Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20

While these arrangements are being put
on, the prisoner will be sitting on chair in
his cell. The chair, not differing apparently
from an ordinary one, but which has been
made especially for the. purpose. will be
connected with wires leading to another
room, and the prisoner, sitting in the chair,
will, without knowing it, be subjected to
current of electricity too light to be felt,
but heavy enough to give an expert cleo
trician in the other room an exact measure
ment, by the use of what is known as the
"Whetstone Bridge" of the electrical re-
sistance of the man. This will take only an
instant, and will be done before tine officers
have the prisoner ready to leave the cell.
From the cell the procession will be much
as now to the execution room where the
deputies and other persons permitted by law
to witness the execution will be waiting.
Near the center of the room, raised upon a
small platform about eight inches above the
floor, will be chair, made somewhat like
large reclining chair. The long, straight
frame that forms the slanting back will be
of hardwood pieces, three inches square, and
will be long enough so that il seven-foot
man should lie in the chair. his head would
rest upon the back. The seat and arms will
be of plain Woodland without any peculiar
titles. The upper part of the back frame on
each side will be fitted with slot, in which
will slide back and forth a small arrange
ment with ring at the top and a thumb
screw beneath. go
TO BE FASTENED TIGHTLY.
The rings are to receive the hooks in the
back of the belt about the mans body, and
the screws are to fasten the arrangement in
place at the spot where the rings will meet
the hooks, which will vary according to the
height OF the prisoner. In front of the
chair will be foot rest, something like
those in a barber's shop, except that the top
portion, instead of being fixed, will be
balanced upon pivot to permit it to dip front
or back, so that the feet will lie firmly upon
it. This whole foot rest will be arranged to
slide backward and forward, and to be Sc
cured with screw at the point where the
prisoners ieet will rest upon it.
From the ceiling over the back of the
chair and over the foot rest will daugle two
flexible wires, like those from which small
electric lights swing. On the wall at one
side will be small round dial attached to a
brass instrument. A hand upon the dial
will indicate the intensity of the current
that will pass over the wires. Near it on
the wall will be small double pole witch,
a brass instrument similar to the familiar
switches used TO shut off or let on the cur
rent wherever electricity is used, but de-
signed especially to show at glance whether
the current is off or on, in order to prevent
accidents which carelessness in handling the
apparatus might bring about. This will be
all OF the apparatus apparent in the room.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
The prisoner, Immediately upon entering
the room, will be led to the chair, and in a |
will be pushed back into it, the |
hooks in the belt about his BODY slipped |
into the rings in the chair and there fast |
ened in place by the turn OF the screws. At |
the same moment his feet will be raised and |
the foot-rest slipped under them and fast
ened by turn OF the screw, and strap on |
top of the rest will be buckled tightly over
his ankles. In another moment the two
dangling wires will be fastened, one to the
metal at the center of the back of the cap
and the other to the metal connection on the
heel of each shoe. A black cloth will be
pulled over the face OF the prisoner, the Off
GERS will stand well back from the chair, and
1t signal tine executioner at the switch will
,urn on the current, the volume of which J
las previously been adjusted to suit the re-
istance of the prisoner, as shown by the
est in the cell.
Only the experience of William Kemmler |
AN certainly tell what will happen then,
tut if the confidence of those in charge, or
he efficiency of the apparatus IS well
ounded, at the instant that the switch is
ouched there will be little stiffening of |
he prisoners BODY, little quivering of the
limbs, life will futter for bare instant,
Ike the needle that will be dancing upon
ne dial on the wall. and then 1t will all be