The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-14
UN ELECIR0CUTI0NS.
DR.. M'OONALD'S STATEMENT ON
THOSE AT SING SING.

1t Eu.iy Confirms the Accounts Given by
tn, Unised Press S:y:c, -il,an.ibIls,
instantaneous and Death Speedy.
ALBANY, y. Y, Oct. 1.-Dr. Carlos +.
Macdonald, who superintended the
electfocutlons atSing Sing, to-day made
the following statement which in each
particular Yerrities the report of the
| United Press sent out on the day Of the
electrocutlon. In this supplementary
report OF the details Of the eXecutioc-I
which took place at Sing Sirg~prlson
last July it is stated that in all these
cases, one electrode was so applied as
to cover the forehead and temples and
the other-a large one-the calf of the
right leg, except in the case Of Joseph
! Wood, IL which 1t was applied to the
lett leg, in consequence OF the exlstencs
Of an ulcer Oh the right one. The cleo
trodes were thoroughly wet with a
solution Of salt and water before the
current WAS turned on and were mois-
tened at Intervals when the current
was interrupted, with the same solution
thrown on them with syringe. Siocum
! entered the execution room at 4:33 a. m.
and passed at once to the chair. The
restraining straps and electrodes were
adjusted eXpedlt!ouSly and without re-
SIstance, auu the electric circuit was
! completed for the first time at 4:35.
The first contacS lasted twenty-Se
seconds at the end OF which time it was
broken but the pulse WAS still found to
be beating strongly, and between one,
and twelve minutes later noisy re.
spllation became established with con-
siderable regularity. The current was
Immediately reapplied and continued
for 2615 seconds. Respiration had thea
! ceased entirely and permanently and
tile heart beats had also ceased. Alter
Siocum's body had been removed con-
SultaJlon among the medical gentlemen
present seemed to p0ia, to the unaol-
nous feeling that it was quite possible
that the long continuance ot the current
Has not so significant u factor IN pro-
ducing rapid Cessation OF the heart
beat, as the sudden impact Of making
and breaking the contact and for that
reason the next execution was conduct
ed little differently.
Harris 4. Smilec entered the room at
sec a. III. The first contact was made
at 5 0S a. H., AMI continued ten seconds;
WAS tnCn interrupted to allow OF Wet
ting sponges; was again made 1oc ten
seconds and again the spoDges We're
wet, and third contact was made for
| ten seconds. Three contacts OF ten Sec
oods each Were thus made, at the end
OF which time there was no effort at
respiration, but the pulse was beating
so TRULY ana regularly that 1t WAS
deemed eXpedieHt to again close the
circuit for nineteen seconds, at the eEd
OF which time The heart had perman-
emily CEASED beating.
II will be noticed that II the hrSt
case the pressure was applied tor fifty.
three sccUnuS III al. At tne end OF that
time respiration and the heart beats
had ceased permanently. In the sec
ond case at the end Of three contacts OF
ten seconds each the heart beat was
still stroog and at the end OF the fourth
application OF nineteen SecOnGS tnat
had entirely ceased. 1t VIII appear
from this tEa. the duration Of the cur-
rent WAS quite as important al item as
the making and breaking Of u contact.
II was therefore determined to make
the contact in the next case little
! longer, Interruptions being necessary To
! permit OF mulsLenlng the SpongeS.
Joseph Wood entered at 5.32 and the
electric current was completed at o.54.
Three contacts Of twenty seconds each
were made at the end Of which time
res uiratlon had ceased permanently; no
pulse could be felt at the wrist and no
heart beat vas heard on examination
Jugiro entered the room at 3 a. N.
At 6.U2 q. N. the current was closed 1or
the first time, and three contacts OF hf-
teen seconds each followed, with two in
termiSsions Of twenty seconds each.
When the current was finally broken
very slight tluttering was telt at the
Wis. In this case extreme heat was
noticed in the region OF tae knee aDoVs
the point where the lower electrode had
pcen applied and a thermometer he'd
against the Skin for only fifteen SIC
ohds ran NJ 1l5 degrees, the hlghess
point 1t registered. at GIT the chesb
was barred and cessation Of the heart
Was confirmed.
From the experience had III these
cases, the report says We are inclined %
the belief that, while unconsclousness
WIS instantaneous and continuous from
The first moment OF contact IN each
case, yet in order to insure that death
snpervele rs rapidly as possible 1t was
necessary 10 contirue the voltage en-
played in these cases for from fifty 10
sixty seconds In each case the TIM
perature OF the water near to and aC
the cages Of the electrodes was raised
nearly. If not quite. to the boiling polne'
So q, to blister the skin more or less ex-
tenslvely. There was absolutely no
where any smoking, charring or burn
Ing.