Evening journal., 1890-10-09
THE DEATH OF KEMMLER
Synopsis of the Official Account
of the Execution.
MORE HUMANE THAN HANGING.

Nhe OucthA report AieEes Ahut heHh.
Ter Was Instantly killed and That the
Execution Was a Very Successful One.
The Alleged Signs Of Life Explained.
ALBANY, Oct. 9.-By the presentation to
Governor Hill Wednesday OF an official re
port of the execution of William Kemmler
the chances of condemned criminals es
Gaping the electrical execution law are
made very slim. The report is from the
pen OF DIR. Carlos Il. Mcdonald, who had
charge Of the execution. DIR. Mcdonald
answers the criticisms as TO the time Of
leaving on the current as follows: Before
Kemmler was brought into the room the
warden asked the physicians how long the
contact should be maintained; replied
| twenty seconds. but subsequently assented
to ten seconds, in Difference to the opinion
Of my associate physician that a consider
ably less period Of time would suffice, an
| opinion, which doubtless would have
been sustained had the voltage been 1000 i
or more at the end of seventeen seconds
| Kommler was pronounced dead, none Of
the witnesses dissenting, and the warden
signaled to have the contact broken
which was done.
| No Evidence of Returning Consciousness. |
"When the electrical contact was broken |
the condition of rigidity was instantly sue |
ceeded by one of complete muscular re-
Taxation. The body remained mctionless, |
and apparently lifeless, for approximately
one-half minute, when there occurred
l series Of slight spasmodic movements of
I the chest There were no evidences of re-
l - 1,11slr
but in view Of the possibility that life was
not wholly extinct, the current was or
dered to be reapplied, which was done
within about two minutes from the time
the first contact was broken"
Kemmler Died Instantly.
DR.. Mcdonald argues that Kemmler died
instantly. He says: 1.-THE second closure
of the circuit was inadvertently main
tained for about seventy seconds, when a
small volume of smoke was seen to issue
from the point of application of the spinal
electrode, due, as was subsequently, found,
to momentary scorching Of the edge Of the
sponge with which the electrode was faced.
1.-The odor OF the burning sponge was
family perceptible in the room. There
was also some burning, or rather dessica-
tion of the already dead body, imme-
diately underneath the electrodes After
describing the autopsy be continues: "The
wrists were found to be pulseless, the
heart had ceased to beat, the pupils were
dilated, and the corneB, or anterior sur
face f the eyeballs, were depressed and
facid on pressure. In other words, Will
lam Kemmler was dead, and the intent
and purpose Of the law to effect sudden
and painless death in the execution OF
criminals, had been completely and sue
cessfully carried OUT
A Successful Experiment.
In arguing that death was tantaneous,
DR.. Mcdonald says: Notwithstanding
the wide publication Of unofficial reports
Of the execution Of Kemmler, and the ef-
forts which have been made to proclaim
It a failure and to invest it with an air OF
repulsion, brutality and horror, 1t is con
fdently believed that when all the facts in
the case are rightly understood the first
execution by electricity will be regarded as
a successful experiment.
"As might naturally have been expected
at the first execution there were certain de-
fects in the operation of the apparatus
which those In charge Of the next execu
ton will be able to avoid or overcome
but In spite of these defects the important
fact remained that Inconsistencies was
instantly effected and death was painless
Had the first contact OF the current beer
maintained for full twenty seconds, as frs
suggested, in all probability there woulC
have been no reflex muscular movement
after it was broken, and no unfavorabl'
y criticism of the result could then havl
h truthfully been made The reflex move
3 ments referred 10 were as nothing com
pared with those usually exhibited b.
animals suddenly decapitated, and whicl
usually continue for some seconds OF ever
minutes.
"That the man was dead, however, lonI
before the burning Of the sponge and des
sication occurred there is no reason t.
doubt"
Compared with Hanging.
He continues: Compared with hanging
In which death Is frequently produced b
strangulation, with every indication Q
conscious suffering for an appreciable tim
on the part of the victim, execution b
electricity is infinitely preferable, both a
~ regards the suddenness with which deaf
is effected and the expedition with whic
all the immediate preliminary details ma
be arranged. BY the latter method the IA
tai stroke renders the victim unconsciou
in an infinite small fraction OF a second
so small as to be beyond the power Of th
human mind to estimate, while at tn
same time 1t disintegrates the nerve tissue
and blood to an extent which insures a
absoluteness OF death in shorter space {
time than is possible by any other know
a method.
Va 1.-THE execution Of Kemmler from th
time he entered the room until th
J. second contact was interrupted occI
. pied not more than eight minutes, wherea
executions by hanging usually requir
from fifteen to thirty minutes. In fact,
"A not unfrequently happens that the heal
continues to beat for that length Of tim
N after the fall Of the fatal drop.
A Great Saving In Time.
'eThen, too, far more time is col
sumed in placing the prisoner on the ga
lows, pinioning bis limbs, putting on IL
black cap. placing the moose about bis nee
. and carefully adjusting the knot under h
left ear (from whence it sometimes slips
- the critical moment, resulting in strangl
Al Al lation instead Of broken neck) than woul
ght be required for arranging the preliminai
lub details OF an electrical execution"
sIs. DR.. Mcdonald recommends that but OF
ED plant located in the central part Of Il
state should be provided. The buildin
ZAP should contain the necessary electrical a
aire paratus, an engine, execution room, sol
tary cells and quarters for the guards al
other necessary officials, the apparatus
- be in charge of and operated by cor
OF petent, accredited electrician The engil
lost and dynamo should be especially co
structed for the purpose, and should
- capable Of iyenPrufinu Mt least 5000 vol