The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-03-25
death CHAIR
FOR GALLONS
No Hanging in Kentucky
After June 18th.
Louisville Jailer Describes New
Method Of Execution to
Be Used.

In accordance with the provisions
of a new law enacted by the General
Assembly and signed by the Cover
nor, the death penalty will be in
Iflicted in the future by means of cleo
tricity. The law becomes effective
June -. This means that no more
scaffods will be erected in the city
of Louisville or elsewhere in the
State from which to hang convicted
men. The electric chair probably Will
be Installed in the Frankfort peni-
tentiary.
Back of the new law is AN in
terestirg story. 1t was framed by
John X. Pflanz, with the assistance
Of Judge Carroll of Eminence, several
years ago. 1t was up for consideration
at three different sessions of the Leg
islature before it was looked upon
with favor
The second time the bill was up
was when Senator McNutt Introduced
it. This was two yeras ago. The close
contest for United States Senator
at that time diverted attention from
the BILL arl it died At the 1910 ses-
sion OF the General Assembly the bill
went through both houses with
practically no opposition.
1t WIS Herman ID. Newcomb who
III roduc-d the bill at The last Ces-
sion. He made many alterations and
Improvements in the original meas
ure. He got in touch with officials in
New York State and the State of
Olho, where the electric chair is used
and collected data as 10 the prob
able cost of installing thu equipment.
ard the amount-thar will have 10 be
expended each time a murderer pays
the extreme penalty.
Mr.. Pflanz sud that Il will c..S
about $1,000 to purchase all of the
equipment, including the chair, and
few hundred dollars to put the ap-
planes in place. Should the New
York mode of execution be adopted,
it will cost much more than the
amount mentioned.
The law does not state positively
that each execution af er June
fifteenth shall be the Frankfort peni-
Tertiary. A clause Incorporated in the
bill plainly says that The electric
chair shall be paced in "a peniten-
tiary" somewhere in the State, the
place TO be decided by Ehe Pisjn Com
mission. Therefore, it is yet 20 be
decided whether the death penalty
shall be paid at Frankfort or
Eddyville.
At CharlestOwp. Mass, just across
the river from Boston, the con-
demned man dons suit of black the
day on which the death watch is
placed upon him. This habit is cut
AFTER the fashion Of a sailor SUI. and
is wsrn by the convicted penson rwo
or three days before the penalty is
paid.
The prisoner is neverr told by the
warden of the prison just when the
eX cution will take place. He is takeni
by surprise at midnight when his cell
Is opened by deputies and these three
words fall upon his ear:
we are ready"
Between two men, with a priest
bringing up the rear the march 10 n
chlir begins. Down the long corridor,
their heels striking hard upon the
cemenG floors, the LILLE party Of men
wend their way. Suddenly they pas.
through a door ard all siard IL a
small room with The electric chair
in front of them.
Against the wall are six chairs.
These are for the six witnesses. The
prisoner steps forward, is given an
opportunity to speak his last words,
and next is seated in the chair. His
hands are strapped to tine arms, mis-
ankles to the legs of the chair and
a small steel cap, in which is a wet
sponge, is fitted over the top Of his
head His trousers are slit at the
knees so that two little wires can
come In contact with the skin.
A signal is given. The executioner,
behind screen, pulls lever, and the
body plunges forward. straining hard
at the straps AS long as the current
IL On the cnu vicfad man DO alavaf al