Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-28
A BUNGLlNG JOB.
MURDERER FAYIORS ELECFROOUTION A
MARKED FAILURE.
The Dynamo Broke Down After the First Applica-
ton Of the Currsnt and Before the Man Was
Dssd-Connseiou Made With the City Electric
Ligh! Plant to Complete the job

the electric chair TO expiate Win MS
own life the crime he had done. de re-
ceiyed a shock OF 1,750 volts, but the
contact was not sufficiently prolonged
and when it was sought TO turn on the
current again the dynamo would not 90
its work. The man slowly came BACK
toward consciousness, TO prevent which
morphine was administered while prep
aratlons were being made to get electric
supply from the city's dynamo plant
The first tidings given OF the con-
demned man to the outer world TINS
morning was the simple announcement
of Warden Stout to an Associated Press
correspondent that Taylor had repent
ed. The chaplain ef the prison was
with him much OF the time yesterday
and upon awakening this merning the
condemned man evidenced a change OF
heart and requested the presence OF
the priest. Rev. Father Seymour ana
Rev. Father NetZel were asked TO at
tend him. They visited him early this
morning and Taylor placed himself en-
tirely in their hands urging them TO re-
main with him until his soul had oe-
parted. He proiessed penitence for mis-
great crime and said he was perfectly
resigned to his fate.
His lass sleep on earth seemed tran
Gull aud undisturbed, and he awoke re-
freshed at the usual hour this morning
TAYLOR was kept in ignorance OF his
dooms-day until half seven o'clock THIS
morning, when the Warden read the
deoth warrant TO him.
When he had finished, he remarked:
"Ill for you abont half-past H." lay
lor replied cheerfully: You'll find me
ready"
Taylor ate hearty breakfast OF steak
and potatoes, eggs, coffee and toast,
soon after which he had been oathed
and shaved, and declared that he was
feeling frstrate.
1t was twenty minutes to one o'clock
when Warden Stout invited the witness
es to follow him to the death chamber.
State electrician Davis was at the cleo
trie cabinet, and his preliminary tests
with the bank Of ineaRdesceRts were en-
tirely satisfactory. The two priests,
three keepers and the condemned soon
came in from the adjoining room, and
Taylor was Immediately hustled into
the chair and tightly pinioned. His face
wore look of set determination cad
with lips tightly compressed. lie car
ried a crucifix ia his right hand.
He was dressed in black and wore a
new pair of prison-made shoes.
When all ready the signal was given
and the current was turned on. Tay-
lor's powerful frame shot back upon the
chair until khe straps ereaked, and sim-
ultaneousfy there was crash unlike
anything ever before heard under like
circumstances. The strain upon the
foot rest had broken and the underpin-
ming of the chair gave way. The body
sank TO reclining postore, with the
victims feet resting on the floor. The
spectators were startled but did not
move. Everybody supposed the victim
was dead from the first shock, when a
strange noise was heard. He had be-
gun to gasp for breath snd saliva was
seen to exude from his mouth.
Turn on the current" was the com
mand the Warden, and Electrician
Davis tried to obey but was dumbfound-
ed to find no response to the turning OF
the lever. The dynamo was broken
down. The labored breathing OF the
victim continued and his chest rose and
fell convulsively. Davis fastened out
side to the dynamo TO ascertain the
trouble and found the armature had
burned out. 1t could be used no more
to-day.
The victim who was now gasping
and grooming aloud was unbound and
was placed upon a cot and carried into
the adjoining room. His pulse grew
stronger and he endeayored several
times TO rise from the cot.
Physicians said he was unconscious
preeicely in the condition OF a man
stricken with apoplexy. He would
recover they thought and the only way
to carry out the sentence OF the law was
to again place him In the chair.
Linemen quickly connected the prison
apparatus with the electric light plant,
sud in an hour all was ready for the
second electrocution. Taylor continued
10 grow stronger and was given an in
lection OF morphis. a small dose OF
chlOroform was also administered. he
was then carried bodily to the chair,
which had been repaired, and was
strapped into sitting posture. The
current was then turned on, the body
Strengthened up, and for half a minute
l.42O volts coursed through Taylor's un'
conscious form, and he was pronounced
dead. The stethescope was applied to
the heart TO make sure, and the doctors
declared there was no pulsation.
The witnesses had not been allowed
to leave the prison, and were invited to
luncheon by the warden, after which
they signed the death certificate and
all was over.
The first electrocution took place al
l9;46. and the second at I:55.
The story Of the murder which VIM.
G.. Taylor expatiated with his life to-
day, is neither romantic nor sensa
tional. 1t was simply case Of murder
pure and simple, without any interest
ing environments. The motive wa:
neither robbery, revenge nor jealousy
No woman's name figured in the case
Suicide might be ascribed as the motive
for according to the murderer's story be
was tired of prison life and yearned fol
the electric chair, although upon the
trial an effort was made to prove thai
Taylor had been nursing grudgC
against his victim for informing on hin
long before the tragedy. Taylor and
his victim Solomon Johnson were sec
ond term men and were shop mates in
the broom industry of Auburn prison,
Taylor was % years old, and was in fol-
ten years for burglary.
The murder was perpetrated on the
afternoon of September 20, 1892. There
was no eye witness to the deed, and the
fact that murder had been committed
was not known until it was announced
by the murderer himself at, keepers
hall He gave the information to the
hall keeper through the grated window
in these words: IF you fellows will