Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-07


sOoS-pEscRIPTIoNs OF THE EXECUTION.
Opinions differ in regard to the success OF
the eIectrlcision OF Kemmler. The following
is copy of an editorial which DIR. George F.
Shra1y. editor of the Medical Record Of New
York city, elegraphed last night to that Journals
The heightened agony OF suspense regarding
the efficiency OF electricity a means o. exc
cutting criminals has been finally terminated in
the legal killing Of Kemmler As was reason
ably anticipated death was instantaneous, and
% far can be judged. the unfortunate sub
ject of the experiment died without pain. The
spectacle presented was, however, by no means
edifying to such hope for improvements OF
old methods. Although science has triumphed,
the question OF the humanity Of the act Is still
an open one.
The experience in the Kemmler case, In
spite of all the precautions taken, have shown
many difficulties in the way of general adop-
tlOn of the method. II Is far from simple IN
II. application. 1t requires elaborate and care
ful preparation; 1t multplies machinery, winch.
without expert manipulation, Is HaDIe 10 IAN
il its working and bring about disastrous re-
suits; 1t NAV be a source of danger to the exc
cutioners AMI spectators: 1t increases the ex-
pense of executions; but. worse than all. in the
necessary preparation OF the victim there Is
crowded upon him IN few seconds an amount
OF horror and suspense which holds no COM
parIson with any other forms of rapid demoli-
ton save those of being thrust into the muZzle
o. a loaded cannon OF tied to a dynamite bomb.
From physical, humanitarian and judicial
standpoints the time Is ripe for its considera-
ton. We venture to predict that public opin-
ion will soon Danish the death chair az 1t has
done the rope. and that imprisonment for life
will be the only proper punishment meted to n
murderer. This Is. indeed, the only rational
method which science. justice and religion can
consistently recommend. The death chair will
yet be the altar from which this doctrine will
be preached"
The CURRENT STOPPED TOO SOON.
DR.. c. VI. Daniels of Buffalo, who later in
the day helped Deputy Coroner Jenkins per-
form the autopsy, declared when he reached
the hotel, after viewing the execution, that
the failure was due wholly to DIR. Spitzka.
This statement was made in no measured
terms
The execution would have been a success" "
he announced, If DIR. Spitzka had allowed the
current to remain on long enough in the first
place. As il was he shut II off before 1t had
done its work. and naturally the victim revived
somewhat. In the first place, Warden Durston
was nervous. extremely nervous. The con-
trast between him and his victim the two
walked into the execution room was very
marked. When DurstOn tried to afhx the
straps his hands trembled and kemmler said:
Vow don't be in a hurry. Durston; there's lots
don't want TO take any chances, You know
..kemmler was remarkably cool. The war
den said goodbye to him, and waved his hand
at the same time, and we heard a click and
saw Kemmler become rigid. j timed the
period with my stop watch. 1t was exactly
fifteen seconds. DIR. Spitzka had things in his
own hands and il was he who gave the order
10 have the current stopped thought it was
too short time. We all thought so except
DR.. Spitzka. The current cut off at his
order and the hOlv rs.laNpH DIR SpItZ ka' q
face wore a satisfied expression. He was sure
hemmier killed and turned to congratu-
late the warden. Then followed the horrible
spectacle of Reminders chokes arru gasps and
struggles.
Kemmler was killed and turned to congratu-
late the warden. Then followed the horrible
spectacle of Reminders chokes and gasps and
struggles.
There might have been a couple of minutes
delay before the current was turned on again,
and during that time all gathered around the
chair. Then DR.. Spitzka ordered the head
eIectrode strapped on again and the current
turned on This time tho current was left
open four minutes and half. Reminders
shoulders were drawn up and his back and
abdomen were lifted nvOIuntarily, that invol-
untary action that men always make when
under tremendous nervous pressure. The
movement raised the base of his spine from
the lower electrode. arc light was formed
between the ele code and his person, and the
result was a horrible odor of roasting flesh, and
the room was filled with fumes"
The FIRST SHOCK DID NOT KILL
"Do you think" asked the reporter, "that
the first shock killed him and the contortions
OF his body were the result of relaxed nervous
action, or was he still living when the current
was turned on the second timer
The first shock did not kill him." said DIR.
Daniels. grayely aud decidedly. Il am fully
satisfied that he was still alive when the cur
rent was turned on for the second time"
Was he unconscious
s.Yes. | am satisfied that he lost conscious
ness with the first shock and that he did not
suffer in the slg' test degree from that or the
succeeding shock. Notwithstanding the fright
ful contortIons of his body"
You do not then think the execution was q
SUGGEST"
Well" said Dr. Daniels ''this particular
electrical execution was not, of course, for
kemmler was not killed instantly The fact
does not brand electrical execution as
failure, however. for this execution has been
attended by very unfortunate circumstances
Us result, i much fear, will be to prejudice the
public against electrical execution. The pub
lie will not thoroughly understand the Reasons
why tins experiment resulted as II did, and
will be apt to unreasonably and unjustly de-
nounce execution by electricity generally"
But tell me why there is not a sample case
OF what can be expected in electricity as an
executioner," said the reporter.
well. F" said DIR. Daniels, latter the execu-
tiOn we found that the highest tension that the
volt motor had registered was less than ]. 300
volta Nobody knew that at the time but DIR.
Spitzka and he is responsible for rlsking the
killing With so small voltage. Every one ex-
peeted that there would be no attempt made
80 kill the man with less than ], 800 volts. That
voltage, i believe, would have accomplished
the purpose and would have brought about a
different issue than the present and established
electricity high IN public favor execu-
TONER. Then. again, every one aston
ished when DIR. Spitzka gave the order to shut
OFF the current after only eighteen seconds. Ii
was supposed that he would have left it on
twice that length of time. Indeed am con-
WINGED that even with only ! 800 volts kemmler
would have been killed today without any OF
the frightful scenes we witnessed had DIR.
Spitzka only left the current on for thirty Sec
onds. / told that TO DIR. SpItZka and he alone
T. response BILE for the outcome of the affair"
BELIEVES IT WAS NO TEST.
Dr. Carlos p Macdonald did not talk voium-
inously after the execution, but what he said
was pithy and to the point. He held, with DIR.
Daniels, that this execution was no test of cleo
trieity as public executioner. NO." said he
the execution was not so successful as il
might have been. and Was expected. II was
disappointment not TO be able to learn the
voltage. Inc meters were i'll another room
and & proved impossible to secure any val
liable official statement on the subject from
the warden OF course, this thing was not Il
matter of necessity but AT the same time il
was a matter Of exceeding interest livery
much regret that the certainty and rapidity oil
a ash f.v11r a.