The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-24
EXECUTED BY ELECTRICITY.
Two Shocks Required to Kill
Murderer McElvaine.
Experts Say Death Was Instan-
taneous and Painless.

twenty-seven witnesses provided for
by law. 1t was the first e1ecu-
ton. by this method which news
paper men were permitted TO attend
OF the reporter witnesses four agreed that
the killing was more merciful than hanging
The other four thou ght that it was brutal
but not so bad as the killing of Kemn:er at
Auburn. OF the invited witnesses, Warden
P. J. Doyle, of Brooklyn, said that the means
Of death was quick and nercltul. Assembly
man Meyer j. Stein said:
''I do not know whether death was instan-
tsneous or not. only know it was horrl-
BILE, and shall do all in my power to have
the law repealed. The sight was cruel and
unnatural, and it made me sick"
The condemn ed man, after partaking OF
substantial breakfast arrayed himself In a
suit Of black, prison made clothes, and en-
gagged in prayer with Father Creden. He
was calm, though showing none OF the symp-
toms of bravado that characterized his life.
At IL o'clock Warden Brown led the wit
nesses to the death chamber, where all were
seated on stools in a semi circle about the
chair. Behind it was the closet in which
the executioner was concealed. Prof. Laudy
took his place by the volt meter. On each
side of the chair were boxes filed with
solution of salt and water. Two rubber
bags hung on either side Of it with small
pipes attached, and within them were con-
cealed wires from the switchboard by which
the current was to be conveyed to the sue'
ject's hands.
The Warden announced that the execu-
tion was avout to take place. and then said:
'tE. F. Davis and Professor Laudy Will have
charge of the execution, and any witnesses
who take the initiative will be at once
elected from the ROOM"
The prisoner was ordered to be brought.
He came behind two keepers, supported by
Fathers Creden and Smyth. In his right
hand McElvaine held crucifix which he
occasionally kissed, while repeating responses
10 prayers. He went straight to the chair
and sank i.stlessly into it.
The right leg of his trousers had been
ripped up to tue thigh and the pieces folded
up tightly about the thigh, leaving the leg
bare. Patent leather slippers covered his
feet He wore suit OF blue and black
satin uecGtie. His face was sallow. His eyes
switched. He winked rapidly.
His legs were pinioned to the legs OF the
chair. One electrode was fastened tightly
to tlse leg near the knee. Guard jackson
took hold of the crucifx. The murderer
held it tightly, his voice becoming
lower and more tremulous. jackson
seized the crucifix again. This time he
wrenched it from the fingers, plunged
the hand that had held it into the
water, and buckled the cuff about the wrist.
The leather harness containing the head
elsctrode was clapped down over the head.
The murdeIer's voice died out. "Oh,
ynerciful Jesus help me, spare me-"
prampted Father Smith. The murderer rev
pested the words twice, his voice dying
again until it was inaudibie
The last strap was buckled. The praying
lips had been stilled perhaps five seconds.
The silence was painful. The barred Leg
could be seen to tremble. The guard was
lust stepping back from the chair. Suddenly
the murderers lips parted again. In voice
loud and unnatural, half appealing, haI
brayado, plainly containing the last spark
of energy that was left, the murderer cried:
.aLet 'er go9'
The nervous strain had told. The man
had broken down completely. The sound Of
the voice, the nature OF the expression
after the prayers Of moment before,
startled the little company. The word go"
had hardly left ,his lips when DR.. Nc.
Donald signalled to Professo: Lsudy.
The lever the Professor held was
pulled down. Another lever inside the box,
lowed it. This let loose the current. There
was a half saiver. perceptible only to
the quickest eye. The body shot up an inch.
The leather harness creaked. The body stiff
fened. Then for q second there was not
tremor. The lips parted slowly. Water
came from the mouth and stained the leather.
It looked like blood. The mouth remained
half open. The little skin Of the face that
could be seen turned darker. The lips and
chin seemed set and stiff. Vapor and smoke
rose from each water box. To the wit
nesses il seemed ten minutes that the cur.
rent held the body thus. 1t was really less
than minute.
s'Close,n said DR.. Mcdonald. Professor
Iaudy pulled another lever. The body sank
hack limp, all but the arms. They were
rigid. The lips closed slowly, as they had
opened.
GAN offY' asked DIR. Ward.
"All off," answered Professor Laudy.
DR.. Ward stepped quickly to the chair and
peized one wrist to find pulse. Then ne
pushed his hand up under the harness to feel
the artery in the neck. DR.. Mcdonald took
wrist and then ran his hand up under DR..
Wards. Thirty-five seconds had gone since
tha current was turned off, and there had not
been motion OF the body. One OF the wit
nesses whispered. "He's dead-wonderful."
He was cut short by strange sound coming
from the mans throat. half moan, half
sigh. that sounded loud in the stiffness OF the
death house. Saliva seemed to be forced
from between the lips, and then came another
half moan, half sigh. An exclamation was
ON the tip of every mans tongue. The doc
tors stepped quickly back
"Repeat," exclaimed DR.. Mcdonald.
mo, hold" said DR.. Ward, seizipg rub.
ber tube that hung from bag of water
over the chair and pressing stop that let
down a stream OF water into the leg and
head electrodes.
It had been previously arranged that
should second shock be necessary it should
be given by these electrodes instead OF those
on the side boxes through the hands. Eight
seconds only had elapsen from the time or the
first sign Of life, or whatever it was. when
apain the cody stiff med and shot upward,
the straps creake,, the heSh hardened, the
lips remained tightly closed. Smoke or
steam arose from both electrodes.
sThe flesh is not burning" said DR.. Nc
Donald.
.Stoo" said he a moment later. The cur
rent was turned off aud the body fell back
again. Dr. Ward examined first the pulse,
then the throat. Then the clothing was
opened. A cloth was thrown over the bare
skin. The doctor held his ear down close
against 1t. ,,.. .,..y ,o so;a
II cannot hear the heart peat, no salo.
1.-THE man is dead"
The harness was taken off. A table was
brought into the room. The body was lifted
upon it. The Leg to which the cleo
trode had been attached was still,
the other limp. The hands were
clenched. The arms were stiff. The
skin about each wrist was peeled of,
and it hung in shreds, apparently scorched.
Where the electrode had been on the leg there
was mass of blisters There were blisters on
the face, under the eyes, where water had run
from the sponses. DR.. Mcdonald said the ap-
parent scorchlng on the wrist was scalding.
It had been made when the contraction Of
the muscles lifted the body. The wet wrists
were lifted clear Of the water. The moisture