The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-20

William Kemmler, the murderer Of Mrs.
rillie Ze:gler suffered death by electrocutlon
It $40 o'clock in the morning in Auburn On.
~ Prison, the first to die under the new
aw.
3Kemmler was led from his cell by the War
len at exactly 6:S2 o'clock. He appeared to
ke perfectly at his ease, and acted someWhat
Ike schoolboy who must speak piece ana
has determined to do it as we'll as possible.
When he entered the execution room ne
bund the physicians and witnesses grouped
sround the death-chair in the form OF horse
baoe; o,+,.r,., +nis is Mr. Kemroler.r said
he Warden, in matter-of.fact tone.
! "Bring me chair" was the command
which came from the Warden's lips directly
tfterward, and some one pushed forward q
common kitchen chair, upon which Kemmler
lat down. The Warden was ex-
temely nervous, aud his hands
ind voice both trembled. While
Eemmler sat in the chair facing the physl.
haus and others he showed no signs OF
breaking down, and when the Warden told
he replied in a bold tone with knowing nod
it the Deputy Sheriff:
Gentlemen, I thing that I am going to
rood place"
At sign from the Warden he rose and
he kitchen chair was pushed back out
,f the way. Kemmler stepped into the death
hair with as much GOODNESS as if he were
toing to have his shoes polished. The
Warden and the Deputy Sheriff started to
asten the mans arms with the straps, but
he Warden's hands trembled so that he
,ould hardly put the straps through the
buckles. Again the bravado of the muir
terer was exhibited, and he said, rather
neeringly:
warden, can't you keep cool:"
When they placed the electrode at the base
# his brain it did not suit him, and he told
The deputy to fasten it down tighter.
Warden DurSton was now standing in the
doorway leading into what had formerly
been selected for the execution-room, and as
The deputy stepped back from the chair, he
ried: "Good-by, William" at the same in
tant rapping twice on the door. A whlstllng
ound was heard as the switch was pulled
lown, and the murderer stltfened out IN the
THAR.
Drs Spitzka and Macdonald We're IN
.harge Of the medical part of the execution.
DR.. Spitzka stepped to the side Of the chair
md watched intently the mans face and
hands. They first turned deadly pale and as
Iuickly began to change to darkred color.
The fingers OF the hand seemed to grasp the
.hair with frmer hold, and the index finger
I>,f the right hand doubled up with such
TNength thai the nail cut through into the
lalEc. 49,.
.nyenteen seconds when DR.. Spitzka said
mat the man was dead, and at a signal the
machinery was stopped. The Doctor turned
% the Warden and Mr.. Huntley to congratu-
ate them on the successful result, when
rom the physicians standing about with
ives fixed upon the form, came the cry:
Turn on the current! Turn on the current!
At the instant when the machinery stopped
,ldeep groan seemed to come from Kemmlers
ips and what was apparently violent
struggle for breath began The body re-
from the mouth. There was great ex.
.itement for q few seconds. One OF
The witnesses tainted and was car
ned from the room. The signal to start the
machinery was given, and again the deadly
current entered the body. The physicians
sou!d hear the sound of the switch as 1t
moved across the board, opening and closing
The current repeatedly. This was kept up
,or about two minutes. The electrode. which
lad been partially unscrewed from its posi-
lion at the base of the brain, had not, in the
,urry to start the machinery for second
lime, been screwed down tightly enough. 1t
vas near enough to the skin to complete the
ircuit however, but it burned the flesh
sadly.
When the current was stopped for the sec.
md time the body was allowed to lie in the
.hair to cool before the autopsy should be
made 1t was then just 6:40 o'clock. kemm-
.er had been in the death room altogether
,nlv eight minutes.
The autopsy was performed in the death
ihamber three hours after the execution on a
able which was in the room, and which
Semmler saw when ne entered.
Every condition of the body was closely
deserved. Upon the top os the head where
he hair had been cut shor'. but not shaved,
vas found circle.
The skin took on the regular post-mortem
appearance.
In the small of the back was found a cir
ular-shaped spot about four inches in cir
amference, where the other electrode had
teen applied, and the body had been badly
,urned.
Kemmler was physically perfect speci.
nen Of manhood. The brain weighed
O5 ounces, exactly the average
Feight. Between the skull and the brain,
tnder where the electrode was applied,
he blood was found to be like charcoal.
After the autopsy, the doctors went away,
arrying in cans portions OF Reminders body
or future dissection; and finally. what re-