The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-08-14


of the death warrent by the warden.
"Come Bill" commanded the war
den, when all had been done in the
cell and the little party of four wardens,
the prisoner and the clergyman passed
through the ante-room, past the cleo
trical appliances. Mr.. Durston placed
plain wooden bottomed chair directly
in front of the other and bade Kemm-
Ter sit upon it. He obeyed readily.
There was no uneasiness about his
movements. He seated himself leisure
ly. There was no nervous tension APP
parent, indeed, not nearly so much as
among the men around him. He was
apparently the calmest person in the
room.
Kemmler said: "Well, wish every
body good luck in the world, and I'm
going to good place, and the papers
have been saying lots of stuff about me
that amt so.'' Durston came to his
side. "Take off your coat, Bill" said
he. Kemmler readily did SO. The
warden then cut off the back of his
shirt SO as to adjust the electrode to
his hacked back Kemmler was more
composed than the attendants, who
were adjusting the apparatus and fas-
tening him to the chair. Once or
twice he told them to take their time,
and take it easy.
1t took seven minutes to complete
all arrangements. The warden then
turned and nodded his head to some
one who stood in the secret room at
the fatal switch. There was a quick
convulsive start of the bound figure in
the chair and little squeaking sound
of straining straps. After that con-
vulsive start that marked the stroke of
lightning upon Kemmler there was no
movement Of muscle nor twitch of
nerve. At the expiration of seventeen
seconds the current was cut off While
the physicians were examining Kemm-
ler, in one minute and forty seconds
after the current had stopped, Kemm-
ler's chest began to heave, startling
and horrifying the spectators. The
doctors declared, however, that the
man was beyond consciousness, and
some thought the action which startled
all and sent the warden away with a
white face to order the current renew
ed, was only reflex muscular action.
Not SO, one physician, who declared
he would stake his name that he could
bring Kemmler back to conscious life
with brandy hyperdcmics. Meantime
G. G. Balm, Washington newspaper
man, had tainted and lay upon a
bench, where he was being famed.
With the renewal of the current, the
figure in the chair again strained its
straps, but the lungs again filled.
The warden and his electrical helper
were anxious beyond measure, and two
and one-quarter minutes after the cur
rent had been reapplied the switch
was opened and shut rapidly twice
Each time the body in the chair was
lifted by the shock. The shoulders
lifted to the level Of the tops of his
ears and the features contracted. Then
smoke was observed curling from
Kemmler's back. The body was still
and the current was again turned off,
"He is unquestionably Dead" said
DR.. Macdonald, " and he would never
have nodded after the spasm of the
first shock had the current been main
tanned twenty seconds, and less time
with stronger current
The doctors held an autopsy, and
the microscopic examination showed
that the dead mans blood had been
coagulated. The strength of the cur
rent during the first application was
from 1000 to 1900 volts and the sec
ond 1900 to 1000. Extensive char
ring Of the body at the point of con-
tact of the electrodes was found. There
was decided change in the consis-
tenCy and color of the brain. The
doctors all agree that inconsistencies
was instantaneous and the death pain
less