davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

All is now ready for the execution. But
before the final touch is given to the switch
that shall send the victim to eternity, q
connection is made with an instrument in
an adjoining cell and the subject feels a
slight electric thrill, by no means painful or
unpleasant. This is done to apply what is
known as the "Wheatstone Test" for the
purpose of ascertaining Reminders eIectri-
cal resistance. and occupies only moment.
The black cloth is then pulled over Kemm-
ler's face; the officers stand back while the
last prayer is said by the prison chaplain !;
the signal Is given; the executioner gives
the switch a little push to one side and
1000 volts of the alternating current pass
through the murderer in the chair. There
is muscular spasm, faint quivering of
the limbs and sit is over" There is moth
ing like convulsion; hardly anything more
perceptible than the futtering of the
needle in a compass box. The duration
of sensibility is hardly to be measured even
by seconds. The brain is instantly paral-
yzed, before even the nerves can communi-
cate any appreclable sense of shock. Prof.
Helmholtz estimates that ITO of a second is
the time needed to produce death; Prof.
Tyndall says 1-1O00 of second, and Prof
Elihu Thompson has declared that it is abso-
lutely impossible that any pain can be felt
by the subject condemned to an electric
death,
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
THE ELECTRIC DEATH.
,,u1,ER,s EXECUTION A NEW
vpA IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

other Nations Do 1.-THE Gull
line the Most Widely Prevalent
-roda in Europe-Execution in China,
T.nan. Turkey, Morocco, Russia,
africa, Persia, Siam. and Elsewhere.
--,-b-f,,l Barbarities that Prevail in
-o-aze Lands-Criminals Trampled
=, elephants, Clubbed. Burned
live. Impaled, Bows5rung and
vnouted What Civilization Has
Accomplished
(CopwiqhtA
.-vw YORK, April 26-Withi the execu-
zion Of Joseph Kemmler, the convicted
',,,,rderer, at Auburn prison this week,
-ay era in capital punishment begins. 1t
w. o been reserved for the humanitarians Of
sr,erica to lead the way in the abolition of
.ha old and barbarous method Of taking
80 that have been forfeited to the law.
nd IN substitute for strangulation by the
noe. the speedy, painless and effective
dssth by the electrical chair. in which the
condemned may pass away without afford
irga spectacle at once unscientific and re-
voting.
The electrical continuance by means of
ubich Kemmler will be executed was con-
etrncted under the supervision of Harold P.
BROWN. an electrical engineer of New York.
The machines are Westinghouse dynamos,
and the current to be used is known as the
Alternating current, which comes in pulsat-
ING waves, and which recent experiments
demonstrated to be the most deadly of all
currents. The "death chair is con-
structed on the model of an inva-
ids reclining chair. This chair, with
the necessary apparatus, has been
conducted on the morning of the execution.
Before seating him in the chair the guards
will fasten his hands in front and put a
strong leather strap with buckles under the
armpits. These buckles, when the con-
denned is seated, will be connected with the
rings on the arms of the chair, and sponge
with wire connection placed at the base of
the spine. Then the cap-a peculiar affair
constructed of black rubber-will be adj
iusted. Inside the cap is a spiral of copper
wire, five inches in diameter, which fits
well over the crown OF the head, and which,
before being finally adjusted will be COW
cred with a sponge wet with salt water.
From the ceiling of the room and immedi-
ately over the chair hang two flexible wires,
while on the cell wall is an electrical dial to
indicate the intensity of the current, and
which is operated by a small double switch,
similar to those used in telegraph offices for
turning on and off the current. One OF
these wires will be adjusted to the connec-
ton IN the top of the helmet-like cap and
the other to the sponge at the base of the
spine.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

