Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-08
The Fatal Current Applied and the
Murderer Dies Without
Struggle.
The Opinion Of Witnesses Present is
that the Execution Was
Successful.
London Papers Characterize Elec-
trOcutiOn as a Disgrace to
Humanity.
Details of the Execution,

AUBURN, N. Y. Aug. 6.-Between 6 and
o'clock this morning, in the basement
of the state prison in this city, William
Kemmler was killed under the law
by the use of electricity. On March %,
1889, he murdered his mistress, ''Tillie''
Ziegler and his death to-day was the
reparation for his crime. He break
tasted lightly between and o'clock.
Religious services were then held. He
made his own toilet; he was cheerful and
cool and without apparent dread.
Before being brought from his cell
Kemmlers hair was cut, but his va1asy
made them save curl on his forehead,
and, as the sequel proved, with no good
result. The shaven spot was 2l1 by
! d inches in size, and was not shaven,
bnt cropped fairly close. While this was
proceeding and the witnesses were exam
lining
THE CHAIR OF DEATH
the belt was run upon the dynamo away
down in the south wing of the prison
and the incandescent test lamps in the
ante chamber glowed faintly. The cur
rent was on and the strange power was
coursiug the circuit. The evidence was
there, but so feebly they burned that
Electrician Davis remarked that there
was something wrong with the machin-
cry down there, referring to the dynamo
and the circuit. This remark took place
before electricizing, it is we'll to remem-
ber, and was undoubtedly as true q few
minutes later when the volt was applied
to Kemmler.
THE CONDEMNED MAN,
after having his hair cut on top of his
head, listened to the reading of the death
warrant by the warden, and was then es-
courted to the death chamber. Warden
Durston placed plain wooden bottom
chair directly in front of the other and
different chair and bade Kemmler to sit
down on it, He obeyed readily. There
was no uneasiness about his movements.
He was apparently the most calm person
in the room. The warden took a place
beside Kemmler and introduced him to
those present, asking him If he had any
thing to say. He had, and said: "Well,
I wish everybody good luck in the world, -
in steady tones, land I'll 60 to a
good place; and the papers have been
saying lots of stuff about me that amt
so." Tho prisoner was then assisted in
the preparation for his own death.
Every strap had been tested, each elec-
trode had been
r.. PRESSED TO THE SEAT OF LIFE.
The warden's deputies stepped back.
There was hush. The warden inquired
of Drs. Macdonald and Spitzka how
long the current should be maintained in
Kemmler's body. The first response was
twenty seconds, which was almost in
/ stantly changed to ten seconds every
we'll, gentlemen responded the warden,
Y and he moved toward the door of his se-
cret room, and at that moment DR.. Fell,
! of Buffalo, who made the death char,
was dropping water from bulb syringe
/ through long rubber tube into the cleo
( trode sponges. The warden reappeared
from the ante-room. "Well, everything
} is ready" he said, while he faced the
death chair six feet away. The hound
man in the chair had heard every word
His hands we're clinched and rigid. H.
awaited the shock. The hour was 6:43%
O'clock. The warden turned and nodded
his head to some one who stood in the
secret room at the fatal switch. There
was ~ --~
IL sS5@ QUICK, CoNvULsIvE START
Sof the bound figure in the chair, little
squeaking sound of stralning straps,
and the breathless watchers, with every
sense bent upon the moveless wretch,
bound head, hand and feel, heard no sound
save the bird songs in the bright
sunshine outside the windows.
Two minutes after the current was cut
gof there was evidence of respiration. AS
soon as possible the current was re-
/ turned, then cut of, and again respira-
1 ition was evident after few moments.
Saliva came from the mouth, the chest
heaved and there was wheeling in the
throat. The shock was again put to the
prisoner, who, the doctors remarked, was
unconscious from the moment Of the first
|sshock. After 9 short time smoke ap-