The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-02-17
ELEcTRocuIloN.

valne.
New YORK, Feb. 9.-Charles McIlvaine
was shocked to death in the prison
here, the first contact being made at
11;12 a. IN. Monday. The duration of
contact was forty-tive seconds. In u
few seconds after the current was cut
off by order of DR.. Macdonald, froth
issued from the mouth and almost SIM
ultaneously there was quick gurgling
exilition and as quick arecovery, like
a person strangling of water going the
wrong way
The current was at once reapplied
and continued for forty-fve seconds
when the doctors examined the wrist
and jugular vein for pulsations; there
were none, and after examination by
all the doctors present the subject was
declared dead
Mcllvaine went to his death calmly.
When he was brought into the room
he LOOKED quickly about and then fixed
his eyes ON the chair At a sign from the
chief keeper he walked over to it un-
flinchingly and sat down, Then he
stared straight ahead of him as
the deputies quickly adjusted the
straps and drew them tight AS the
face strap was adjusted McIlvaine
grew excited and shouted: LET her
CO." Instantly the current of 1,70O
volts was turned on. The doctors, with
one exception, believe life and con-
sciousness were destroyed at the same
instant AS compared with the Kemm-
Ter execution that of McIlvaine was
much less distressing.
The autopsy revealed that there
were slight blisters from the heated
water in the electrode. The hands,
which had remained completely i'm
mersed, were in no degree disfgured
in the surface, but the wrists had each
slight blistered ring where they had
been wet upon immersion but had
been Withdrawn at the convulsion at
tending the first contact. At the calf
OF the leg, where the second contact
had been made, instead of at the
hands, there had been something more
than blistering-the rigid tightening
of the muscles having pressed the
sponge dry and heat resulting to singe
the surface.
Prof Van Gieson finished the autopsy
at S:45 p M. The examination showed
that the heart and brain we're perfect
ly normal. No traces Of insanity were
found. At McIlvafne's trial insanity
was set up rs a partial defense. The
doctors declare that Mcllvaine was
killed by shock, and the execution was
pronounced successful one.
DIR. Macdonald was asked If he be-
lieved that consciousness and life were
destroyed al the same instant.
Conscious life was unquestionably
instantly destroyed" was the answer.
"And you regard the expulsion OF
sputum aud the sounds from the throat
as purely reflex muscular results?"
"Unquestionably," was the reply.
Assemblyman NJ j. Stein, who
through his persistent efforts succeeded
last week in having representatives of
the press admitted to the electrocution,
was probably the most interested
witness. In an interview Immediately
after the exection he pronounced
the execution a most cruel and
unnatural one, which had made him
sick. lie said that he would use all
his influence to have the law of execu-
tion 10y electricity repealed Immediate
ly. ut is disgrace 10 q civilized state"
he said, ''and ought not TO be allowed
in our statutes do not want to wit
ness another execution and cannot say
whether death was instantaneous or
not"
The chair used was one never before
employed. 1t involved in its construc.
ton new feature-that of provision
for application of current through both
hands, as had some time ago been sug-
gested by Thomas A. Edison. The chair
itself is the outgrowth Of ideas held by
Prison Yardmaster Hilbert, who since
the quadruple execution last July has
been studying to effect electric con-
facts without burning or scalding the
skin Of the subject. On each side at
the arms was jar into which the
hands were immersed in a Solution of
salt. The arms were strapped at the
elbow and wrists and the contact at
the head was made at the forehead.
An electrode, as in previous cases,
here was present for use on the leg in
case of failure or mishap at the other
points of contact. The first contact
was made through hands and head; the
second through the head and calf of
the right leg. Rubber sacks OF warm
water hung aloft with rubber tubes TO
the electrodes for automatic wetting OF
the sponges.
McIlyaino vas not quite 10 years old when he
his terrible crime, and he had Just
been married 10 girl still younger than him.
self When passing through Jay street, an open
window in GrOc'r Christian Lucas house At
tractcd Mclvaih . attention. II was ian
easy mark" hc thought, and telling his
to wait, he removed his shoes
and climbed up TO the window. While he was
searching for plurder Lucas surprised him.
McIlvaine whipped out knife, and rs Lucas
plunged Il again and again into the
mans body When Lucas dropped dead II was
with fourteen wounds showing where the bur.
glars knife had struck
Mcllyaine was captured redhanded. He had
two trials the Jury each time finding him guilty
Of murder in the first degree. Three times the
week OF his death has been fixed. His case has
been carried through all the state courts and TO
the supreme court OF the United States, and
more than two years have elapsed since his aw.
fnl crime appalled, the people OF Brooklyn and
New York