Evening journal., 1893-07-29
IS ELEcTRleIrY eETTeRl

Inc accounts OF Jhe failure TO elecVfo
cute the negro murderer, Taylor, at
Auburn, n Y, are horrible They
suggest an examination TO ascertain
what is gained, n anything. by the
substitution Of the electric current, as II
means for producing death, in place of
hanging
The chief recommendation for the
change, we believe. was that it proposed
to avoid shocking the sentiments of
those who did not witness the hanging
The imagination Of too sensitive mau
or hysterical woman made an awful
horror Of the unseen spectacle Of the
struggling victim at the eud Of rope
tits horrible TO contemplate Death In any
manner under any conditions, Is sad /;
sudden death. adds a feeling Of awe;
while an execution supplements both
with horror
But only a few persons, officials, are
compelled TO see tbe-latter; nobody need
contemplate II Granting however,
that the sensitivity Of hose, who do not
witness the spectacle Of al execution by
hanging, entities them to demand thai
heir imaginations shall not be tortured,
we ought to have some assurance that
the change to electricity will not be
liable TO the same objections
The purposes Of the commonwealth
are first, to take the life Of criminal,
who has deliberately forfeited his right
to live second, to protect the lives Of
other people: third, TO teach the com
mand OF God and man Thou shalt not
kill.
The custom has been to accomplish
those three ends by a public crucidction.
beheading, shooting or hanging AS the
sentiments Of refinement and sympathy
developed among the people these
methods have been variously modified
till the lesson TO people, in the public
spectacle, has been generally abandoned.
Whether that is wise or not, beneficial
or hurtful, we shall not discuss; but
having yielded so much sentiment with
out having accomplished, apparently,
any commensurate good, we are 10th Ia
yield any farther. lest the sentimental
lists shall demand that we apply The
divine command, Thou shalt not
kill TO the state.
OF the FIRST attempt TO execute the
negro Taylor, areporter says
simultaneously with the turning Of
the lever the chair OF death was wrecked
the power Of the dynamo gave out, ano
the death current had not finished II,
work A groan Of agony came from tn,
lips Of the murderer, his legs stretched
out in front, the chair fell forward auc
the man would have fallen on his face II
two stalwart keepers had not grabbed
the chair aud held H. up. Those Of ia,
witnesses who had never witnessed sucl
a scene before thought it was part Of the
method of killing Those who had
knew 10 was horrible failure.
The body was placed on cot Will,
the apparatus. the immature of which
was burned out. was repaired The re-
port co tinues;
Taylor was now grooming piteousl.
and his head turned from side to side
he threw hi arms wildly into the air an,
his legs kicked about as though Ia agou
ling torture Vet the doctors say N
old not suffer With every succeedin,
miuute returning life became more an.
more ppareut All his limbs were in aa
zion. Saliva a lwed from bis mouth th.r,
came a horrible rattle from the throat
and means came with every breath
AS spectacle thai is as horrible Ms
lynohing; as an incident Tor the imeg
nation it can be mace as harbarous IS
mans taste or inclination dictates T
ms 1t seems no advance. ia any respecl
an the old style Of public hanging .
prscticed Ia New York
Blu, We admit we are not sentiment.
wards murdereis We do not care pa.
icularly, how woman killer aud IA,
isher is put out CT the world so We q
not know too much abont It. We woul
lot see it, we cannot contemplate /
We simply wish TO know that It is CON