The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-08-09
REMINDERS END.
The Fatal Current Applied and the
Murderer Dies Without q
Struggle.
The Opinion Of Witnesses Present is
that the Execution Was
Successful.
London Papers Characterize Elec-
trOcutiOn as q Disgrace to
Humanity.
Details of the Execution.

HulldulGys
Details of the Execution.
AUBURN, N. Y. Aug. 6.-Between 6 and
Z 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 20,
1889, he murdered his mistress, "Tillie'
Ziegler, and his death to-day was the
reparation for his crime. He break
tasted lightly between 5 and 6 o'clock.
Religious services we're then held. He
made his own toilet; he was cheerful and
cool and without apparent dread.
Before being brought from his cell
Kemmler's hair was cut, but his vanity
made them save q curl on his forehead,
and, as the sequel proved, with no good
result. The shaven spot was "a by
IL inches in size, and was not shaven,
but cropped fairly close. While this was
proceeding and the witnesses we're 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 family. The cur
rent was on and the strange power was
coursing 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-
Der, and was undoubtedly as true a few
minutes later when the volt vas 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 a plain wooden bottom
chair directly in front of the other and a
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 q place
beside Kemmler and introduced him to
those present, asking him If he had any
thing to say: He had, and said: swell,
I wish everybody good luck in the world"
in steady tones, land I'll go to a
good place; and the papers have been
saying lots Of stuff about me that amt
go" The prisoner was then assisted in
Al -.o-o.oo~ fo~ hfc 0vppo 6ooth
Every strap had been tested, each cleo
trode had been
PRESSED TO THE SEAT OF LIFE.
The warden's deputies stepped back.
There was a 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,
and he moved toward the door of his Sc
cret ROOM, and at that moment DR.. Fell,
of Buffalo, who made the death char,
was dropping water from a bulb syringe
through a 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 bound
man in the chair had heard every word
His hands were clinched and rigid. 81.
awaited the shock. The hour was 643H
o'clock. The warden turned and nodded
his head to some nj who stood in the
secret room at the fatal switch. There
was
A QUICK, oONvULsIvE START
of the bound figure in the chair, a little
~squeaking sound of streaming straps,
and the breathless watchers, with every
sense bent upon the moveless wretch,
bound head, hand and fest, heard no sound
save the bird songs in the bright
sunshine outside the windows.
Two minutes after the current was cut
of there was evidence of respiration. As
soon as possible the current was re-
turned, then cut of, and again respira-
ton was evident after q few moments.
Saliva came from the mouth, the chest
heaved and there was q Wheeling in the
throat. The shock wa again put to the
QIl8Ou0ES WuOS vuo OOCgO4o AoA40AAOA3 woo
unconscious from the moment of the first
shock. After q short time smoke ap-
peared at the base; the flesh was burning,
and the spectacle was most trying. The
man, the doctors said, suffered no pain,
however. The warden says the voltage
Of the first shock was at 1900 volts,
which ran down to q point not named.
After the third contact of four minutes
the man was declared dead. The ward
ems certificate of death was signed by all
present and the party broke up at 7:1Ot to
meet at 8:15, when the body would be
ready for autopsy. When the mask was
taken of Kemmler's face his eyes were
found half open and his expression,
while not normal or placid, was not hor-
rifying to see. Immediately after the
execution, DR.. Shrady, the eminent ply
sician, said to the reporter: "As far as
Kemmler was concerned, the scene was
most narrowing. I mean by that, that
his conduct was 80 admirable. He dis
played such gentle dignity through it all
that it went
STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
Of every one present. When the electric
current was applied he stihened out
under the shock. Think that conscious
ness was at once lost, but that life was
not extinct, After the current had been