In the cars realm, the extreme penalty
is inflicted in various forms, the musket and
The gallows predominating. Where the
knout is used, the victim is stripped half
naked-sometimes wholly so-aud with
hands bound aud cords cutting deep into
the flesh, is laid fiat on his stomach upon a
wooden frame. To this the hands aud
feet are securely fastened by iron rings,
which are frightened till the bones are dislo-
Gated. Then come the singing, cutting
blows of the knife-like thongs that slice OUT
deep burrows in the flesh and leave red-and-
blue ridges where the skin is not yet broken.
The knouU can be made as fatal as the ak or
sword if such be the purpose of the execu-
tioner, or the punishment can be drawn out
SO as to torture the victim horribly, yet
leaving the vital organs unharmed. The
knout itself is lrnotted bunch of thongs
made of hides. The word is Tartar, and it
was that savage race that invented and
brought it into use in Russia at the time
they overran that country. In the hands
of q strong man, a single, well directed
blow will lay bare the ribs. and continued
strokes on the same place will kill in few
minutes.
Among some of the more savage nations,
frightfuI barbarities are devised for the
punishment of condemned criminals. The
Bangwolo, on the Aruwimi river in Africa,
have peculiarly cruel mode OF Kidding
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

In Spain and its colonies the garrotte is
the instrument of,capitaI punishment. The
condemned man sits on D seat resembling a
cobbler's stool, with bis back against an
upright posi-. His feet are strapped to the
legs of the stool. The upright il pierced by
two holes at point Just above the mans
shoulder, in each of which Steel bar is in
serted. These, with cross-piece in front,
form the collar. Ia the upright, back of the
neck, is a bar OF metal, which IS operated
by screws worked By lever, The head OF
the condemned man Is enveloped in cloth,
his arms are tightly strapped, and, at the
signal, the lever is turned and the bar is
driven home through the nervous ficers and
ganglia connected with the spinal cord The
neck is broken and. with few revolutions
of the lever, the man is dead.
The galiows, which recent efforts have
succeeded in aboiishing in.this country. and
which is no longer the popular medium OF
execution among civilized nations, is OF
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

This barbarous method, unworthy of an
enlightened nation, has numbered its last
victim in New York. In place of the rope
and instantaneous. The report of the
special commission appointed by the legisla-
ture of New York state to investigate the
subject in 1888 showed that of all methods
yet submitted electricity Is the most humane
for inficting capital punishment. In all
likelihood its SUCCESS in this country, when
fully demonstrated, will be followed by its
adoption by other nations. Toe following
table shows the standing of the different
countries of the globe to-day on the capital
punishment question:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

DEATH BY THE BOWSTRING IN TURKEY.
The townspeople form a semi-circle at a
proper distance from the criminals, the
soldiers stand on guard, and the headsmen,
with their long double-edged weapons
drawn, stand by for the signal. 1t is given,
and the chief swordsman begins the
butchery. Both his hands grasp the big
sword, there is flash through the air, and
the next instant a head falls forward, and a
stream of blood spouts upward, until the
body drops into the hole and out of sight.
Such is the dexterity of the Chinese
swordsmen that they rarely need more
than one stroke in decapitation. O1e
after another of the shivering wretches
is dealt with in the same way, and not till
the arm of the headsman tires does he give
place to an assistant. who steps forward and
finishes the work of carnage. Throughout
the whole scene the gong booms mourn
fully. When all is over the chief swords
man advances, and, with his dripping
weapon raised, salutes the presiding judge,
who then gives the order for the dispersal
of the gathering. The soldiers stay behind
to bury the bodies which they carelessly
fling into ditch. The heads are exposed in
wire cages on the walls of the city. The
Ching Chez, or death by the sword, is
not granted to women in China, They are
either straugled or hacked to pieces. The
latter is the punishment inflicted for ex-
ceedingly severe cases, such as the murder of
a husband a father, mother or other relative.
The victim, after being fastened to stake,
is literally carved to pieces, her flesh being
cut off in small fragments and the vital
parts avoided so as to prolong her suffering.
Dismemberment and finally decapitation
end her agonies.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

"hEMEMBER, that the payment OF Prizes
BANKS Of New Orleans and the Tickets are
signed by the President of an Institution WHOSE
chartered rights are recognized In the highest
Courts; therefore, beware Of all limitations or
anonymous schemes"
ONE DOLLAR is the price of the smallest
part or fraction of Ticket ISSUED BY Us
In any Drawing. Anything in our name offered
for less than Dollar is a swinde.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

In spite of this pleading of tender humani-
tarians for the abolition of capital punish
ment, the death penalty is now, and always
has ben, the extreme resort of human law
among both civilized and barbarous races.
1t will probably remain so till the end of
time. q, II. SANDrsoN.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27

Address Registered Letters Contain-
ing Currency to
NEW ORLEANS NATIONAL BANK.
New Orleans. In
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
end her ag0nies

There are two other modes OF capital
punishment in China, but they are reserved
for statesmen of high rank and princes OF
the royal blood. When the reignIng empe-
ror couceives that it viii be to MS interest
"a remove certain princes, he sends them
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
I'M PORTANT.

