The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-08
THU ELECTRIC CHAIR.
Sing Sing Murderers Killed
Without a Struggle.
TWO CONTACTS IN EACH CASE.
Witnesses of the Eleetroeufion Pro-
nounce 1t a Perfect Success.
The First Shock Strained Every Muscle
= Then Came q Chastity Sigh = The
Second Shock Burned the Flesh -
Then the Body Collapsed The
Fiends Meet Their Fate stolIdIy.

SING SING. July -Four murderers were
put to death by electricity in the states
prison here early this morning. The men
were Jsmes J. Siocum, the baseball player
who killed his wife December 81. 1889;
Harris a. Smiler, the Salvation Army cap
tain and bigamist who murdered his sec
ond wife April 3. 1885, Joseph Wood, 3
negro acgueduct laborer who murdered
fellow laborer, an Italian named Carlo
Ruff, in May, 1889: and Shibuya Jugiro,
Japanese sailor who brually killed fellow
countryman, Mura Canni. The execution
of the four men is declared to be perfectly
successful and without any OF the horrors
attending the execution OF murderer
kemmler at Auburn prison. There are,
however, statements from witnesses which
do not connrm the assertions by the
officials.
When all the preparations were COM
plete this morning Warden Brown,
Deputy Warden Connaughton and two
keepers went 10 Sioeum's cell. He was
quickly marched into the execution cham
Der. When the iron door had been closed
behind the party. Siocum stood silent and
stolid. He showed no depth Of interest in
the ceremony in which he was to partici-
pate. The wardendid 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 assistants 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 that no straining under the in
fiuence of the current of electricity could
throw the body into ugly contortions OK
move it from its position. His legs were
quickly strapped TO the legs of the chair.
The last straps TO be put in place
We're the ones across the face. They
were belts rather than straps. One was
drawn across the beard of the 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 all in place
the figure ~" above his head was loosened
and brought down so that the electrode
fastened TO the end OF it at the base of
coil spring hung in front of his forehead.
When the sponge in the electrode was ad-
justed, the electrode was fastened in posi-
ton by strap passing about the head.
Then the second electrode was put in
place. The right leg of the prisoner,
trowsers had been split up the side so that
the electrode could be bound TO the calf of
the leg. 1t was fastened in place and then
the sponges in the electrodes were thor
oughly saturated with salt water Then
the doctors again carefully examined the
straps. Warden Brown stood aside as a
mere looker-on. As the doctors finished
their quick inspection of the straps. they
nodded TO DR.. Mcdonald. who dropped a
handkerchief. Electrician Davis shifted
the switchbar, which threw the whole
strength of the current into the circuit
passing TO the death-chair.
The turning on of this current was the
signal for the unknown executioner-be-
lieved 10 be convict-within the closet.
Almost simultaneously with the turning
of the current he shifted the switch. In
an instant the body in the chair s;iffened
against the straps Every muscle was
firmly set, and the straps strained: their
ed ges pressed deep into the yielding flesh
of the face and gripped the clothing
tightly. The expression OF the face
was lost under the broad bands
drawn across the eyes, nose and
chin. but the skin exposed TO view turne d
purple-red. When DR.. McDonald's stop
watch had marked twenty seconds he
nodded to Davis, who turned off the cur
rent.
The effect on the body of Slocum was
almost instantaneous. From a position
of great muscular activity it suddenly
subsidized into hollow-chested coilapse In
stead of straining against the straps il
hung against them limp and unsteady.
4 moment of uncertainty followed.
Would the dead man appear TO revive as
Kemmler had done? The seconds passed
slowly. how many of them is not known,
but in less than q minute there came be-
tween the lips of the pallid face hanging
in the death harness rush Of air which
whistled between the half-clinched teeth
| and ended in half sigh. half groan. Only
| once did the limbs seem TO contract. As
| Quickly as Dr. Mcdonald could raise
/ his hand to give the signal the electrician
4 threw the switch, the electric current
/ rushed through the death circuit and the
/ body in the chair stiffened against the
/ straps The time Of contact was NOT usie
/ public DR.. Macdonald has the record of
/ it. The stop watch did not regulate the
/ length Of contact this time. The same un-
+ happy event that brought Kemmlers ex-
! ecCtion 10 a close made 4 sudden end of
/ Slocum's experience in the death chair.
/ The skin and riesh Of the leg. and almost
| Immediately afterwards the skin of
/ the forehead. began 20 smoke. Dr..
4 Mcdonald again signaled the electrician
| 10 turn the switch. The current was with
/ drawn and the body collapsed again
| This time there was no response from the
muscles. Slocum hung silent and motion
/ less in the straps. There was no doubt
| that Slocum was dead. When the straps
| were unbuckled. unlike kemmler. Slo-
| Gums remains were so limp that they
would have slipped from the chair. had
| not the attendants held them in place.
/ The second OF the condemned men
/ chosen was Sniler, who murdered one of
| his wives. He came with a calm step.
/ supported by Rev. Mr.. Edgerton on one
| side and Rev. Mr. Low on the other. Like
Slocum he stepped forward without sum-
| mons and seated himself, placing his
] hands on the arms Of the chair and wait
/ Ing for the attendants 10 bind him The
| attendants busted themselves with the
| straps again. Sniler sat calmly looking
/ ahead until the bandage was drawn across
/ his ewes. Again the straps and
/ buckles were inspected, and again
/ the handkerchief fell. The electrician
/ threw the switch and in 4 moment more
| the straps tightened under the strain OF
-he rsu. muscles as the electric current