The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1891-07-08

LIZ AANOOiAeNAt DCl iflbCiioOAA tAO
OF the straps.
Warden Brown told the United
Press correspondent two days be-
fore that he would leave all the de-
tails Of arranging the apparatus to
the scientists.
The last to be put in place was
one across the face almost over the
mouth, but not so as 10 prevent
speech, and another over the eyes
and upper part of the nose. Then
the ssfigure four" over his head was
brought down and the electrode fas-
tened to the head strap. The second
electrode was fastened to the right
leg near the calf, slit in the trou-
sers having been left for that
purpose. The wires were
attached to the electrodes
The prisoner was calm and gave
assistance as he could by placing
his limbs as directed. One Of the
doctors took a 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 inspec-
tion of the straps they nodded to
DR.. 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 the whole
strength Of the electric current into
the chair, the current passing
through the execution chamber.
The turning on Of this current was
the signal for the unknown execu-
toner within the closet. He in
stantly shifted the switch. Imme-
diately the body in the chair stiff
ened against the straps, perfectly
rigid. Every muscle was firmly
set as though some awful effort to
escape from the bonds that held it
tight made them like springs of teal..
pered steel. The straps strained
with the sound Of stretching leather
The cords pressed deep into the
yielding flesh of the face and grip
ped the clothing tightly. The ex
preston of the face was lost under
the broad bands drawn across the
eyes and chin, but the skin exposed
to view turned purple red.
The spectators drew about the
; chair, standing on the rubber mats
} for safety, and the physicians com
pared notes on the physical phe
nomena presented. DR.. McDonal.
had his eyes on the stop watch IL
: his hand. Vhen it marked 20 sec
onds he nodded to electrician Davis
). who stood with his hands still
, on the switch, waiting for the signal
1t had been decided that to wal
I for the executioner in the closet t.
respond to a signal to stop woul
4 mean loss of time which woul
e destroy some Of the scientific valu
/ of the experiment.
t When Mcdonald nodded, Davi
|; turned a switch and the curren
t ceased to flow. The effect on tn
r body of Slocum was almost instar
q taneous. From position of grea
8 muscular activity, it suddenly sui
n sided in hollow chested collaps,
y Instead of straining against tn
e straps, it hung in them linn
e Through this body steady currer
0 of 1000 volts had been running
r twice the strength of the averae
n current that passed through Ken
q ler's body. 1t had been on f
|, twenty seconds or five seconds lol
q ger than the current in the Kemlt
y case. Would the man move {
e would. he give the sickening su,
i gestions of returning life that no
"a riied the spectators at Auburn?
s. Very little time was spent
"a making preparations for the ne,
execution.
I'd The second Of the condemnt
ID men chosen was Smiler, who mu
st dered one IF his wives. He b
ps been attended by. Chaplain Edge
le ton, of the State prison, ever sin
is his confinement, and this mornil
w Rev. Mr.. Laws was with him ais
ed When the warden summoned hi