Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-12
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. From All Quarters. ELECTRICAL EXECUTIONS Two MurdererS to Die in
 New York State.
 DISASTROUS FIRES IN THE WEST. Several People Buried Under
 Falling Walls. THREE HUNDRED PIRATES BEHEADED. End of the Illinois Senatorial
 Contest.
THREE HUNDRED PIRATES BEHEADED.
End of the Illinois Senatorial
 Contest.
TO DIE BY ELECTRICITY.

TO DIE BY ELECTRICITY.
 cuted Next Week-Everything in
 Readiness-Extra Precautions Talk
 en to Avoid Mistakes.
 SING SING, N. Y., March 11.-On Mon day will begin the week set down for the electrocution of James J. Slocum, base ball player, who murdered his wife on New Years eve, December 31, 1889, at No. g Cherry street, New York, and Harris A. Smiler, Salvation Army leader, who mur- dered one of his three wives, Maggie Drainey, at No. 2S4 Seventh avenue, New York, April 30, 1890.
 Both have been sentenced and resen fenced several times. If the lawyers of the condemned men do not in the mean time obtain stay and stop>the proceed ings of the law Warden Brush may, in his discretion, fix any hour after midnight of Sunday next for the execution of either One
 As both of the murderers were sentenced to die in the same week, without mention ing which one was the first to sit in the death chair, it will be Warden Brush's duty to decide this point. This he has not vet done. Both men can be killed in the same hour or on the same day.
 Warden Brush will not make public the names of the twenty seven men who are required by law to be present. He will also bind every person invited to keep se- cret the time he may set and the details of the event.
 On November 26, 1890, the first test of the electrical apparatus was made on an old horse, which proved success. The horse was killed instantly by current of 1,5OO volts being sent through his body He placed in the center of the floor, without being tied down or strapped in any way, and the wires were applied at the top of his head. The animal did not twitch his body or kick when the current was applied, but simply shut his eyes and dropped dead-killed quick as lightning
 The scientists will have to decide wheth- CT they will advise the adoption of Edi- sons suggestion of applying the electrodes to the hands, where there would be noth- ing to interfere with the current, or to cut tho hair close to the scalp and apply them to the back of the head. It is sup posed that there would be very little diff ference whether the electrodes were ap- piled either way so long as a current be- tween 300 and 2,200 volts of the West inghouse alternating current will be ap- piled according to law.
 Warden Brush and Principal Connaugh- ton, who were also present when the horse was killed, were much pleased over the success of the experiment, and say with confidence that there will be no bungling next week, as everything is in perfect working order.
 If Slocum is the first one to sit in the chair the dynamo will be run to it's fullest capacity, and current of over two thou sand volts, it is expected, will be sent through his body, as he is very large and powerful man and will offer greater resis- tance that Smiler, who is weaker physi- cally.
 The death chair used at Kemmler's exe- cution in Auburn prison, last August, was shipped to Sing Sing prison before De- cember 1, 1890, when Joseph Wood, the negro murderer, was to have been electro cuted.
 The next execution is set down to take place in the week beginning April 20, when Mc1lvaine and Trezza the Italian murderer, are to pay the penalty for their crimes.
 Every precaution is taken to see that none of the condemned murderers make an attempt to take their life in their despair of hope. They are not allowed a knife and fork when eating, but only 8 spoon, and then are watched while eating to see that they do not try to choke them selves. The bill of fare is of the very best. Each man is allowed whatever he may ask for.