, 1896-12-05
ELECTROCUTION,
Successful Experiments are Made al
Columbus, Ohio.

SoiuLiDuS, W., DeC. "a successful
test OF the new apparatus for infiicting
the death penalty was made at the
~penitentiary this evening, the subject
being a ~15-year-old horse. The animal
stood in the street near the electric
light station and the wires were run
through the windows. Electrician
Harry l.. Garfield, who has worked
three months to perfect what is prac.
tically a new scheme, turned on the
current at 1850 volts. AT that rate
the animal consumed Is amperes, or
about three and one-half horse power.
He began to fall Immediately when
1000 volts were turned on. Mr.. Can
field used a sponge saturated with sal,
ammoniac diluted, to overcome greasy
substances and prevent "arching' at
terminal points. The animal was lead
before he struck the ground and not a
hair was scorched. One current struck
the head between the ears, and another
a rear leg above the knee.
The electrician says that all the volt
age and amperes of the current can be
read directly by Instruments located in
front of the operator and the dynamos
can be governed from 100 to 5000 volts.
Mr.. Garfield never saw the New York
system, but believes thai he has i'm
proved or it. The test was witnessed
by Senator Jones, the author of the
bill; Adjt. Gen. Axline, Mine Inspector
Hazeltine, the penitentiary
and several invited guests, and all pro.
nounce it a complete success.
The examinations today, like those
OF last week, when a dog was electro
cuted, demonstrated clearly that the
subject can be put to death without
burning the flesh of the prisoner
Another thing that will be carefully
avoided is of more importance to the
operator than the condemned man. A
double pole, double throw knife switch
connected with the back lights, a row
of incandescents, will show before the
current is turned on that the wires to
the chair are still right and the chair
properly insulated.
II by any mistake the operator should
become electrically grounded he
would 500 become physically ground
ed as well, for the current used has suf-
fcient intensity to jump the distance
from the chair to the operator. Should
this happen and the operator be killed
himself it might be poetic justice, but
no chances are to be taken of this hap
pening, and the test of the back lights
will show that there is no ground con-
nection. A further precaution will be
wooden flooring, which is to be built
over the cement floor OF the annex.
By law the warden is the execution
er, though he can deputize somebody
else to this disagreeable duty. POSI-
bly, Mr.. A. E. Grun, the of1cial cleo
trician at the pen5tentiary, may ofici-
ate at the first electrocution.a
The average resistance OF a human
body is about two ohms, and when q
current Of 1850 volts is passing
uhrough a SUBJECT he WIFI consume be-
tween nine and IA amperes Of current
primary. The subject will be strapped
firmly to the chair, the straps being
strong enough to overcome the invol-
untary muscle expansion following
death. The cap and legette are copper
placards strapped to the head and leg
and to them nv connected the lead
wires OF the primary voltage. On the
inside of the cap and legette- will be
placed a sponge saturated with costfI
soda or sal-ammoniac, giving a good
contact to the flesh and overcomina
the greasy substance, also avoiding
burning and arching at the terminal
points. The engine is so horse power,
high speed.