The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-28
ACRUEL ELECTR0CUT
1uE DTNAMO BREhhs DOUN md
qHE TICTIM RECoTEES.
The Negro Lived One Hour, when Another
Voltage Was Turned ON, Which
Proved Successful.

AvBURN. y. Y. July civilian ].
~o,ior was to-day elcotrocuted for the
,-.-i.r OF solomon Johnson. Taylor and
Iotrton were convicts IN Auburn prison,
and worked together in the broori-shop.
The murder was committed 70 satisfy
a p1tale frudge. Taylor was a colcred
man. and Johnson was white Taylor
kn confession behind.
II WAS twenty minutes to / o'clock
when the warden invited the witnesses
10 follow him to the death chamber.
Tho equipment was the same that had
Lsel used a month ago for Fitzthum.
Stale Electrician Davis was at the
electric cabinet and his preliminary tests
win lae bank OF iucandcscents were en-
pro.y satisfactory. the dial indicating
voltage of 1870. In the morning it mad
rua up to 1870 volts. The two priests
three keepers ana the condemned man
soon came in from the adjoining room
and Taylor was placed in the chair and
tightly piniOned. Ills face wore a look
OF set determination with his lips tightly
compressed. lie carried a cruclnx in his
right hand.
When all was ready the signal was
given, and the current was turned on.
Tayor's powerful frame shot back and
W in the chair. ;nth the straps creaked,
and simultaneously there was a crash.
The strG& upon the fo0t-rest had broken
n. and the under pinning Of the chair
gave way.
The body sank to n reclining posture.
with the victims feet resting on the
floor. The spectators were startled, but
did not move. il was supposed the vic
tim was dead from the effects Of the
shock. whca "A strange noise was heard
he had begun so gasp for breath, and
saliva was seen 10 exude from his mouth
"Turn on the current" was the COM
mand from the warden, and Electrician
Davis tried TO obey. but was dumbfound-
"a 70 find no response 10 the turning OF
the lever. The dynamo had broken down.
The labored breathing OF the victim
continued and his chest rose and feii
c0ny1llsively Davis FASTENED outside 10
fhe dvnamo 10 ascertain the trouble, and
found the dynamo had burned out 1t
could be used no more to-day. The VIC
tim. who was now gasping and groaning
aloud. was unbound and placed upon
cot and carried into the adjoining room.
His pulse grew stronger, and ne en-
9eavored several times 10 rise from the
cot. The physicians said he was un-
conscious precisely IN llt NphNlRl'ii "a
a man stricken with apoplexy. He would
recover they thought. and the only way
IN carry ont the sentence Of the law was
70 again place him I'm the chair.
Iinemen quickly connected the prison
apparatus with the street electric light
plant. and I'm an hour all was ready for
the second eiectrocution. Taylor con-
tinued 10 grow stronger. and was given
IN Infection Of morphine.
A small dose of chloroform was also
administered lie was then carried bodily
10 the chair. which had been repaired,
and was strapped in n sitting posture.
The current was then turned on. the
body straightened mp. and for half q min
rts I 2n volts coursed through Taylor's
unconscious form. and ne was pro-
.nouncea dead. The stethOscope was ap-
piled 90 the heart 90 make sure. and
pr. jenkins and others declared that
there was no pulsation. The witnesses
had not been allowed 20 leave the prison
and were invited 80 luncheon by the
warden. after which they signed the
death certificate. and al was over.
The first electrocution took place al
p.g. and the second at 1:55