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

the physicians compared nOucS Oh Cne pnySi-
cal phenomena presented.
DR.. Mcdonald had his eyes on the STOP
watch in his hand. When it marked 20 sec
onds he nodded to Electrician Davis. who
stood with his hands still on the switch wait
ing for the signal: Davis turned switch and
the current ceased to flow. The effect on the
body of Slocum was almost instantaneous,
From position of great muscular activity, it
suddenly subsidized in hollow-chested collapse
Instead of strainng against the straps it hung
in them limp and unsteady.
SIGNS OF LIFE AND ANOTHER SHOCK.
The seconds passed slowly, how many of
them is not known, but in less than minutes
space there came between the lips of the pal
lid face hanging in the death harness, a rush
of air which whistled between the half-clench-
ed teeth and ended in half sigh, half groan.
Only once did the lungs seem to contract.
Quickly as DR.. Mcdonald could raise his
hand to give the signal, the electrician threw
the switch, the electric current rushed through
the circuit and the body in the chair stiffened
again against the straps. The time OF the
contact was not made Public t, Dr. McDenald
regulate the length of the contact this time
The same unhappy event that brought the
Kemmler execution to close made a sudden
end of SlOcum's experience in the electric
chair. The skin and flesh of the leg, and al
most Immediately afterwards, the skin of the
forehead began to smoke. DR.. Mcdonald
again signalled the electrician to turn the
switch, the current was Withdrawn and in
stantly the body collapsed again. This time
there was no response from the muscles. The
figure hung silent and motion!ess in the
straps. There was no doubt that Slocum was
dead. The wardens assistants stepped for
ward and lOOsened the electrodes One by
one the straps which confined the BODY to the
chair were unbuckled. Unlike those OF
Kemmler SlOcum's remains were SO limp
that they would have Slipped from the chair
as the last strap was unfastened had not the
attendants held them in place Kemmle
CHASTITY remains sat upright in the chair when
the straps were removed, and glared at tn
wall of the execution chamber while the wit
ncsSes of the electrOcution Went to breakfast.
From the chair SlOcumS remains were carried
to the adjoining apartment where it was laid
out on one of the long tables placed there for
the autopsy.
QUICK WORK OF sMILER.
Smiler did not hesitate when told that his
hour had come, but when the death chair ap-
peared before him he almost fell to the floor.
His knees knocked together, and but for the
support of his spiritual advisers he would
certainly have collapsed Warden Brown
was hastily seated in the chair. His face took
on CHASTITY hue and COnnaughton got no as
sistance from this victim.
The straps were adjusted, again the white
handkerchief fell, the switch was turned and
the straps frightened under the strain of taut
muscles as the current shot through the body.
The contact in this case, as in the Others with
perhaps almost inapprecable variation, was
20 seconds. The current measured some 800
volts. At the end of the 20 seconds the cur
rent was turned off, but only for minute
The chest OF the man in the chair began to
heave and the current was turned on once
more. until, as in the case of Slocum, it burn
ed the flesh. Then it was shut off again and
after delay which showed that there was no
chance of revival, the body was unstrapped
and taken from the chair to the autopsy room
adjoining.
THE COLORED MANS TURN.
Wood had been prepared by tine two priests
while Smiler was going to his death and he
was all ready. He uttered no word when his
time came. He walked to death supported
by the priests. Wood betrayed no emotion
when he gazed on the chair, but kept his eyes
fixed on the crucifix. He sat down in the
chair diffidently and his binding was accom-
plished quickly.
The first contact in Woods case, as in the
others, did not seem to be final and it needed
a second, continued until the flesh was singed,
dead. In Reminders case the burning of the
body was ascribed in part to the fact that the
sponges were not we'll wetted. To-day the
sponges were wetted constantly.
THE JAP COMES LAST.
JugirO at first refused to leave his cell, but
when MI. COnnaughton said: "Come on, Joe,
be brave man, the Jap walked out quietly
Two additional keepers marched, one on each
side of the Jap, while the chaplains followed
behind the warden and his deputy. The Jap
had not seemed to comprehend the purpose of
the chair and seated himself without protest.
A keeper assisted Connaughton in binding
the JAP and the last act was quickly accom-
plished. The current was allowed to remain
in the Jap's body about three seconds longer
than the contact with the three others. The
first contact did not destroy all appearance of
life and the second burned the flesh.
Six hnl Is were StTuck a c a SIGNAL tn the alac
trician in the dynamo room that all was over,
and the witnesses returned to the warden s
room.
The entire time consumed in executing the
four men was an hour twenty-three and one
half minutes.