The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-08-15


phrases Warden Durston reassnrcd
him with the remark that il would not
hurt him. and that he lDurston) would
be with him all through. Hut Il was
not fear that Kemmlcr felt II was
rather > certain pride In tho ex-
actness Of the experiment lie seemed
70 have . greater interest in -
success than those who had made the
preparations for II and who were watch
ing its progress 70 its final. fatal con-
clusion. When tho straps had been ad-
justed 10 the body and limbs tho war
den placed his hand on kemmler's head
and held IL against the rubber cushion
which ran down the back OF the
chair. kemmler's eyes were turned to-
ward the opposite side OF the room
before they had followed the war
den in his movements. Then the
condemned man made one or two re-
marks in : perfectly clear. composed
tone OF voice. "Well. wish every
body good luck" was one Of them. and
"Durston. see that these things are all
right" was another. Deputy Vieling
unfastened the thumb. screw which held
the figure "A" at the back OF the chair
in place. and began to lower 1t so that
the rubber cup which held the saturated
sponge pressed against Reminders head.
The warden assisted in the preparation
BY holding Kemmler's head.
When the cup had been adjusted and
clamped in place. kemmler said: ''Oh'
you'd better press that down further.
guess Press that down"
So the head-piece was unchanged and
pressed further down.
While it was being done Kemmler
said: well, Iwant TO do the best lean.
can't do any better than that"
Warden Durston took in his hand the
leather harness which was TO be adj
justed to Reminders head. II was
muzzle Of broad leather straps which
went across the forehead and the chin
Of the man in the chair. The top strap
pressed down against the nose Of kemm-
Ter until it nattened il down slightly
over his face.
As the harness was put in place, DR..
Spiza. who was standing near the
chair. said. softly: God bless you.
Kemmler." and the condemned man
answered: Thank you softly.
The door leading into the room where
the switches we're arranged was partly
open A man stood in the doorway.
Beyond him there were two other men.
Which Of them was TO touch the lever
and make the connection with the chair
was no: known. Warden Durston says it
will never be known The dynamo in the
machine shop was running at good
speed. and the volt meter on the wall
registered little more than 1000 volts.
Warden D1rston turned TO the as
sembled doctors-fhose Immediately
around the execution chair--and said:
do the doctors say it is all right?"
Hardly minute had elapsed since |
the adjustment Of the straps There |
was no time for Kemmler to have weak |
ened. even IL his marvellous courage
had not been equal TO the test Of fur
Their delay. But there is no fear that |
he would have lost courage He was
as calm in the chair as he had been be- !
fore he entered the room. and during |
the process Of his confinement BY tho
At the warden's question. DR.. Fell !
stepped forward with long syringe in
his hand and quickly. but deity. wetted
the two sponges which were at the
electroies-one on top or the head and
the other at the base OF the spine The
water which be put on them was i'm
with salt
DR.. Spiza answered the warden's
question with sharp "All right
which was echoed by others about him.
Ready" said Durston again. and
then ''Good-bye.- He stepped TO the
1oor anu through the opening said to
some one in the next rocm-but to
whor' will probably never be known
with certainty--E Every thing is ready
In almost immediate response. and as
The stop watches in the hands OF some
u the witnesses registered 6:s3t<. the
electric current WAS turned on There
vas sudden convnlsion Of the frame
II the CHAIR spasm went over
L from head TO foot-confined BY
The straps and springs that held IL firm
" 50 that no linz or other parts Of the
body stirred more than = small fraction
u an inch from it, resting place. The
switching that the muscles Of the face
underwent gave il for : moment an ex-
preston Of pain But no cry escaped
rom the lips which were free to move
i will; no sound came forth to suggest
hat consciousness lasted more than an
fraction Of : second be-
round the calculation Of the human
mind The body remained in this rigid |
position for seventeen seconds
The jury and the witnesses who had |
up to this moment remained seated.
came hurredly forward and surrounded |
the chair. There was no movement OF .
the body from the first convulsion- 1t
was not pretty sight-this man in his |
shirt sleeves. bound hand. foot. body |
and even head with . heavy Frame
work pressing down on the top OF his !
skull. still with the stiffness OF death.
DR.. Mcdonald held stop-watch in
his hand and - tho seconds flew BY he
noted their passage. DIR. Spiza.
too. looked At the stop-watch,
and - the tenth second ex-
pired be cried out: Stop stop
cried other voices about The warden
turned 70 the doorway and called out:
stop" 70 the man at the lever. A
quick movement OF the arm and the