The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-28
ABUNGLING EXECUTION
Murderer Taylor Placed Twice in
the Electric Chair.
FIRST CONTACT FAILED TO KILL.



for q Second shock-Dootors Agree
That He Suffered No Pain.
AUBURN, N Y. July 2s.-william f.
Taylor was placed in the electric chair at
12;i5 p. m. yesterday in the prison here for
the murder of fellow convict in the
prison last year. The warden announced
that the prisoner had confessed his crime
to the priests.
The foot rest OF the chair broke and the
dynamo gave out, so that second cur
rent could not be applied, and Taylor, who
was not dead from the first contact, soon
began breathing heavily.
He was placed on a cot and conveyed
back to the corridor where he continued
breathing and groaniug, with his pulse
growing stronger. Physicians say he was
unconscious after the first contact Of 1 700
volts. His condition was then analogous
to that of n man stricken with apoplexy.
Taylor was carried again to the chair at
1855 and current from city electric light
dynamo was passed through his body. The
second attempt proved successful.
Not since the electrocution of Kemmler,
three years ago, has any execution of the
death penalty caused such widespread
sensation. When the witnesses had been
liberated, after two hours enforced con-
finement, they began relating the harrow
ing scenes they had observed, and soon the
entire city was discussing the failure Of
the states executioner The scene at the
first attempt to electrocute the victim was
something indescribable.
HIhd the body not been held by the
straps 1t would have fallen on the floor
After Taylor had been laid ON the cot in
the adjoining room he was groaning aloud
and moving his head from side to side
Hisleyes were closed, but his features were
not distorted with pain. Taylor's pulse
grew stronger and his breathing seemed
lesslabored. He might recover. He was
eve& now attempting to rise from his cot.
1t Was necessary for the keepers to pinion
his hrms and legs. DIR. Conway gave him
htpodernlio injection of morphine to
quiet his struggles. BE was asked il the
patient would recover with sufficient time
and he replied, "Most assuredly."
When arrangements for the second con-
tactwer completed the limp form of Tay-
lor vas carried to the death chamber by
thrde keepers. The broken foot rest had
been repaired. He was held in position by
the straps and the current was turned on.
Thdbody stiffened up,sbut not with half
the force as upon the first attempt. and for
halda minute ,24o volts eoursed through
his sJstem. The current was then turned
off, the stethescope applied and he was Of
ficiaily pronounced dead.
The three physicians present eoincided
in He opinion that Taylor was absolutely
UNCONSCIOUS from the first contact, and
theHdid not think he had suffered for O
morhent.
Taylor and his victim, Solomon John
son, ,lwere second term men, and were shop
matSs in the broom making works of Au-
burI prison. The murder was perpetrated
on the afternoon Of. Sept 20, 1892. The fact
thatla murder had been committed was
not known until It was announced by the
murderer himself When the keeper asked
Taylor why he did it he replied: "I've got
tired of staying in prison all the time, and
I'd rather take dose of electricity and
have done with itn