Address Nj. A. DAUPHIy.
r,, New Orleans, La,
Washington. ID. q.
BY ordinary letter containing Money Ordnr
issued by all Express Companies, New York Exs
change, Draft or Postal Note.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
Atthe Academy OF Music, New Orleans,
Tuesday, May IS. 1890
Capital Prize $500, 1000
100000 Tickets at s2O each; Halves $40.
Quarters SIS; Tenths So; Twentieths al.
AGENTS WANTED.

ED- For CLUB RATES, or any further IN
formation desired, write legibly to the under
signed, clearly stating your residence with
state, County, Street and Number More rapid
return mail delivery will be assured by your
enclosing an Envelope bearing your full addrass.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
HOW IOWA WAS CARRIED.

He sat in the door at noonday, lone.
some and glum and sad brOoding over
the price ol his corn crop. and figuring
how much he had lie had worked from
early sprlng time, early and late and
hard, and now he wRs counting his
assets and figuring ont his reward. He
figured that il took two acres 10 buy
his two bUya new boots: aud ten aCres
more on top OF this to tit them out IN
new suits To buy his wife protected
dress took one hundred bushels more,
while five acres went in II solid lump
for the carpet on the floor. His taxes
and his grocery bill absorhed his crop
of oats; While the interest on his farm
mortgage took all his fatiened shOats.
The shingles for his cow shed and the
lumber Tor his barn had eaten up his
beet steers and the balance of his corn
30 he sat In Ills door at MONDAY lonely
and glum and sad as be figured up his
wealth little less than II was year
before. BY gum! they say i'm protect.
ed, but | know there Is sonnet ming
wrong; I've been deceived and hood
winked by tllis high protection song.
They told OF rebeIlious traitors, and
held up the bloody rag, and followed
along Ike pumpkin AnG now | Gm
holding the bag. But from this time
Oh I'll investigate and get to the bot
tom facts and I'll bet 81 to begin with
that the tariff 10 . tax.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
THE holland DEFALOATION.


From the Kahoka Gazette -Herald.l
Republican newspapers aud polltl-
cians are, apparently, deriving such a
fund of consolation, that il will last
them the rest of their lives
The democratic party has been In
possession OF the state government OF
Missouri, In all Of its branches, for the
past eighteen years, aud this Is the flrsi
instance In which one of the state ofil
GERS, elected by its votes, has gone
wrong. That he deserves punishment.
swift and sure, there can be no ques-
tion. That the state will lose nothing
by his defalcation, is admitted 1t is q
purely personal matter in which q
young man In responsible position
could not resist temptation and himself
and bondsnen are made to suffer for IL.
II is another case Of misplaced conf
dence-sometbing that frequently be-
falls individuals, corporations or par
ties.
If the democratic party OF Missouri
is TO be censured, because one CT its
members has proved recreant to the
trust placed in hun by great state,
| what shall be said of the republican
party which found the state without a
dollar OF Indebtedness in 1861 and sur
rendered it i'll 1870 u with a debt OF
| S32, 900, ,0002
State officers then were paid about
the same salaries as now, but only q
term or two sufilced 10 raise them from
comparative poverty to atfluence. The
depleted condition of the treasury when
| they were out of power, explains how
the transformation was accomplished
holland was detected in small stea
and summarily suspended by the Cover.
nora party associate-and his short.
age made good by his bondsmen. Ii
ever there was any investigation, sus
pension from Office or punishment fol
official stealing under republican ad
ministralion in Missouri, the tact has
never been made public.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
NOLAND's SHORTAGE AND TIE RE-
PUBLICAN PRESS.


