Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l


ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.l
AUBURN, April 2S.-In all probability
William Kemmler, the murderer of Tillie
Ziegler, will be killed in the State prison
here some time between sunrise and noon on
next Wednesday. 1t is impossible to find
out for a certainty just when the killing
will be done, for Warden Durston, who has
charge of this very important detail, pro-
fesses absolute ignorance on the subject.
The contract with Harold P. Brown, the
electrical expert, expires on May l. There
are a goOd many interesting details to settle,
the most important Of them being the selec-
ton of some person who is willing to turn
on the deadly current and thus become an
executioner.
The warden is not pleased at the careless
ness of Brown whose contract req uires him
to keep the death dealing apparatus in order
for one year. The only active interest
Brown has shown in the matter for some
months was an attempt to have himself
represented by "Dr." Bowen, who was
suspected by Warden Durston of being the
reporter of some newspaper and so the
d
he appeared. The whole details are being
considered by Sheriff Durston.
CROWDS GATHERING.
The town is filling up with strange faces
and the hotels are doing a business that
robs them of all hope of ever feeling sorry
that Kemmler had to die. The residents of
The outlying districts who heretofore never
saw any reason for coming into town at this
time of the year, are now forced here on all
sorts of errandI that will permit of no delay.
The big stone prison with its fortress like
entrance and the continental soldier who
stands guard on its roof with face forever
watching High street has become wonder
Iui object of interest to these rural wanderers.
To the left of the entrance and Just on the
edge of the solid casing which surrounds an
iron barred window are two small porcelain
knobs which holG in place the deadly wires
that mean so much to Kemmler. The cell
behind this window has walls and a ceiling
of dull white color. 1t is furnished with
a sink and bath tub. 1t contains also the
apparatus with which the death dealing
efficiency of electricity will soon be tested.
The chair upon which Kemmler will sit
upright for the last time will probably be
placed in position tomorrow. The chair is
the child of Warden Durston's brain, and
is far from being the elaborate and awe-ln-
spring structure which it was first intended
to use.
THE CHAIR OF DEATH.
1t is neither more nor less than a simple
arm chair, with broad, inviting seat and
rest.ul slant. This chair, festooned with the
straps which are to bind the head and arms
and limbs of Kemmler, was exhibited to-day,
and was the object OF an interesting expert
ment. Drs. c. NJ. Daniels and A. P South
wick, of Buffalo, with Drs. Z. c. Spitzka
and Austin Lint, OF New York, are going
to perform the autopsy on Kemmler's body
when it is thought that life has left. 1t ar
rived here this afternoon and went at once
to the prison.
DR.. Daniels was anxious to try the eff
cheney of the chair. He had an idea that
after the first fatal shock the relaxation
of the body would be so great that it would
present horrible appearance in case the
straps were not bound tightly enough to
prevent collapse. In order to be satisfied on
this point he seated himself in the chair in
the presence OF DR.. Southwick, District At
torney Grumpy, of Erie county, the Warden
and formidable array Of reporters, and
had the straps fastened on him in the same
manner as they will be on Kemmler. The
trial was satisfactory and he felt sure that
no mishap, such as he previously feared,
would happen. DR.. Southwick is anxious
TO have every detail attending the killing
of Kemmler given the widest publicity. He
said that this was the only way in which
the friends of the law providing for this
new method of killing condemned murder
ers could demonstrate that what they have
urged in its favor is true.
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS.
He said that he believed death would be
absolutely instantaneous and that it
would be attended with the slightest
possible modicum of pain. The try
ing of the chair was silently conducted, and
the conversation which followed it was car
ried on in low tones, for nearby in his mar
now cell and IN the short corridor was
heard the nervous tread of the condemned
man as be placed restlessly to and fro. A
daily visitor to the gloomy prison is the
Rev. DIR. HOughtOn, of the First Methodist
Episcopal Church, who has been constant
in his efforts to save Kemmler's soul, and
apparently Kemmler is repentantand deeply
religious when the clergyman is by him.
At other times, however his prayer book is
but piece of furniture that he could well
spare If it were not trife pretty in appear
ance. hemmler never reads il, except when
he is asked to, and then his reading is to
AAAi ONb AAiSohihS ASSS JuAAOAS VI WOrOS. LII
alluding to the reports that the condemned
had been converted, Mr.. Grumpy said that
such statements had no foundation. 1t was
his opinion, he said, that Kemmler has not
sufficient moral basis on which to build anv
lasting impression of any kind.
KEMMLER NOT CONVERTED.
However this NAV be, it is certain that
nothing in kemmler's speech or actions
indicates that he suffers much in anticipa-
tion OF the fate that awaits him. There is
nothing of the bravo in his manner and
whether 1t is from a mental inability to
realize his position or from pure brute
courage, he maintains always an irrational
calmness and apes a cheerfulness that
nobody else feels in his presence.
What will become OF the poor fellows
body when the doctors knives are through
with 1t is not yet certain. 1t will surely be
covered with Quicklime, and it is also like
ly that il will be buried in a corner of the
prison grounds. The law limits the number
of persons allowed to be present at the killing
to q. Who these q will be no one knows
tonight. Scores OF applications have been
made for admission bv the residents here,
and as many more have come from other
towns and cities. 1t is likely that major
tty OF the 'jurv" will be doctors ana cleo
iricians.
Mayor Grant VIII Meet the Charges.
NEW YORK, April 2S.-Mayor Grant TO-