Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-10
ELECTROC0iED!!. Il.
The Four Murderers Pay the
Penalty without q Struggle.
SPEEDY, PAINLESS DEATH.
Execution by Electricity is an
Assured Success.

SING SING, July THE second electro
cution in history took place at the State
prise here to day. The first occurred at
Auburn ! / months ago, when the sentence
If death was carried out on William Kemm-
Ter. Every precaution had been taken here
to avoid the mistakes which made the
Kemmler affair in part failure The
causes Of the accidents and delays there were
known to the warden at Sing Sing, and
they had been anticipated In the arrange
ments for the execution of the four men
who were TO 10 put to death during this
week. The tested voltage of the dynamos
had been brought up to 5000, while the
estimated voltage which was turuod into
kemmler's body was only 80.
The prisoners had received some intima-
ton beforehand that tho executions were
to take place this morning and they were
prepared. They went to the execution
chair bravey and met their fate without
struggle. They offered no resistance but
rather assisted the keepers when they were
bound down in the chair. Electrodes were
not applied to the top of skull and base of
spine, but we're bound 20 tho forcheads ard
to the calves Of the legs. The current was
turned on in each case for 20 seconds.
The voltage was about 1900 and 1000. In
each case there were apparent evidences of
revival as in the kemmer case, and in each
OF these four cases the current was turned on
the second time. In spite of the fact that
the sponges were kept constantly wet, all of
the mon were burned by the current, espec-
tally about the calves OF the legs. The
medical men present agree that death came
on the first contact and that the seeming re-
vival was merely reflex muscular action.
The time Of the executions is given as fol-
lows: Slocum at 442 o'clock, Smler at 81
o'clock Wood at j:3S o'clock and Jugiro at
6:0j o'clock.
The Early Morning Preparat ions.
The great building was in utter darkness
soon after midnight save for the two electric
lamps in front Of the building. Coffee and
rolls had been served au hour before, and
the jurors were all advised by Mr.. Brown
himself to take a good rest, for be would
call them early. At 2.3O o'clock a. m,
the cooks began their work. Then few
gas jets We're lighted. At 80 every cleo
trio light in the town went out. That is
half hour earlier than usual. Fathers
Creeden and Lynch were now up with the
condemned men. Rev. Mr.. Edgarton and
his assistant were with Smiler.
Soon after O'Clock the witnesses and
jurors were ushered into the death chamber
The experts had examined every thing and
were satisfied that there would be no hitch.
Slocum was awakened at $3.50 o'clock and
as he sprang from his cot rubbing his eyes
he asked "Is it time 2" Not quite yet, "
Principal Keeper Connaughton replied, but
it will be soon now, my boy Slocum gave
l., ,l,, D. L.. I,{
come. Nevertheless he steGdied himself and
after tremuous minute or two he said:
''All right, l will be ready lie bathel has
face and hands and mad quick preparations
for his breakfast. While he was waiting
for his last meal his spiritual advisers came
into his cell and passed about 10 minutes
with HIM. He received the holy commit
Mon His breakfast was ready. lie ate
sparingly Of boiled eggs and coffee, and at
i.lj O'Clock he signticd that he was ready
for the supreme trinl. The invited wit
nesscs who were anXiously Whiting for the
death scene took up their positions.
Socum walked steadily TO the awful
room. His arms were tied behind his back
and a strap on his legs allowed him to step
about T. inches at pace. No time was
lost. When the death chamber was reached
Slocum was promptly led toward the chair,
and Warden Brush without any ceremony
told the condemned man to he seated. Slo-
cum without any hesitation promptly obeyed
the command and was soon settled in the
chair. He was quickly strapped by two men
who mad been detailed by the warden to do
this work.
ne e4ectrode or cap was placed IN posi-
'''H oH 'ne 'onDe'l''eU man he"u, 1here
was wei sponge uiuer us cap Inc posi-
1--WE current was 70 DC sent through Ih'S cap
ana 'ue "es"''No current ny "hotner elec
Fo"e through I'e IeSs' Cne strap was
''sAl'y ur""h ucroa' Ile chlh ana mouth
+" as TO prevent the condemned man from
IaNhs any QUERY Ahoth'r strap was
P"s'ou over poth eyes Inc right leg ol the
prisoner trousers had p9eh spHt up at the
"'4e mat tue electrode could be placed IN
"S'''on' Ine POSITIVE wire ran down the