~ Oohtpu ohLCLtcsl
The republican papers of Missouri
are much elated at the report that there
is shortage OF S32 900 in the accounts
OF the democratic state treasurer. They
seem to think that the voters of the
state will impute TO future democratic
candidates for Office any delinquency
that may be found in the conduct of the
state treasurer, and that they are about
TO enter into peaceable possession of all
the offices. The fact that tho brethren
take so cheerful a view of the future is
fresb proof that hope springs eternal in
the human breast. The vagrant, who
seeking an out OF the way street,
pillows his head upon the curbstOne
and sleeps in the gutter, and dreams
that the rumbling wheels OF passing
car are those of golden chariot owned
by himself and driven by the rich
mans scullion, who an hour before
had responded to his appeal for u crust
by setting the dog on him. lnyalids,
Just before they pass away, imagine
themselves to be in the very bloom OF
health, feel the breath of the early
morning upon their cheeks, Chamber up
hillsides and laugh ard chatter like
children at May day picnic. Age
and impending dissolution brings 10
poor perishing mortality a queer mix
tnre Of hope and resignation-hope for
yet further lease OF life--reeIknatiom
TO whatever tomorrow may bring. So
II Is with the republican party iu
Missouri. A political uutcsst, dream
ing of good fortune that never comes,
yet is ever expected. An invalid as
full of sores as Lazarus, as incurable
as the lepers that sought asy huns and
place TO die In ancient Israel's cities
Of refuge, yet haunted by visions OF
restored health. A decrepIt remnant
OF lusty power, ageu before its lime by
Its vices, yet clinging to lite, while It's
eS cry gasp sounds the death rattle.
The democratic party OF Missouri is
In no danger OIL account OF any mis-
| conduct the state treasurer may have
been guilty OF. Whatever his short
comings, 1t will be time enough tor
the republican papers TO attempt the
arraignment of the democratic party
for his sins when there shall have been
q failure Oh the part OF the state author.
tiles TO apply the remedies aud penalties
provided by the statute tor the pro
lection OF the public and the vindica
ton of the law. Up TO this time
nothing has occurred 10 Justify d!spsi
agement OF the democracy. On The
contrary prompt application of the
statutory remedies, and a man:ies
determination to iudll the require
ments OF the law TO the letter hav,
characterized the inves .galion of al
affair which even II il should turn on
to be much worse than il has beer
painted. only effects the reputation o
an individual. Let the law take IL
course, and instead Of iujurIng tn
democratic party, such demonstration
of capacity and determination to pro
tect the public treasury against evi
practices will win siresh the admiration
of the people.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
ANOTHER RAILROAD.

From the Sedalia Gazette, March llth.l
James Q. Thompson left last night
for Chicago, and the following para
graph from the st. Louis Republic OF
Sunday will explain the object of his
visit
"Kansas City and Chicago capitalists
are interested In a project to build
new railroad between Sedalis, No.,
and Kansas City. The road, If built,
will run through some fine coal fields
In Pettis and Lafayette counties, Mis-
souri,. Surveys OF the proposed road
are being made"
The road in question has been sur.
veyed from here to Kansas City, and
the Gazette has been In possession OF
much information in relation thereto
for some time past, but at the earnest
request of Sedalls capitalists who are
financially interested In the project. no
mention was made of the matter
When newspaper Of the standing and
prominence of the Republic refers to It
in its railroad columns, however, there
is no reason why the Gazette should
longer maintain silence, and hence the
facts as they are known TO exist are
given publicity.
Within the past few weeks Sedalis
has been visited twice by Kansas City
and Chicago capitalists, their object
being to further the building of the
road. One OF the visitors was Mr.. W.
IL. Holmes, the principal owner of the
dummy line running from Kansas City
TO Independence. The original inten-
ton was to construct the line from In
dependence TO Sweet Springs, utilizing
the dummy into Kansas City, but when
the magnificent coal fields between
Sedalis aud Sweet Springs were con-
sidered, IL was decided TO extend the
line to this point from the springs. 1t
was to hear report IN regard to the
extended survey that the Chicago and
Kansas City gentlemen came to Sedslia.
But this Is not all. The road will
not be permitted to stop here. Instead,
1t will be built to st. Louis, south of
the Missouri Pacific, following very
closely, most likely, the old survey Of
the st. Louis, Kansas City and Colora
do road, which is now In operation
thirty. seven miles out from 81. Louis
In this direction.
The Gazette can say that the chances
are largely In favor OF the road being
built from Kansas City 10 Sedaiis, aud
then from here 10 connect with the line
rnnning ont of St. Louis. The gentle.
men back of the enterprise have unlim.
tied capital at their disposal, and real
ising that a liue competing with the
Missouri Pacific would result In good
dividends for the stockholders, they
are ready to build it.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
A LITTLE EARLY TO BRING OUT
JEFF.
1 From the Chicago Herald. 4


