Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-07-11
Shocked TO DEATH.
The Four Murderers Executed by
Electricity at Sing Sing, NJ
All Agree that Life Was Put Ia Flight b.
the First Application of the Cur-
raat-=Tne skin BurHea:


raat--The Shia 8urae.i.
James J. Slecum, Harris A. Smiler, Joseph
Wood and Shibuya Jugiro we're executed by
Electricity in the order named, for the crime
Of murder, in-the prison at Sing Sing, \. Y.
The approximate time of the turning on ofthe
current in each case was; Slocum, 440o'cloek
Smller, 80; Wood, go; Jugiro, 6.Os
Inc Prisoners had received some intinstion
beforehand and were prepared for them. They
Went to The execution chair bravely, and met
their fate without q struggle. They offered
no resistance, but rather assisted the keepers
when they were bound down in the chair
ne electrodes were not applied as in the case
Of William Kemmler, executed by electricity
at Auburn prison August 6, 1890, to the top of
Inc skull and the base of the spine, but
were bound to the foreheads of the condemned
men and the calves of the legs. The current
was turned on in each case fortwehty seconds.
The voltage was between 500 and ], 900 In
each ease there were apparent evidences of re-
NNal as in the KEN err ease, and in each of
these four eases the current was turned on
second time. In spite of the fact that the
sponges were kept constantly wet all of the
executed men We're burned by the current,
and especially about the calves OF the legs.
The medical men present agree that death
came on first contact, and that the seeming
revival was merely reflex muscular action.
some OF the witnesses cte overcome by fright
amt all OF them who have spoken have made
the statement that the electrodes we're success
tul and that death in all eases was nstantan-
eous AMI painless.
One Of the witnesses briefly tells the story Of
the execution as follows:
About O'Clock the witnesses and Jurors
were let into the death chamber. The experts
had previously examined everything, and said
they were satisfied the machinery Of death
weeld work perfectly. At 4o'ciock Slocuin
walked into the deathr0om, accompanied by
Father Creeden, lie seemed to be making
Tremendous effort to keep his composufs. He
had received Father Creeden's last Offices and
mad declared himself ready TO die. He was
tnefi hrniy stsal ped into the chair and the
death current applied Death sas insIanian-
eous. There was sudden contraction Of the
nerves, ami then all was over Smiler How
cd next. The Rev Mr.. Edgerton cheered him
up. Before Smiler had tine 10 think lie was
strapped into the chair, and in an instant later
the current of electricity was flashed through
him that sent him into eternity Next 10 iol-
lew was Wood, the negro. lie had been work
cd up to Il state of religious enthusiasm and it
vas while in this frame of mind that he was
fastened into the chair and killed by the fatal
shock. Jugiro was stubborn to the last There
was the usual ferocoHs, ugly look on his face.
lie was closely guarded aud short work made
OF HIM There was Ms apparent hitch in the
four executions, and they were pronounced
success. The death Of the four men appeared
70 the observer 10 be painless Death came
bike a fash. 1t was one awful shock, and
then oblivion"