Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-10
-Four Executions by Electricity

James J. Slocum, a base ball player, for
beating his wife's brains out; Harry A.
Smiler, q former Captain in the Salvation
Army, for shooting his wife dead; Joseph
Wood, negro, for killing an italian, and
Jugiro, Japanese sailor, for killing
another sailor, were all executed at the
prison in Sing Sing, N. Y, Tuesday morn
ing last. None of the men knew the night
before exactly the day they were to die.
AT 4:42 A. M. a white flag was run up on
the prison showing those outside that Slo-
cum had been executed; at $40 blue flag
showed Smiler had died; at 5:44a black flag
showed Wood, the negro. had died, and at
6 o'clock red flag showed the Japanese
had died. The arrangements inside the
prison were the same as used when Kemm-
ler was executed, and a similar chair was
used for the men to be strapped in, to re-
ceive the death shock which came from a
dynamo in the yard. An account of the
execution says:
IN THE FATAL CHAIR.
With an attempt at q smile Slocum seated
himself in the chair and leaned his head back
against the rubber rest us though he was pre-
paring to be shaved The forced smile re-
manned on his face. and as two priests took
up a position in front of him he again direct
ed his gaze at the cross, while COnnaughtOn
began fastening the straps. Slocum's eyes
were clear, and he appeared to be in perfect
physical condition. He took his eyes from the
cross long enough to aid Deputy Warden Con-
naughtOn in his task, and then until the
shield was placed on his face his lips moved
in prayer as he looked flxedly at the cross.
Il Il. 1,.<l.
his legs were tightly bound to the foot-rest.
'lhen his arms were fastened, and he could no
longer move q limb. Finally an odd-arranged
set OF straps that bound his chair in one posi-
tion and covered his eyes were put in place.
Drs. Macdonald and Rockwell and Professor
Iaudv approached and attached the electrodes.
The positive electrOde was placed on SlOcum's
head. the same as in the Kemmler electrocu-
tiOn. The negative electrOde was attached to
the right leg, the trousers having been rolled
m for this purpose before Slocum was bound
in the chair.
adjusted and the wires attached, the three
Scientists glanced at the switchboard and said
that the current was steady and registered
!, 500 volts.
TURNING ON THE CURRENT.
Professor Laudy's hand grasped the handle
of the switch which turned the current into
the wires in the electrocutiOner's closet War
den Brown raised his hand and Professor
Iaudy turned the SWITCH. linen the warden
tanned on the closet. The unknown man in
side gave quick pull to his undiscovered
lever. The electric fluid was released before
the sound of the tap reached Slocum's ears,
and, like the Lightning FASH it sped through
Immediately the body in the chair stiffened
AGAINST the straps, perfectly rigid. Every
muscle was firm set, as though some awful
effort to escape from the bonds that held it
tight made them like springs of tempered
steel steel The straps strained with the peculiar
pressed deep into the yielding flesh of the face
and a. d1s gripped the clothing tightly. The ex.
preston of the face was lost under the broad
bands drawn across the eyes, nose 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 !