Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-06
TEXT OF THE STATUTE.
The Law Authorizing Death by Electro
cution.

The vital and more interesting sections of
the law Chapter 4S9, laws of 1889 providing
for execution by electricity are as follows:
"When defendant is sentenced to the pun
ishment of death the judge or judges holding
the court at which the conviction takes place
or majority of them, OF whom the judge pre-
siding must be one, must make out sign and
deliver to the sheriff of the county a
warrant stating the conviction and SEN
tence and appoint the week within which
sentence must be executed. Said warrant
must be directed to the agent and warden OF
the state prison of this state designated by law
as the place of confinement for convicts SEN
fenced to Imprisonment in q state prison in
the judicial district wherein such conviction
has taken place, commanding such agent and
warden to do execution of the sentence
upon some some day w,.h within the week
the issuing of such warrant, the said sheriff
must deliver the defendant, together with the
warrant, to the agent and warden of the state
prison therein named. From the time of the
said delivery to the said agent and warden until
the infection of the punishment of death upon
him. unless he shah be lawfully discharged from
such imprisonment, the defendant shall be
kept in solitary confinement at said state prison
and no person shall be allowed access to him
without an order of the court, except the off,
GERS of the prison, his counsel his physician, o
priest or minister of religion if he shall desire
1.-THE week SO appointed must begin not less
than four weeks and not more than eight
weeks after the sentence. The time of the
execution within said week shall be left to the
discretion of the agent and warden to whom
the warrant is directed; but no previous an
nouncement Of the day or hour Of the execu-
ton shall be made except to the persons who
shall be invited or permitted to be present ct
said execution as hereinafter provided.
The punishment OF death must, in every
case, be inflicted by causing to pass through
the body Of the convict q current Of electricity
OF sufficient intensity to cause death, and the
application of such current must be continued
until such convict 10 dead"
WHO SHALL DO THE DEED.
'Tt is the duty Of the agent and warden to be
present at the execution and to invite the
presence, by at least three days previous
notice, Of o justice Of the supreme court, the
district attorney and the sheriff OF the county
wherein the conviction was had, together with
two physicians and twelve reputable citi-
zens Of full age, to be selected by said
agent and warden. Such agent and
permit such ministers of tho gospel, priests or
ciergymen of any religious denomination, not
exceeding two, TO be present at the execution;
and, in addition to the persons designated
above, he may also appoint seven assistants or
deputy sheriffs who may attend the execution.
ct such execution except those designated in
"Immediately after the execution post
mortem examination Of the body OF
the convict shall be made BY the
IN wrsa shs Of the
animation % made by them shall be annexed
70 the certificate hereinafter mentioned and filed
herewith. After such post mortsm examine
toa TIE bod, unless claimed b sems rslative e