Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-22

has taken up the cry, and demands the re-
peal of the electrical execution law.
Now let us see what reason there is for
it. 1t is sworn to in elaborate detail and
great fullness by seventeen witnesses and
four physicians, that the man was dead
within seven seconds, probably within
three, and was incapable of sensation after
the hundredth part of second. 1t is ad-
mitted that his breast heaved and air
passed his lips from the lungs, when the
current was shut off. But it is testified by
the physicians that this was not evidence
of life. 1t was muscular reaction due to
relaxation of the tension induced by the
electrical currents.
Now as to the return to the rope as
better means of execution. Let US turn
with the New York Ecening Post to the
report of the commission which recon-
mended the new law and read therein
scenes which so often accompany hang
ings-" struggles lasted fully ten minutes
after the fall of the drop" "he succeeded
in thrusting his hands between the rope
and his throat, and thus, resisting and
struggling to the last, died." "for fourth
time Bounsfield raised himself and OBJ
tanned foothold; again he was thrust off
and Calcraft, throwing himself upon the
suspended body, by main force strangled
him at last" "the rope broke and the
criminal fell alive to the ground, and after
an hours delay was hanged second
time;;" "his neck was not broken; the folds
of the shroud heayed and twisted agon-
izedIy; the commissions continued few
minutes" This is the form of execution
a return to which, through the agency of
newspaper publicity, certain of the press
think would be blessing.
To this can be added the testimony of
reporters of the REcoRD-UNIoN who have
attended very many hanging executions.
In all instances except two, out of score
or more, there was twitching Of the body
or contortion of the limbs, or struggles
with the hands, or cries from the throat,
or froth from the lips, or heaving Of the
breast and abdomen, for from one to ten
minutes after the drop fell, and in two
cases, fifteen minutes after. In many cases
all the movements specified were notice
able, in several two or more of them were
noted
In nearly one-third of the cases the
victims were choked to death and died
slowly by strangulation. In one case the
head was jerked from the body, in another
the rope broke and the tortured man was
swung up ten minutes later, in the mean
time bleeding from the lungs and suffering
Undesirable agonies. In about two
thirds of the cases the features were hor-
ribly distorted, the tongue protruded and
the eyes started from their sockets. In
Kemmler's case the countenance was nor
NAL in its appearance, and there was no
external evidence of his having suffered
pain.
We submit that in the face of these
facts those OF our contemporaries who are
denouncing electrical execution should
pause and reflect upon the logic Of their
position. If they do, they will find that
they have no warrant whatever for the
position they occupy, but that they have
rushed to conclusions upon the bald state
ments Of men who did not witness the ex-
ecution, and only gathered their report at
second hand" and then under the i'm
pulse of the 'horror" of death scene.
Had these same men been present at an
ordinary hanging, what would have been
the state of their nerves if peaceful
death like Kemmler's can so stir them?