The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-01
THE WORCESTER SPY. SUNDAY. JANUARY I. 1sea

and the dynamo that will generate the
death-deal ng curI ent. The second floor
Will be given up 20 the electric chair
and the network of wires, cu;-outs and
necessary switches.
The chair adopted by Warden Bridg-
es is almost the exact counterpart of
the chairs which are in use in New
York state prisons.
1t is a harmless looking object, and
might be taken for an old-fashioned
arm chair, that may be found in nearly
every New England farmhouse. The
electrical appliances are moi at all times
visible They are adjustable, and when
not ready for a convicted murderer, will
be packed away in a convenient closet.
The appliances consist of covered
wires which run to the top and bot
tom of the chair. On the end of each
wire is attached a wet sponge.
The positive electrOde Will be tightly
clasped to the head of the condemned
man and the metal plate and the wet
sponge will rest against the back of the
neck at the base of the brain.
The negative electrode is tightly
strapped about the limbs, the left
member is generally used as the nerves
are considered to be more exposed and
more sensitive.
When the person in the chair is
strapped tightly, the black hood drawn
and his attendants are sure that every
thing is in perfect readiness the war
den gives the signal to the electrician,
who in turn signals the engineer and
the deadly, awful current is sent
through the positive electrode to the
metal plate and the wet sponge which
| is an excellent conductor, communi-
| Gates the current to the body and it
passes through all the nerves and
sinews to the negative electrode on the
| left limb, thence back to the dynamo
All sorts of currents have been tried
| in New York state and it is now gem
orally believed that a direct current,
so-called, Is preferable to the alterna-
| ting current.
The amount of voltage will depend
to considerable extent upon the cir
'umstances. But it is thought that to
| be upon the safe side it will be neces-
| sary to pass at least $500 volts through
| the victims body. The ampherage will
| depend upon the voltage and existing
| circumstances.
| The warden will really be the exc
| cutioner. He will give the signal. But
| the electrician will turn the switch that
will send the condemned mans soul
| before its Maker.
| The electrical apparatus at the
Charlestown Jail is not yet in perfect
| condition. There are no condemned
prisoners in the counties of the state
and Warden Bridges has not hurried
matters, but if man should be SEN
| fenced the warden says that he could
| get ready in at least two weeks time.
The chair and the appliances will not
| be placed in position for at least three
| weeks, unless a call comes from the
| courts.
The law allowed the warden $500 to
| build the building and furnish the ap-
pliances, but he has expended only
$4,000 Of that amount and will return
$4,000 to the state. The chair and it's
| fixtures cost nearly 5000 1t was made
by a New York city firm on plans
drawn by a New York state expert.
| who has the job at Charlestown prison
in charge. The state appointed no
electrician and the warden may use his
| own discretion, but the apparatus will
be thoroughly tested by the New York
| expert and others, and il is probable
that some strong dog whose canine use
| fulness is DER, will be the first victim
| ana his death struggles will be watched
with interest by those who have the
matter in charge.
The same system that is used to
| light the streets Of Boston will un-
| doubleday be adopted at the prison and
the dynamo in the prison will furnish
light in different parts of the institu-
uon, winch Will do away with the gas
which is now used.
The chair, dynamo and annIiances
| are said by the experts to be far super-
| lor to those now in use in New York
prisons, The latest devices have been
| purchased, and the people may rest as
sured that their criminals will be most
| humanely dealt with, and unlike hang
! lhgs, there viii never be "botch" lob.
| me electrocution will be conducted
| a G i1,lo IT
| VIII not know just when they are to
| occur. There will be no grand march
| from the condemned mans cell to the
| execution house. The cell he will oc-
| cupy during the time he is under the
| eye OF the death watch will be located
IN the execution" chamber
Inc warden and the electrician will
not wear full dress suit, a buff vest.
a tall silk hat, with a black cockade on
its side. There will not be any osten-
taclous display; no theatricals of any
sort The poor wretch will take his seat
| in the chair, and when he is tightly
| strapped, the warden will push q but
ton and in a few seconds the body of
| the prisoner will be cold and lifeless.
There Will not be any rattle of the
| gallows rope. No sickening noise, no
| mufiled figure to be plunged into space
and then make every one shudder as it
| bangles at the end of the rope, and per
haps is living human being for many
minutes
Death by electricity is said by all
surgeons and doctors to be ~ainless and
| instantaneous.
| There is no question but what the new
| death chair will prove to be a success,
| say experts, and even those who do not
| believe in capital punishment will ac-
knowledge that electrocution is far SUI
perior to the gallows and a piece of
manila rome