The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-28

does not Kill" said Mr. Almstead but it
is not necessarily SO certainly fatal as
we have been accustomed 90 consider iL
We have learned a good deal about cleo
tricity since they first began 10 Use II Tor
;ho purpose of executing criminals. Nhen
"A man receives shock nowadays, we
don't assume that be Is dead because De
appears 10 DE. The mon at the stations
are instructed regarding the proper means
Of restoring people VINO have received
current, and they 20 at 10 al once J. Know
they used 10 let them alone, ana 1 'hi"A
a good many died VINO might nave Dee"
restored by the means ln use now.
do YOU consider thu alternating current
any more fatal 10 human life than the
hish-tension arc-light current, under the
same conditions of voltage and current
NO. 1 10 not About the time the pres
ent lazy relating 10 executions was pass
ed there was an idea that the alternating
current was more deadly than the con-
tiuuous current Experience has shown
that such is not the case. i had rather
AXE my chances with an alternating cur
rent ihan with a continuous current Of
Che same force.
Again the hypothetical question was
brought into service. and "a fair statement
of the conditions at the latest execution
was given.
Under tho conditions stated" said Mr..
Afmstcad. II should agree with the ply
siclan that the man was alive. l think
the D'Arsonval method would have soon
restored him."
How about the second APPLICATION
"Of course. by throwing the current on
and off at that voltage often enough, you
could soon put man beyond the nope on
resuscitation. l believe. however, that
there would be a chance Of restoring 4
man after the second application as you
describe H. Understand me. / don't say
a man under such conditions could cer-
tainly be restored. But there Is not the
certainty OF killing him that it was claim
ed existed when the plan was adopted.
AS l say. people have learned good deal
about electricity. particularly the after
mating current. since That time, ana there
is much more 10 elarn.'
'.Then you think that there Is a chance
that some OF these men are alive when
they are taken 20 the dlssectng table,;
Il have not said exactly that. said the
electrician. ii say that think that, AFTER
the frst application OF thrce-quarters OF
a minute as your question states II, the
chances Tor restoration would be- excellent
After the second application. as you state
H. il seems 20 me that restoration would
not be impossible. No, l do not approve
OF the present method of executing crlmi-
nails. As say there is no certainty about
the electrical effect, and the use OF the
electric current for such purpose is q
great injury TO an art which Is coming
10 be OF great benefit 10 mankind"
All three OF the electricians interviewed
siipported their statements with many
purely technical facts, which, however
interesting and instructive. are scarcely
in place here. Each Is recognized mas
ter In his profession ana each stated eN-
niicitiv that there Is still so much 10 be
learned regarding the mysterious action
OF the electric mud that the authoritis
are not warranted in assuming that Il
will accomplish definite results in the ex"
cution of criminals.-New York sun.