The morning call., 1891-08-16
DR.. GIBBONS DEATH-CHAIR.
Il Works Automatically, and No ELGCltiOlGT Is
REQUIRED.

IF a man must be killed by the law, let
him be killed humanely and painlessly."
That remark embodes DIR. p. j. Gibbons
ideas on the subject of death by electricity,
and that thought is at the base of his latest
conception in the way of an electrical ap-
plance. Another remark Of the Syracuse
physician is corolary to the foregoing:
IF it be possible to make unnecessary the
horrible Office of the executioner, let it be
done"
DIR. Gibbons has invented an electrical
chair. 1t is high backed, with Il cane seat,
and fOot-rest resem bling the usual steamer
reclining chair. On either arm is strapped
a glass vessel and at the back is tin reser-
voir into which projects rubber tube eX-
tending from somewhere below the cane
seat. Under the seat and near the front is
n water pipe, and faucet feeds the rubber
tube which empties into the tin reservoir at
the back. The faucet is so placed that
when person sits in the chair the key of
the faucet is pressed down and water flows
through the tube into the reservoir. The
leverage of the reservoir is such that as it
fills il gently pulls the chair back down until
the person has stretched out full length.
AS the chair back reaches its lower position
the seat is raised by the interactiOn of the
parts, the Key Of the faucet is released from
pressure, aud the flow of water is cut off.
i lie Only preparation tiidL Is IDdue III iHe
attire of the condemned is this: Upon the
sOleS of his shoes are screwed TWO pieces OF
iron, having q wide groove, whose sides
slightly approach each other at one end.
Two similar pieces are screwed upon the
foot-rest. As the prisoner sits down the
grOuved irons upon his shoes fit into and
luck in the irons upon the rest, holding the
feet securely in place. Three bands suffice
TO secure the body. One passes around the
legs just below the knees. Another
also passes around IT,, the tn,l legs sro. but
the breast. The vessels attached to
the arms of the chair are made
of hard rubber or some similar material.
There is an opening III each through which
passes wire, and another and larger one
big enough for a mans wrist. A spring in
the lid so acts that when hand is placed
within the vessel the lid can be closed, hold
ing the wrist as in manacle, and makingi it
impossible to withdraw the hand. In each
vessel is to be placed a quantity of alkaline
liquid, and on the cover large sponge that
will press the prisoners hands down into the
liquid. The electric wire leads into the
vessel
Imagine now that man is,about to be put
to death. Attended by the proper officer
the prisoner is led into the death-ehamber
and told TO sit in the chair. In an adjacent
room is bridled electricity waiting to be let
loose, but the current is not turned on. a
deft assistant pushes the feet over the
iron pieces on the foOt-rest and quickly
draws across the three bands which fasten
the body. The hands are laid in the YES
sells at either side, and snap of the
lid fastens them there. While this is
being done the water has been noise
lessly flowing into the tank at the
back and by its leverage overcoming the
body'S upright position. The prisoner
slowly sinks back and as the body reaches a
horizontal position the switch is automatic
ally turned by the chairs own motion and
2C00 volts pass from hand to hand through
the body, killing instantly and painleSsly.
There is no eXecutioner with this chair.
1t works automatically and no one has the
terrible duty of sending a fellow being to
eternity. The reclining position of the
body, too, when death comes, prevents the
unfortunate scene noted in the late execu-
lions, when the dead body fell loose and
limp inclosed in its bandages.
Many obviods advantages are apparent
in the invention" says DR.. Gibbons. "Ad-
vantages that can be readily understood by
those who have read the published ac-
counts of the executions already conducted.
1t has been the practice to send the current
through the body from hand to hand, eX-
pertinent having shown that it was Just as
powerful and conclusive. The use OF aka
line fluid has been accepted as necessary TO
increase the conducting power of the body.
a difficulty in using it has been this:
Evaporation under the influence of the cur
rent soon dries the sponge, and thus causes
that burning and singeing OF the flesh. In
my chair there Is no possibility of such
feature, because the hands are placed in the
fluid"
DR.. Gibbons will send his chair to Warden
Brown of Sing Sing, where it will DO tested.
Syracuse special to N Y. Sun.