The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-08
Not One Of the Four Victims Was
Killed by the First
Contact.
Tho Terrible Odor OF Burning Flesh
Signs of Life After the CurrentIs
Turned OF.

Denlnd the party, Slocnm STOOD silent ana
stolid. He showed no depth of interest in
the ceremony in which he was to be
q participant. The warden did not ask
the prisoner if he had anything to say, and
he did not volunteer anything. The prisoner
walked quietly to the chair and sat down.
The warden's assistant stepped forward
and drew across his chest and under his
arms heavy straps which were securely
fastened to the back of the chair. Then
about his wrists and over his arms they
drew other straps which they buckled
closely, SO no straining under the influence
of the current Of electricity could throw
the body into ugly contortions or move
it from the position in which two
electrodes pressed against it and
formed the circuit through which the
current from the dynamos would be play
ing. His legs were quickly strapped to the
legs of the chair. The last straps to be put
in place were the ones across his face. They
we're belts rather than straps; one vas
drawn across the beard of prisoner and
partly over his mouth, but not SO far as to
prevent speech. The other WAS fastened
over his eyes and pressed down over his
nose. When the straps were oil in place the
figure four above his head was loosened
and brought down 30 an electrode fastened
to the end Of it at the base of the
coil spring hung in front of his forehead.
When the sponge in the electrode was ad-
justed the electrode WAS fastened In posi-
tion by strap passing about the head.
Then the second electrode was put in place
The right leg Of the prisoners trousers had
been split up the side so the eleotrode could
be bound to tho calf of his leg. 1t was
fastened in place. Then tho sponge in the
electrodes were thoroughly saturated
with salt water. Then the doctors
den Brown stood aside as a mere looker-on.
As the doctors finished their quick inspec-
tion of the straps they nodded to DIR. Nc
Donald, who dropped his handkerchief.
Electrician Davis shifted the switch bar !,
which threw the whole strength of the cur :
Eent into the circuit passing to the deaf h
chair.
The turning on of this current was the
signal for the unknown executioner (bs-
lieved to be a convict) within the closet.
Almost simultaneously with the turning of
the current he shifted the switch. In an
instant the body in the chair stitfened
against the straps. Every muscle was
firmly set and the straps strained; their
edges pressed deep into the yielding flesh
of his face and gripped his clothing tight
ly. The expression of his face was lost
under the broad bands drawn across the eyes,
nose and chin, but the skin exposed to view
turned purple red. When DR.. MaoDonald's
stop watch had marked twenty seconds he
nodded to the electrician Davis, who
turned off the current. The effect on the
body of Slocum was almost instantaneous.
From position Of great muscular activity
it suddenly subs!ded into hollow chested
collapse. Instead of straining against the
straps it hung against them limp and un-
steady. A moment of uncertainty
followed. Would the dead man
appear to revive, as kemlar had
done? The seconds passed slowly. How
many of them is not known, but in less
than n inmates time there came between
the lips of the palid face hanging in the
death harness rush of air which whistled
between the half clinohed teeth and ended
the limbs seem to contract. AS quickly as
DIR. Mcdonald could raise his hand to give
the signal the electrician threw the
switch, the electric current rushed through
the death circuit and the body in the
chair stitfened again against the strars.
The time of contact was not made public.
DIR. Mcdonald had record of it. The
stop watch did not regulate the length of
contact this time. The same unhappy
event that brought the Kemmler execution
to a close made sudden end of Slocum's
experience in the death chair. The skin
and flesh of the leg, and almost immedi-
atey afterward the skin of the forehead,
began to smoke. Dr. Mcdonald
again signaled the electrician to
turn the switch, the crurent WAS
withdrawn and instantly the body ool-
lapaed again. This time there WAS no re-
sponse from the muscles. Slocum hung
silent and motionless in the straps. There
was no doubt Slocum was dead. When the
straps were unbuckled, unlike Kemmler
Slocum's remains were 80 limp that they
last strap was upfasteued had not the at
teudants held them IN Mace
The second of the condemned men chosen
WAS Smiler the Salvation army bgamist
who murdered one of his wives. He came
with calm step, supported by Rev. Mr..
on the other. Like slocum he stepped for.
ward without summons and seated himself,
placing his hands on the arms of the chair
and waiting for the attendants to bind him.
The attendants busted themselves 8
with the stra,s again. Smier nat calmly
across his ewes. Again the straps and buck
les were inspected, again the white hand
Lerehief fell, the electrician threw the
switch, and in n moment more the straps
tiHhtened under the strain of taut muscles
ns the electric current shot through his
the other, was twenty seconds.
The current measured some
l,5OO volts. At the end of twenty seconds
the current WAS turned off but only for n
minute. Inc CneSt OF tne man III tte cnalT
began to henvs and the current was turned
on once more. until, ms In the case of
Slocum, it burned the flesh. Then il was
shut off again and after delay which
showed there WAS no chance of revival, the
body was unstrapped and taken from the
chair to the autopsy room.
Wood was the third to be executed. He
came willingly, accompanied by two priests
and went through the ordeal brayely, with
substantially the same results. In kemm-
ler's case the burning of the body was
ascribed in part to the fact that the sponge q
at tho electrodes were not all we'll wetted.
In all four cnses to-day the sponRes were
vetted constantly, and still the flesh
burned.
The fourth man to meet death was the
Japanese, Jugiro. 1t had been expected
shat il any OF the prisoners made resist
ence to being placed in the chair IL would
bo no. But long term of confinement
had bowed JuRiro into tame submission.
When the warden and keepers came to his
cell ho sprnng up and followed qui-
etly. His WAS perhaps tho most
vepulsive face that had stared at