The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-07-25
Let West virgfnia Fall Into

mOue IL an inIuSpsc improvement
over the barbarous neck stretching
plan.
Notwithstanding the persistent
efforts of the New York press to
make electrocution unpopular and
secure repeal Of the law, by mis-
representing its operations, the facts
which justify the change are now
quite well understood, and we may
conclude that electrocution has
come to stay. The following report
of the physicians who superintend-
ed the recent executions, under their
official signatures, has just been
made public, and ought to settle all
controversy as to the success of the
method
SING SING. N. Y, July 7. 1861.
$40 The Hon. w. n. Bro,cn, Agent
and Warden Sing Sing Prison.
"SIR: The undersigned having
served as physicians at the execution
by electricity this morning of James
j. Slocum, Harris A. Smiler,
Joseph Wood, and Schihiock Jugigo
at the prison under your charge,
hereby submit, as you request, the
following report Of their observa-
tions:
"First-All Of the condemned
walked into the execution room un-
restrained, with hrmness and with
out assistance, seated themselves in
turn in the electric chair without
the slightest protest or resistance,
and quietly submitted to the adjust
ment of the retaining straps and the
electrodes.
"Second--In each case unconsci-
BUSINESS was produced instantane-
ously by the closure of the circuit,
was complete, and persisted without
interruption until the hearts action
had entirely ceased and death had
certainly occurred. In each case
death was manifestly painless.
"Third-In compliance with the
statute an autopsy was made in
each case, as soon as practicable, by
DR.. Ira L. Van Giesen of New York,
in our presence and under our super
vison, with the result of revealing
the same gross changes in the blood
and tissues previously observed in
cases of death by the action of
strong electric current. Specimens
especially of the blood and Of the
nervous system, were taken by DR..
Van Giesen for the purpose of care
full microscopical examination, and
the results will be forwarded to you
as soon as such examinations are
completed.
an concluding, allow us to con
graduate you on the completeness,
in all their details. of all your pre-
liminary arrangements, on the uni
form good order and decorum which
prevailed during the trying ordeal,
and on the resulting demonstration
of the rapidity and painlessness of
this method of inficting the death
penalty. The experience of to-day
has proved to our satisfaction that
this method is superior to any other
yet devised We have the honor to
be, very respectfully your obedient
servants.
"CARLos f. MACDONALD. Nj. ID.
SAMUEL b. WARD. M. d."
1t seems strange that there should
be any objection offered to so desira-
BILE departure from the ancient
barbarity Of hanging. But the most
frivolous and inconsistent arguments
have been urged against this. The
press is very solicitous that electro
cution should be shown TO be pain
less-as if hanging were an easy and
delightful method of "taking of. :"
They are afraid that the electric
current will burn and blister the
skin, and thus disfigure the victim
as though the gentle grasp of the
moose and the heavy thud of the
body at the end of the rope assured
a lover like hug of the neck, peace
full shutting off of the breath and
placid countenance under the black
cap!
The press, indeed, seems to be
very anxious that the death of the
murderer should be absolutely pain
less; but they are willing to hang
him. We are not so sure that the
execution of a murderer should be
demonstrated to be absolutely pain
less in order to justify it; but our
civilization and our humanity de-
mand that it should be done decent
ly and with as little show of cruelty
as possible. And we are quite con
WINGED that as compared with hang
ing, electrocution is great advance
in this direction We would not
hang dog, no matter how 'ornary."
The society for the suppression of
cruelty to animals would be after
us if we did. 1t would be regarded
as barbarous and desperate The
deadly guillotine is not half SO in
human. But we hang man on the
ground that it is the most proper
way to dispose of him.
We believe hanging as judicial
penalty will have to go. We. hope
to see West Virginia fall into line in
abolishing it.