Old Luther Dearborn, who used to
be the attorney Of the Alton road away
back In the seventies, was good deal
of politician. He was great talker
on the stump and when he went
through the state on railroad business
he would embrace every opportunity
to make q political speech If there was
q campaign in progress. In 1872 he
was called to Bloomington. 1t was be.
fore the democratic national convention
and presidential timber was being look
ed at. Dearborn made rousing demo-
cratic speech one afternoon and after
he had finished he received several in
vitations from neighboring farmers 10
spend the night with them. He accepted
the invitation of the old farmer who
had the greatest number of voting sons,
and accompanied him home to supper.
After the meal he sat around the fire
with the old man and his boys and
talked politics, doing all of the talking
himself. After long silence the old
farmer removed his pipe and said,
seriously. Luther, who dye think'll
be nomlnated?' Dearborn thought q
moment and replied: swell, think Il
will be Davis" meaning Judge Davis,
who was looked upon as candidate at
that time. The old msu tho" sht long
time. Then he said: "Lutner, I'll vote
for him II he is, an 30 will the boys"--
whereupon "the boys" nodded assent
-"but," added the old fellow, "don't
You think 1t bit early TO bring out
Jeff2"
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
PRESIDENT HARRISON DENOUNCED.

During the late senatorial contest
Senator Vest wrote letter TO leading
democratic In Montana, In which, after
giving advice rs to how the members
of the Legislature should act, be gives
the Harrison administration the most
caustic roast It has received. The letter
was written December 20. Iu 1t MIR.
Vest says
The democrats made q mistake in
going into the senate session, and it
was bad break, but as it has been
done we must do the best we can with
what is lett. All of rs who have CON-
suited the leading democrats here are
OF the opinion that the democratic
| members Of the legislature must elect
two senators on the same day that the
republicans elect. 1t will not do for
the two republican senators to be here
| without contestants on our side.
After suggestions as to how to pro-
ceed the letter continues OF course
the republican senate will not admit
| our people, but we will make II so hot
for them that they will not admit the
others. II they needed them II would
be different, but they have six majority
already and can afford to play the high
| Judicial role The United States senate
requirSsI thst the governor shall sign
the certificate Of Q senator, and we will
make tne best Of ii on that point, but
they win h4vc the best of Us ss to the
senate. The e'fAet that our people went
into session with them is an estoppel
upon us as 70 the legal orxnpizalion, Of
that body. Il waa q terrible mistake.
and one we did NOS pplic cipete.
1t only remains tor us ~ bevo tWo con.
testants here on tine, and 4 We 40
nothing else we can sbov1p ~
scoundrelism Of Harrison's c0ndd5t ia
the matter. You know what l always
thought Of him, and everybody here
now knows the same, thank God, that
he is SO mean constitutionally that he
will continue to drive away from him
every man of honor and liberality and
good feeling until the people will como
to the rescue of the government from
this concealed mass of meanness.
The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-22
FOR BALLOT REFORM BECAUSE IT
Is RIGHT
From the Kansas City Star.I

lFrom the Kansas CITY Stsr.t
President Cleveland has been
Interviewed by a Baltimore newspaper
In regard to ballot reform, and it was
suggested to him-a very natural Bal
timore suggestion-that this reform
might injure the democratic party In
certain localities. His reply was char
acteristic. al have never" he said,
"looked upon this question from that
point of view. | have never debated
in my own mind whether the removal
OF trickery from the voter would iujure
or benefit the democratic party. Ballot
reform is right ana that 10 why | think
1t should be adopted" These words
not only convey lesson to the politi-
clans, bat they denote the tendency of
American political sentiment. The
number of people In this country Is
rapidly increasing who look rather to
the Fright" OF any issue involved than
to the interests OF the political party
with which they have been Identified,
and the time is rapidly approaching
when the politicians must recognize
the power which the independent
thinker aud voter is destined to exer-
else in determining the public questions
OF tue time.