The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-08

the apparatus to tho scientists. rhe
last to be put in place were one across
tho face, almost over the mouth, but not
SO as to prevent speech, ana ano ther
over the eyes and upper part of the nose.
linen the hgurc over his head was
brought down and the electrode fast
ened to the head, and ono TO the right
leg ncar the calf, an opening in tho
trousers having been left for that pur-
pose.
Slocum rendered all the assistance he
could by placing himself as directed
one OF the doctors took a can and wet
the sponges on the electrode. Warden
brown took part, carrying out tho letter
Oh the law. As tho doctors finished
their inspection of tho strap they
nodded to DR.. Mcdonald, who stood be.
nina the chair with a watch in one hand
and handkerchief in tho other. The
handkerchief fell from his hand. Elec-
triclan Davis, at the signal, turned the
switch bar which threw tho whole
strength OF the electric current into the
circuit passing through the execution
| chamber.
Tho turning on of this current was the
signal for the unknown executioner
within the closet. lie instantly shifted
the switch. Immediately the body in
the chair stiffened against tho straps
perfectly rigid. Every muscle was firm
setas through some awful effort to escape
from the bonds that held it tight. The
straps strained with the peculiar sound
OF stretching leather. Their edges
pressed deep into the yielding flesh.
nc expression of the face was los under
the broad bands drawn across the eyes,
nose and chin, but the skin exposed to
view turned u purple red.
The spectators drpw obout tho cb,;r
standing on the rubber mats for safety
and the physicians compared notes on
inc phenomena presented. DIR. Melon
AID had his eyes on the stop watch i'll
his hand. When it marked twenty sec
onds he nodded to Elcc trician Davis, who
stood with his hands still on the switch
waiting for the signal. When DR.. Nc
Donald nodded Davis turned switch
and the current ceased to flow.
Only oace did the lungs seem to con-
tract. AS quickly as DR.. Mcdonald
could raise his hand to give the signal
the electrician threw the switch. The
electric current rushed through tho
death circuit and the body in the chair
stiifcned again against the straps. Tho
time OF the contact was not made pub
lie. DIR. Mcdonald has the record OF it.
The stop watch did not regulate the
length of the contact this time. The
same unhappy event that brought the
kcmmlcr execution to 4 close made n
sudden end Of Slocum's experience in
the electric chair. The skin and flesh
of the leg, and almost Immediately
afterward the skin of tho forehead, be-
gan to smoke. Dr.. Mcdonald again sig
nailed the electrician to turn the switch
The current was withdrawn, and in
stantly the body collapsed.
The effects on the lD1v nf S1nr,,,,
was almost instantaneous. I, Instead OF
straining against the strapsit hung in
them limp and unsteady. a moment
of uncertainty followed. Would the dead
man appear to revive rs Kemmler had
done? Would his chest heave and his
lips give forth the sound of breathing?
The experts ut Auburn had said that
tho current turned on Kcmmlcr was too
weak, that it had been turned off too
soon, though through his body Il steady
current OF l 600 volts had been running
| Twice the strength Of the average cur
rent that passed through lIemmler's
| body had been on for twenty seconds,
hive seconds more than the current in
the kemmler case. Would tho man
move or would he give the sickcning
suggestions of returning life that hor.
riiicd the spectators at Auburn? The
second is passed, the number of them is
not known, but in less than minutes
space there came between the lips of
tho pallid face hanging in the death
harness rush of air which whistlcd
between the half clenchcd teeth and
ended in half sigh and half groan.
The figure hung silent and motionlcss
in the straps. There was no doubt that
Slocum was dead. The electrician had
signalled tho engine and the dynamo
( In 4
sounded SO clearly to the waiting ears
OF the watchers without throughout the
silent morning air had died away The
warden's assistant stepped forward and
loosened the electrodes. One by one the
straps which confined tho body to the
chair were unbuckled. Unlike those Of
the kcmmler case, tho remains were so
limp that they would have slipped from
the chair as the last strap was unfas-
| tened had not tho attendant held them
in place. Kemmlcr's CHASTITY remains
sat upright in the chair when the straps
were removed and glared at the walls of
the execution chamber
While the witnesses af the clcctrccu-
tion went TO breakfast, from the chair
| Slocum'S rem aims were carried to the ad-
| joining apartment, where they were
laid out on one of the long tables placed
| lot inc autopsy. Nhile the body was
being removed the witnesses discussed
earnestly the similarity which it bore
to the Kemmler case, similarity
which seemed to relieve that tho first
electrocution of the odium of bungling
failure from which it had suffered in
the minds of many since its details were
| published to the world.
Very little time was spent in making
preparation for the next execution. The
| kCcond of the cGndnmnnd mnn chosen