The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-07
PASSAGE OF THE Law
Which Requires Executions to be by
Electricity.

Which Requires Executions to be by
Electricity.
Dramatic scenes attended the passage by
the New York legislature Of the measure
under which Kemmler to-day suffered death.
The bill came from the hands of a commits
sion which had been appointed to consider a
change III New York's method of executing
murderers 1t was first presented in the
assembly, and gray-haired Saxton-he of
the electoral bill-as chairman of the assem-
bly's judiciary committee, had assumed its
championship.
1t was a winter night, and the great cap
itol was thronged. A measure which should
abolish the moose and the giobet was to be
placed on its final passage in the House, and
Charles T. Saxton, an able lawyer and
respected man, would make the chief speech
in its behalf. That a struggle would be
made against "the new-fengled notion" by
those who always oppose Innovations was
well known. The committee hearings on
the bill had foreshadowed this. There was
another and a more powerful influence to
be pitted against the measure, for it was
well known that the Catholic members
would bitterly oppose the clauses of the bill
which consigned the murderer's remains to
the prison yard, with quicklime to hasten
dissolution, and thet without religious rites.
Every member was in his place. The
floor the galleries and the eaker's plat
form even held curious spectators. The
bill to substitute the mysterious force of
electricity for the rope was moved. and
Saxtou, standing in his place in the bril-
liant chamber. made his plea for its pas
sage. Then came the battle, and it was
holy waged. Ridiculs and taunts were
leveled at the commission which framed
the bill-one of them sitting b9sde MIR.
SRzYN -
others used vicious sarcasm; and at eacn
onslaught the gray haired Saxton, with
magnificent voice and keen mind, stood
ready.
Finally, within ten feet of the bills de
| fender, arose war veteran l. ongley of
Brooklyn. he cited the agony of pain re-
latives must suffer at not being able to bury
their dead. though the dead be murderer.
Then he referred to the war time, and to the
sad comfort afforded those who we're per-
mitted to receive and bury the bodies of the
loved ones killed In battle.
~ move to amend" concluded Mr..
Longley, THAT friends or relatives may re-
claim the body OF the executed man."
There was both heart and brain in the
response to this.
when man by his crime forfeits his
life to the state" spoke Mr.. Saxton. "the
state has undoubted right TO dispose of the
murderer's body as public policy may
direct. What comfort can be afforded
those who loved the criminal by viewing
the remains which in life had failed of self
respect, and which in death bear she stamp
Of the states righteous dissertation"
In Chicago" continued the speaker,
"the bodies Of executed criminals were ex-
posed to relatives aud TO the public, and
that city was brought very close to an in
surrection. Public policy would have been
better served had the provisions of this bill
! been operative there"
There was pause, in which the throng
was hushed. aud Mr.. Saxton. turning
toward Longley, looked into his eyes.
Finally" he broke forth in a s1arching
monotone that reached every ear. does the
| gentleman wish 10 force upon me- who
served as did he in the union armies a
/ comparison Of the sacred sorrow for the
/ dead soldier with the passion Of regret over
the corpse Of dead murderer
| Interest Of the crowded chamber was too
/ intense for cheers. The crowd just waited
IA silence This was broken by new an
/ ticipations as Mr.. Roesca-who since, as
senator, passed the weekly payment bill
arose 20 speak. II was known that be
Continued on Third Pags