler never realized
what struck him. Inconsistencies instan-
taneous," he added, and in that respect the ex-
ecuton was success. Kemmler's manner inter
ested me exceedingly 1t was not nerve mol
courage that made him stand up well. II
was a condition of mental exaltation, due to the
fact that it had been impressed upon his mind
that he was q martyr to science. The delay
however, in strappng the v.ctim into the chaiI
must be remedied in some way. The chair was
not ready the night before the execution when
we went TO see it. There was no strap for the
feet, and that had to be put on. The machinery
was defective, and the current was not strong
enough when it first applied. The next
execution will undoubtedly be more successful, as
the omissions and mistakes of this will be
rcctifed All Of those who took part in Kemmler's
execution ought to be present and assist in the
next execution. What they have learned will be
of great value to science, and ought to correct
the mistakes made yesterday
Tonight all there is left of Kemmler's body
was mass of bones, and in week
the quickme in which it was buried
will destroy them altogether.
The body was buried by New-Yorl1 convict
named King.
DR.. A. p Southwick of Buffalo, said to-day
- feel Just as | have always felt on this mat
ter There is nothing against the system at all
and the fact is there has been great deal OF
senseless sentimental talk about the execution.
For instance. the big story in regard to the sick
ening spectacle of frOth saliva etc, coming from
Kemmler's mouth is ridiculous. 1t was per
fectly natural thing, and was caused by the mus
cular contraction OF the stomach. 1t was nothlnS
unusual at all. In fact, party of ladies could
sit in a room where an execution OF thlS klnu
was going on and not see anything repulslye what
ever If DR.. SptZka had not made the mistake
of ordering off the current so quickly 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 there and the
sponge having dried out, the eectrode Just touched
the skin / think Kemmlers nerve Affected those
there about as much as anything. 1t looked to
me- though. as an evidence of mental incapaclty
He seemed to he without fear. and he helped 10
adjust the straps in q way that simply aston
ishing No, sir, do not consider that this VIII
he the last execution by electricity. There Will
be lots of them. 1t has been proven that the
idea is correct, and think this law is the best
one The execution was success. kemmleI
never knew what happened him and died abso-
lutely without pain