The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-08

and drew across his chest and under his arms
the heayy straps. which were securely
fastened TO the back Of the chair. Then about
ms wrists and over his arms they drew other
straps which they buckled closely. His legs
We're quickly strapped to the legs Of the chair
Dr. Mcdonald superintended the adjustment
OF the straps Warden Brown told the United
fress correspondent two days before that he
would leave all the details of the arranging of
the apparatus 70 the scientists The last TO
De put IN place were one across the face almost
over the mouth. but not so as TO prevent
speech, and another over the eyes and upper
part Of the nose. Then the figure 4" over his
head was brought down and the electrode fast
ened 10 the head-strap. The second electrode
WAS fastened 90 the right leg near the calf a
purpose. The wires were attached to the
electrodes.
THE PRISONER GIVES ASSISTANCE.
The prisoner was calm and gave assistance
as he could by placing his limbs as directed
One of tho doctors took can and wet the
sponges on the electrode. Warden Brown
merely looked on. thus carrying out the letter
OF the law. As the doctors finished their in
spection Of the straps they nodded TO
DT. Mcdonald. who stood behind the
chair with watch in one hand and
handkerchief in the other. The handkerchief
fell from his hand. and electrician Davis at
the signal turned the switch bar which threw
tho NIoie SkItlRlu VI the cltcLIlc CURRENT
INTO the circuit passing through the execution
chamber. The turning on Of this current was
the signal for the unknown executiOner in the
closet. He instantly shifted the switch I'M
mediately the body in the chair stihened
againstthe straps perfectly rigid. Every mus
Gle was firm set as though some awful effort
10 escape from the bonds that held il tight
made them like springs Of tempered steel
The straps strained with the peculiar sound
OF stretching leather Their edges pressed
deep into the Welding flesh Of the face and
grlpped the clothing tightly. The expression
of the face was lost under the broad binds
drawn across the eyes nose and chin. but the
skin exposed 20 view turneda purple red.
The spectators drew about the chair. stand
ing on the rubber mats for safety. and the
physicians compared notes on the physical
phenomena presented.
THE FATAL VOLT.
DIR. Mcdonald had his eyes on the stop
watch in his hand. When it marked twenty
seconds he nodded to Electrician Davis, who
stood with his hands still on the switch wait
ing for the signal. II had been decided that
TO wait for the executioner in the closet to
spOnd TO q signal to stop would mean a loss
OF time. which would destroy some of the
scientific value of the experiment SO the
apparatus was constructed in such o way that
Davis could turn the current of himself
When Mcdonald nodded Davis turned a
switch and the current ceased 10 flow The
effect on the body of SlOcum was almost in
Simultaneous. From a position of great musu-
cular activity il suddenly subsided in hollow
chest collapse. Instead OF straining against
the straps 1t hung in them limp and unsteady.
A moment OF uncertainty followed. Would
the dead man appear 10 revive a. kemmler had
done Would his chest heave and his lips give
forth the sound of breathing? The experts
at Auburn had said that the current turned
on kemmler was too weak, that II had been
- &c bod
steady current of one thousand and SIX hun
dred volts had been running, twice the
strength of the average current that passed
through Kemmlers body 1t had been on for
twenty seconds. or five seconds longer than
the current IN the Kemmer case.
LIFE EXTINCT.
Would the man move or would he give the
sichening suggestions of returning life that
horrifed the spectators at Auburn The sec
onds passed slowly-hOw many Of them IS not
known. but in less than minutes space, there
came between the lips Of the pallld face hang
ing in the death harness, q rush OF air which
whistled between the half clenched teeth and
ended in half sigh, half grQan Only once
did the lungs seem to contract Quickly as
Dr. Mcdonald could raise his hand 10 give
the signal the electrician threw the switch,
the electric current rushed through the death
circuit and the body IN the chair stihened
again against the straps. The time ot the
contact WAS not made public. DR.. Mcdonald
has the record Of It, The stOD-Watch did not
regulate the length of the contact this time.
The same unhappy event that brought the
kemmloT execution 10 a close made q sudden
end Of SlOcum's experience IN the electric
chair The skin and flesh of the leg and al
most Immediately afterward the skin of the
forehead began TO smoke. Or. Mcdonald
again signalied the electrician TO turn the
switch. The current was withdrawn and in
stantly the body collapsed again. This time
there was no response from the muscles
THr BODY PREPARED FOR THE AUTOPSY.
The figure hung silent and motionless in
the straps. There was no doubt that SlOcum
was dead. The electrician had signalled the
ENGINE and the DYNAMO had stopped and the
whirring sound That had sounded SO clearly
TO the waiting ears Of the watchers without
through the silent morning air had died away.
The warden's assistants stepped forward and
loOsened the electrodes. One by one the
straps which confined the body 70 the
chair wore unbucked Unlike those of
limp that they would have slip
ped from the chair as the last strap was
unfastened had not the attendants held them
in place. Kemmlers ghastly remains sat up
right III the chair when the straps were re-
moved and glared at the wall of the execution
chamber while the witnesses of the eiectrocu-
ton went TO breakfast. From the chair SlO-
Gums remains were carried to the adjoining
apartment. where they were laid out on one
Of the long tables placed there for the autopsy
While the body was being removed the wit
ncsses discussed earnestly the similarity
which ii bore to the Kemmer case-a smi-
larity which seemed TO relieve that first cleo
trocution Of the odium of bunging failure
from which it had suffered in the minds Of
many since its details were published to the
world.
sMILER THE NEXT VICTIM.
A very little time was spent in making
preparations for the next execution. The !
second of the condemned men chosen was
Smiler, the Salvation Army bigamist who muir
dered one of his wives. He has been attended |
10y Chaplain Edgerton of the State prison |
ever since his confinement and this morn
ing Rey. Mr. Law WAS with him also When the |
warden summoned him from his cell he came !
with "a calm step. courageously. supported by !
the cergymen. He betrayed no fear at the |
sight Of the chair, and like bis predecessor, |
Slocum he seated himself and placed his arms |
in readiness for binding. He did not offer to |
make any final speech In fact. unlike |
Kemmler none of the four men made any |
farewell remarks. The straps were adjusted |
again the white handkerchief fell. the switch !
was turned and the straps tightened under the
strain Of the muscles as the current shot |
through the BODY. The contact in this case as
in the Others with perhaDs almost inapprecia-