The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-07-28
A BUNGLIN6 EXECUTION
Murderer Taylor Placed Twice in
the Electric Chair.
FIRST CONTACT FAILED TO KILL.
The Victim Laid on Cot for an Hour
While Arrangements We're Perfeotsng
for Second shook-Dootors Agree
That lie Suffered No Pain.

inc NlCtlm Lana on a Not ioF an huut
While Arrangements Were Perfeotsng
for Second shook-Dootors Agree
That he Suffered No Pain.
AUBURN, N. Y, July 2s-william r.
Taylor was placed in the electric chair at
l2;45 p m. yesterday in the prison here for
the murder of a 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 cot and conveyed
back to the corridor where he continued
breathing aud groaniug, with his pulse
growing stronger. Physicians say he was
unconscious after the frst contact Of LOO
volts. His condition was then analogous
to that Of Il man stricken with apoplexy.
Taylor was carried again to the chair at
l;55 and a current from a city electric light
dynamo was passed through his body. The
second attempt proved successful
Not since the electrocuuon of Kemmler,
three years ago, has any execution of the
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 eX5cutioner. The scene at the
first attempt to electrocute the victim was
something indescrihable
Had 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.
His eyes were closed but his features were
not distorted with pain. Taylor's pulse
grew stronger and his breathing seemed
less labored, He might recover He was
even now attempting to rise from his cot.
1t was necessary for the keepers to pinion
his arms and legs. DIR. Conway gave him
hypodermc injection of morphine to
quiet his struggles. He was asked if the
patient would recover with sufficient time
and he replied, Most assuredly"
When arrangements for the second con-
tact were completed the limp form of Tay-
lor was carried to the death chamber by
three keepers. The broken foot rest had
been repaired. He was held in position by
the straps and the current was turned on.
| The BODY stitfened up, but not with half
the force as upon the first attempt, and for
half minute l,240 volts coursed through
his system. The current was then turned
off the stethescope applied and he was of.
| ticially pronounced dead.
The three physicians present coincided
in the opinion that Taylor was absolutely
unconscious from the first contact, and
they did not think he had suffered for q
moment.
Taylor and his victim, Solomon John
son, were second term men, and were shop
mates in the broom making works of Au
burn prison The murder was perpetrated
on the afternoon of Sept. 20, 1892. The fact
that murder had been committed wa'
not known until it was announced by the
murderer himself When the keeper asked
Taylor why he did it he replicd "Tve go
tired of staying in prison all the time, anC
I'd rather take a dose Of electricity anC
have done with II"