Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-08
KEMNLERiS REMAINS.
The Voltage Used in the Execution-Niews
of Medical Experts.
By telegraph to tho Dispatch.

ArDrRN. \. Y. August 7.--Wnrden Dur
ston stated this afternoon that the remains
of Kemmler still lie in the room IN the
prison where the autopsy was held ycster-
day. ". has not decided where the re-
mains will be finally buried. The subject
which continues TO excite the greatest IN
terest in connection with the execution IS
the record of tho voltage Of the shock
which killed him. 1t has been generally
suppOsed that the first shock was l.3OO
and the second between l,5OO and
1000 volts Electrician Barnes, VINO
was in the dynamO-room, SAID 10
one Of the physicians III attendance
YESTERDAY that ut no time was the voltage
more than 200 and that II frequently fell
10 $50. DR.. Daniels, of Buffalo, who per
formed the delicate work Of removing the
brain and spinal cord Of the dead man at
the autopsy, has gone home, taking with
him parts of the spinal cord Tor expert
ment. 1t Is learned to-day tor the nrst
time that IN the consultation of the doc
tors Tuesday night Warden Durston made
a propositi0n TO hold the execution az
O'clock that night, but II was determined
bv the vote of those present that il would
be better TO hold il in the daytime.
PREFERABLE TO HANGING.
New YORK, August 7.-Deputy-Coroner
william +. Jenkins returned 10 the city
to-day after witnessing kemmleT's execu-
ton. He SAID he believed that If the cur
rent had been kept on continuously
kemmlcr would have died easily. lie ana
not know who il was that ordered the cur
rent shut oil. He thinks killing Is prefer
able by electricity To hanging providing
the current Is continuous until lie IS eX-
tinct.
NOT RESPONSIBLE.
NV YORK. August 7.--Dr. Spitzka, who
was present at the execution of hemmler
nj Auburn yesterday. makes the following
statement 1.-THE assertion attributed 10
the physician from Buffalo that the under
signed ordered the currents stopped or IN
any way directed the steps rendered neces-
sarv at the Kemmler execution Is utterly
unfounded. No one IN the execution
chamber knew or could know anything
about the voltage. nor did any one order
the current turned of. IL was turned on
in accordance with previous understanq-
ING. Or. Carlos Macdonald and myself
(Detween whom and myself complete bar
m0ny existed IN being asked ly the war
den what time should be taken agreed to
fifteen seconds, and actually seventeen were
allowed TO elapse. When kemmler' 5 death
appeared doubtful suggested IN hurried
way 60 the Warden TO have It instantly
turned on again and It was the Warden
WHO gave lit OIltf iufiA sAAli lh'i's
went TO Auburn solely 20 make an eXalnl-
nation of the brain. and not - an assistant
e1ecutioner. The dynamo rs judged by
the action of Kommler's body acted very
irregulaTlv. The source OF this II
will be interesting to ascertain as
well as the animus which dictated
the gratutous and untrue statement
of the person alluded %. If really
made by him. As an avowed opponent,
and as one known 20 be such, of the cleo
trical method | went TO Auburn Under
these circumstances II was scarcely. con-
sistent FOR me TO volunteer as the perform
or of that method. Had either my asso-
cate, DR.. Carlos Macdonald, or myself
been able to anticipate such mlsstatements
! being made We certainly should have de-
! clined 10 act in medical capacity which
We alone held. My sole suggestion, com
| cided with by all present-the turning on
I OF a second current-was dictated by hui
manity in view OF doubts as to the COM
/ plete destruction of life.
Respectfully, Il. q. SPIrzKA."
NOTHING AGAINST THE SYSTEM.
BUFFALO, August 7.-Dr. A. p. South
| wick, the father Of the electrical execution
law. said to-day in an interview: feel just
/ rs have always felt on the matter. There
Is nothing against the system at al. and
/ the fact is there has been great deal OF
senseless sensational talk about the exeeu-
ton: For instance, the big story IN regard
to the sickening spectacle of froth, saliva,
etc. coming from Kemmlers mouth Is
ridiculous. 1t was perfectly natural
thing. and was caused by the muscular
contraction Of the stomach. 1t was no.
thing unusual at all. In fact party of
ladies could sit in room where an e1ecu-
ton Of this kind was going ON and not see
anything repulsive whatever. II the mis-
TAKE OF ordering of the current 30 quickly
had not been made there would have been
none Of this talk. The burning of the
nesh was also exaggerated. That was
caused simply by the fact that the sponge
under the electrode was two small. A
light current was passing through then.
and the sponge having dried out the cleo