The Iola register., 1891-07-17

oOF1AAOs M - SoAy W.T. N. Z
Southwick and Dr.. Daaiels. the Buffal
witnesses Of the electrical execution a
Sing Sing, returned this morning. The
we're interviewed by q reporter an
each, 30 far q the Law allowed, spok
OF the remarkable scenes IN the dealt
chamber. Each had witnessed tn
kemmler execution and they wer
therefore prepared to make careful ant
valuable comparative observation
when witnessing the recent execution
DIR. Southwick was q member of tn,
original state commission on electrica
execution.
THE executions were q success in ev
cry way" said DIR. Southwick, ''ant
there was not the slightest hitch. Elec
trio execution has come to stay. These
executions have demonstrated that the
method is humane"
DO you say that all four men diet
Instantly"
"Yes, sir. They died the instant the
current reached them. There was nc
sensibility whatever after the current
reached them. It was an absolutely
painless death In all four instances"
"Did you read the Associated Press
report Of the execution"
II did,
"Was it accurate?"
| 'It was In the main. Somebody must
have leaked. 1t was thought that one
Of the guards told the story for cash.
In the associated press report 1t was
stated that a second shock was given to
each of the men. That was the case.
But there was no life in the bodies.
The same effect would have been pro-
duced in third or fourth contact. The
electric current would produce the con-
traction so long as there was any heat
in the body.
"Why was the second shock given?"
ITO prevent the muscular exhibition
that was noticed at Kemmler's kill
ing"
ibid any sound come from the men
after they got the first shock"
None whatever"
"Was there any burning OF the
fesh?"
There was not. There was a slight
raising, white blister, and that is
all"
"a New York paper states that when
Smiler's body reached New York the
face was found to be burned in several
places"
THAT was downright lie."
What were the scalds or blisters
like?"
''The electrode had sponge satu-
rated with salt water. This water be-
came heated because Of the continuation
of the current, being hot enough to
blister the skin. But before the salt
water became hot the man was dead.
Above the eye OF one of the men there
was small white blister. In Kemm-
ler's case there was brown mark,
which was not the case this time. re-
peat that the only approach to burning
was small white blister raised by the
heated water.n
''How can you be sure, doctor, that
the men died instantly"
''Fll tell you one very satisfactory
test. Slocum was praying when he
died, SO was Wood. The others said
but particularly noticed Slo-
cum. He was saying, Lord, have mer-
cy on my soul,' when he received the
shock. He had just said my and had
started to say SOUL but the letter s.
was never uttered. Some time ago |
was asked how quickly death would |
come in such case. | replied il would |
cut syllable in two When Slocum
died the syllable soul was cut in two. |
Could anybody ask for better evidence
Of instantaneous death?"
Another Indication was the appear
ance of the mems features at death.
They were Observation-Disclosures
rom what they were in life. 1 sugges-
led that they should close their eyes so
hat the salt water from the electrode
IN their foreheads should not run into
heir eyes and give them needless pain
They did close their eyes. That action
made a certain contraction of the feat
Tres. That contraction was there after
he men were taken from the chair.
There was not single person who saw
he execution, but say they were instan-
aneous and painless and a humane
method of producing death"
How did the men approach the
hair?"
"Bravely."
"Was there any disturbance or resist
nce?"
None whatever"
"Did the men say anything?'
'sSmiler and Jugigo said nothing.
Wood and Slocum prayed"
Would you suggest anything to bet
sr the method of execution"
'Some changes could be made, but !
one that could bring quicker or more !
ainless death. think it would be a !,
ood idea to have the current come q
trough the hands, which could be n
laced hanging down at the sides of the II
hair. My idea is to have the head
zee. Let the man he a man while he 7
yes, and be able to look around. l 9
ave couple of electrodes now, and am q
aving them tested" r
"What was the force of the current?" g
"One thousand six hundred volts" Z
'The executions were an unqualified O
iccess in every way" said DIR. Daniels. s.
The men had no sensibility of pain, y
I'd they died instantly. The execu- Is
ons demonstrated that the electric a
ethod is quick, painless and hui o
ane" o
WAS there any burning?" 81
81 saw none, and 1 looked at all the el
dies as carefully as did any man in a
q death chamber. Perhaps some of u
e water from the sponges, being su- u
from the continuation of the d'
ectric current, ran down the sides of p'
cir faces and slightly scalded them, 81
It if so, saw no evidence of it. The h'
atements that the men were burned 81
e false" W
There was no disturbance of any IL
nd. There was nothing revolving. "
ny woman could have witnessed the "
ecutions without being distressed,
ceptfrom the knowledge that death
Is present. They were dead the in
ant the current reached them. True, !,
len the second shock was given them ~
ey became rigid again, but that did rs &c
t denote life. The result of appli- ~ -
ton of the electric current is to con- .