Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-09
THEY DID NOT BURN.
DR.. SouthWiok Denies Reports About
the Electrocuted Criminals.
THE new PARTY IN new ENGLAND.
Meeting Of the Virginia Democratic
Executive Committee.
NO COMBINE IN AS =.
DIR. sOUrHwICK.s VIEWS.

The Father Of the System Discusses the Sing
Sing Executions.
BUFFALO. N. Y. July 9.-Dr. A. P. Southwick
and DIR. Clayton NJ. Daniels, the two Buffalo
witnesses Of the electrical execution at
Sing Sing. returned this morning. They
were interviewed by Commercial!
reporter, and each one. SO far
as the law allowed him. spoke of the remark
able scenes in the death chamber in
which they were the participants. Each
Of these gentlemen had witnessed
the Kemmler execution and were there
fore prepared to make careful and valuable
comparative observations when Witnessing the
recent execution.
DR.. Southwick was a member of the original
state commission on electrical execution.
The executions were a success in every
way" said DIR. Southwick, land there was not
the slightest hitch. Electric execution has
strated that the method is humane"
1T was stated that C. second shock was given
each of the men,
Yes, sir"
And that at the second shock the bodies
Strengthened up and became rigid"
Quite true: that was the case. But there was
no life in the bodies. The same effect would
have been produced on a third or fourth con-
tact. The electric current would produce that
contraction so long as there was heat in the
body"
why was that second shock eiven?''
TO prevent the muscular exhibition that
was noticed at kemmlers execution"
Did any sound come from the men after
they got the first shock?'
None whatever
WAS there any burning of the iesh?"
THERE WAS NO BURNING.
There was not. There was a slight scald,
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 a downright lie.'
What we're the scalds or blisters like?''
The electrode held a sponge saturated with
salt water. This water became heated because
OF continuation of the current. becoming hot
enough to blister the skin. But before the salt
water became hot the man was dead
How can you be sure, doctor, that the men
died instantly"
APRAYER CUT SHORT.
"Tn tell you one very satisfactory test
Sloeum was praying when he died. So was
Wood. The others said nothing. But / par
ticularly observed Slocum He was saving
Lord have mercy on my SOUL when he re-
ceived the shock. He had Just said the word
my and started to say soul The
sibilant sound of the g was made. but the
word soul was never uttered. Some consider
would come in such case. 1 replied
that it would cut a syllable in two. When
Slocum died the syllable soul was cut in two.
Could body ask for better evidence Of in
Simultaneous death.
Another indication" continued Dr.
Southwick, twas the appearance of the
mems features at death. They were
undisiurbed, unchanged from what they
were in life. 1 suggested that they
should close their eyes so that the salt water
from the electrode on their foreheads should
not run into thei- eyes and give them needless
pain. They did close their eyes. That
action made certain contraction of the
features. That contraction was there after the
men were taken from tho chair. There was
not a single person who saw the execution but
said they were instantaneous and painless and
a humane method OF producing death.
How did the men approach the chair?"
"Bravely."
WAS there any disturbance o. resistance
None whatever"
Ibid the men say anything"
..Smiler and Jugigo said nothing. Wood
and Slocum prayed"
"Ob, there may be some small details
changed. Blu: the main thing is demon strated-
electrical executions are instantaneous pain
less humane"