Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-01

arrival created furry among the press
Representatives, who took il as an indica-
ton that the ex cution would occur on |
tae morrow. But nothing developed ex-
cept .hst preparations for the last act |
continued to DO made. The chair of |
death, about which 80 much has been |
written AMI so little known, was to-day |
shown the Associated Press representa-.
tive by Wsrden Durston. 1t was found |
stored in the state chop OF the prison, |
and the entire mechanism of this mys-
FERROUS accessory YVES fully explained.
Tue obair is a large, high-backed com.
Portable looking sffsir, and, but Tor the |
Numerous ominous looking straps at
tlched to its arms and sides, seemed to |
invite the spectator to be seated and
enjoy siessa. One of the party sat in |
the chair TO represent Ksmmler, while |
the warden proceeded to strap the man !
about tho body and limbs, and adjust the |
electrodes to the top of the head aud |
base Of the spine, and pronounced him |
ready for the deadly volts. In the same
room were two other chairs similar in |
design and material. They were all
manufactured within the walls OF the
prison under the direction of Warden
Durston, and are intended for use in the
two other places where electricity is to
be used in executing criminals-Sing
Sing and Dannemore prisons. In the
room adjacent to the one where the
CHAIRS were stored, two oonvictH were
working, industriously applying coat of
black walnut stain to mysterious look
ing box. The warden was asked what it
wRs, and he replied Keinmlsr's coffin.
The chair has now been removed to the
room Of execution, and the coffin will
follow tomorrow. The interInent will
be in the prison graveyard. 1t is given
out that all communication with the
prison will be Suspended tomorrow, and
ell telephone and Telegraph wires cut
out This probably means that the Off
cials will be too busy preparing for the
event to attend to business, but it may
mean that the execution is to take place
that day, and it is this speck OF doubt
that worries the watchers. The Western
Union has established branch office
across the road from the prison, TO expe-
dite business and facilitate the transmits
sion Of the avalanche Of matter that is
now put upon the wires nightly.
The latest news about murderer Kemm-
ler is that he il still alive, and no one
tuows definitely ct what hour or on what
day tine shock Of the laws thunderbolt
viii ba sent through his body. Il had
hetn almost settled upon that the execu
ton WAS to take piaos on tuesday, but
tine machinery of the death room had not
| been pat in final order when working
hours were over this evening, and IL ia
believed now that the arrangements will
not be complete until late tomorrow.
Warden Durston, who ia in absolute
charge, said this afternoon that the exc
cution certainly would not occur curing
the next "A hours. OF course, in COM
pliance with the law requiring secrecy,
the warden will aot divulge the exact
time. Yet it IS understood about town
that 1t will ba some time on Wednesday.
A train this afternoon brought District
Attorney U. NJ. Qnimby, DIR. o. N. Dan.
iels and Dr.. a. T. Southwicl, all OF Buff
falo, where tine murder OF Mrs. Tillie
Lisgler, Kmm!er's mistress, wes CON-
Iniltsd. Dr.. Southwick is the man who
hcst gave strong impetus to the move
taept to substitute electricity for the rope
He wss opposed to hanging and one
day whom man in Buffalo was killed &C.
cldenally by electricity the idea OF this
new method of death was suggested to
the doctor. Mr.. Qnimby is the district
attorney who prosecuted the case against
, Kemmler. DIT. Daniels is one OF the
, pnysicisns who will assist at the autopsy.
) IbeHetHree men and squad OF reporters
were taken this afternoon to the death
chamber by Warden Durston. DR.. South.
, wics, as the father Of the new method
! and as a member OF the Gerry Electrical
: Commission, was much Interested in see
i ing the chair in which Kammler will sit
! 1t ia OF heavy wooden framework, with q
TnnunHIR ut tha fnT nf
back. This crosspiece may be showed NJ
or down according to the height of the
, occupant. Through hole ia 1t wiz,
! will pass to the eIectro6e cup underneath
!, which will fit on the victims head. DowI
4 the back OF the chuir another wire viii
8 pass connecting with another electrodt
! at the base Of the spine. SatuTste,
= sponges will be placed between tho cleo
trodes and the body to prevent burning
: Tue whole chair looks like clumqy
/ bsrber's chair, except for the projecting
b cross piece Of the top, and the broa'
Il leather strap fastened to the back an,
4 arnia. One strap Will pass around thu
. abdomen, and another around the chest
!, Ther will be two binding each arm, an,
one very broad one around the face. TIL
face strap is alit,so rs to leave the victim
q nose projecting. This device takes tn
b place of the black cap, and conceRls tn
u last look of anguish that passes over
n mans c0uutensnCe when he is with n q
a instant Of execution. II was asserted L
Is day that the current used to cause deaf
re wOu!d be between two and three ampeee
e in volume, and between $500 and 2, 20
al volts in force. This will be obtained b
N running tue dynamo at more than il
At usual commercial Bpaed. This yoltag
would supply about 600 lights.
a The bathroom adjolns Kpmmler'a ce
r corridor. 1t looks out on the front var
q. Of tho prison, and has nothing in it no
n EXCEPT the switchboards and wires an
z Iuetera. The dynamo ia on the osht
IS side Of the prison rect ngle, in the ire
IN hollow ware shop nearly l, 900 feet ava,
a The lanes Of the ~ men who will /
at present st the killing have not all bee
Mt announced. EIbridge Il. Gerry OF Ne
u York, and Matthew Hale of Albany, whl
b. with DR.. SOuthw ok, formed the commi
a. sion that recommended the Legislature
SO adopt the electrical method, are expectc
he tomorrow. DIR. Spitzka and DR.. Flint
New York, who are to assist ia ii
ne RutopBy, will probably come az tbs san
us time, Kemmler has passed the DAY
At about the same way thu he has the Ia
ly week.
b, He has read bis Bible "a we'll as
q could and listened to his religio
ps keeper, Daniel MoNauVhton, and L
n Houghton and chaplain Yates. He ma
en- his will Tonight, giving u pictorial BIB
20 Keeper McNaugkton, a pigg-in- clov
mt puzzle 10 the Rev. DR.. Huu2hton, a test
uf ment 20 Keeper Wsmple, the scsptio, Al
T. slsto covered with autographs to Cha