Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-08-12

After all the courts and every other pos
sIble avenue for escaping the test had been
tried there arose another difficulty. The
warden of the Jail could not purchase dy-
namos to generate the electricity. None of
the electric companies would sell them.
Every dynamo was held by the companies.
Like many other electric appliances, the
title always remained in the possession of
the companies, and the users paid q rental
Or royalty. They would not lease or sell a
dynamo for an electric execution. But here
again Governor Hill was shrewd enough
co see that the law which he had worked
so hard to have enacted should not be de-
feated In any such manner. Several elec-
trio dynamos were purchased for some
South American firm and shipped down
to South America and bought by the state
Of New York and shipped back. They were
more expensive that way, but the state
had to have them, and Governor Hill was
not the man to give up. There was some
difficulty in getting an operator who was
skillful man to properly handle the cleo
tric machinery, but finally one was found.
Then began pressure upon Governor
Hill for admission to the execution. From
his past experience he was aware that the
electric companies would make every effort
to have men inside who would try to make
such a report of the affair as might turn
public sentiment against the method of
execution. One prominent xlitor of New
York, who had been standing by the cleo
trio companies with great vigor and had
used all the power of his paper to defeat
the law and to assist the electric compa-
nies in preventing execution by such
means, wrote personal letter to Governor
Hill asking the privilege of having re-
porter present. Governor Hill denied this
request. The law provided that certain
number of persons should be present, and
the governor allowed q man from each of
the press associations to be there. 1t Is
probable that the New York senator in all
his experience with newspaper men has
met with but that one instance of men,
Der of the profession disappointing him.
One of the men got sick at the execution,
and his report was not in favor of the new
method of execution.
Since then there seems to be q general
acquiescence in the new form of death
penalty, and even the electric companies
have become reconciled to the use of elec-
tricity as a means of killing murderers.
They are now found willing to supply the
state with the best improved dynamos for
generating electricity and to put in tho
different prisons requiring them all the
electric machinery necessary for first
class electrocution.
AS some one has previously remarked,
nothing succeeds like success, even If it is
in dealing with such a CHASTITY thing as
death for the greatest crime.
Ex-Speaker Reeds First Speech.
Ex-Speaker Reed tells an interesting
story about his first speech in congress. 81
had served a few months in the house, +"
said Mr.. Reed, "and had been waiting an
opportunity to rise to my feet and have
something to say. Finally the William and
Mary college bill came up for considera-
ton. All the southern people We're enthu-
siastic in its favor, and they induced DIR.
Loring of Massachusetts to make very
patriotic and eloquent speech in its behalf.
When he had finished the southern people
purposely organized a procession to march
through the aisles and up to DIR. Loring's
seat for the purpose of presenting him
their congratulations While all this was
going on 1 sat waiting. There was great
deal of confusion in the hall, and you can
imagine how anxious became as the mo-
ments slipped by. The wonder to me is
that had GOODNESS enough to wait, but
did, and after the congratulations had
Dtcu Oncreu anu Uu6 HOuSe lliiu
been quieted down somewhat raised my
voice. But no one appeared to see me, and
1 would have sold out my chance very
cheap. l think it was one Of the bitterest
moments of my life, standing there sur
rounded by my peers, just bursting for
chance to tell what l knew and thought,
but with no one paying the slightest at
tention to me and a buzz going on all
about.
81 perceived that it was absolutely neces-
sary for me to do something to dominate
that noise, and almost in a fit of despera-
tion l filed my lungs and opened my
mouth. 1t appeared to me, as l remember
1t now, that 1t did not make so much diff
ference what said as how loudly could
say it. In second or two 1 had caught
the attention of the house, probably through
the exercise of main strength. / then saw
l was going to have an audience If my
breath held out. In a few seconds moro all
noise ceased and faces began to turn to-
ward me- Then 1 felt the inspiration of an
attentive audience, and suppose 1 must
have made very good speech l spoke for
about ten minutes, and when 1 had fin
ished my friends came up to me and told
me that 1 had killed William and Mary
deader than smelt, and such turned out
to be the case, though theyAwere resurrect-
ed some Is years later. 1t was q hot day
in Washington, and when l had finished
making that first speech of mine in the
house, Lord, how wet wasp
WALTER WEIJMAN