The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-03-17
Edison Regrets Electro Chair Was Ever
Invented.

tue greatest living genius, was asked
IT he had invented the apparatus
used in the two states where mur-
d dsrers are electrocuted-New York
and Ohio. The question was put TO
him while be was in a state OF great
mental perturbation, but his face
softened and his voice quickly lost
its flinty substance when he replied
to the question on slectrocution.
81 did not invent such an instru-
ment," he said, land | am sorry
that electricity has been put to such
bad use. When the apparatus
was being installed at Sing Sing |
went Up to look at il. The law pro-
viding for such means Of death has
passed-passed to the horror of all
men with keen sensibilities, the love
of humanity and the fear of God in
their hearts. may have contri-
buted something TOW Ards simplify
ing the method Of putting men to
death, but if | did so | was moved
by spirit that meant less suffering
for those condemned" I"
"Is electrocution the most pain
less way Of putting one to death ~
"Assuredly it is. There is a sem
sation OF a moment only-as quick
as the bat Of an eye. But in that
second there is pain understandable
The fash comes and the shock il
is ten times more excruciating than
the feeling that results from one's
placing his hands on live Goals. III
is a burning, devlish, narrowing
feeling, Imagin the quick thrust
ing Of ten thousand hot needle points
into the body at one time, and you
may have faint idea Of the shock
when the current is turned on.
His blue eyes fell on the crackl-
ing logs that lay burning in the big
fire place before him. FoT a minute
he sat wrapp, d in gloomy medita
ton. Around him were miniature
models of his greatest discoveries
the telephone, the grapbophone, the
electric light, the phonograph, the
the storage battery-dozens OF mech.
snical contrivances that have given
the world incalculable benefits. His
big yard dog that had been lying
befoIe the fire got up, yawned,
stretched himself and then walked
over and put his nose between bis
masters knees. The greatest cleo.
trical inventor the world has ever
known thus was awakened from his
reverie. He continued:
: am sorry the gsllows was ever
thought Of; the guillotine is bar
barous instrument. The system OF
garroting belongs to the Dark Ages.
a ID whatever may be said in behalf
, the present way New York has OF
treating its murderers, it is no less
ghsstly and inexcusable than are
the instruments OF death used in the
semi civilized nations.
I'VE call ours country OF advan-
ced thought. Our men think and
feel and our women pray. But we
have not yet emerged from the
shadows that made the Middle Ages
a text for historians. But it were
time that we threw of some of our
barbarity. This country is bigI
enough and rich enough and hu-
name enough to lock up those who
kill and make them work. II it is
the desire OF the law TO punish,
" bat mode could there be that
would carry more anguish, greater
torture than to enter criminals in a
big house, they knowing that from
that moment they never again would
see wild flowers, hear the songs OF
children, catch the clasp Of a friendly
hand, listen TO words OF cheer, see
he glories of the earth, feel the FIRE
dom OF tie air? Could me imagine
4 condition worse2 Because acraZy
nan or woman, VI der the influence
If whiskey, or moved by some dew
ish passion, Stays bis fellow, is
here any Reason or excuse why the
State should murder him2 That .
I'D Mosaic law-an eye fIr an eye
ind tooth for a tooth-may have !
,een all right in tho e days, but it
loes not fit modern times.
"But let's quit talking about such t
,rewsome subjects. Did | ever tell Z
iou Of the time | was working in q !
news paper Office and received a
message conveying the Information
hat Lincoln was de1d2"
He bad not, and | said So
"Well, it was alter h ard day =
r
"Mr. Edison, did you know you
!. . 4 A. 90, 49,, - AZ -, ika ,nnrn,nupffl