The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-15
DOES ElEGTROCUTION KILL d?
SCIENTISTS SAY 1T ONLY sTUNs
VICTIMS.
Post-Elcctrocution Operation Rcspon-
s'bie for the Death of Those Who
Go to Electric Chair.
Anderson Intelligence.

N"N'VN ~ Nh Atldnta medlcal SchOol
where his body was sent after the
electrocution in Columbia? In the
opinion OF noted scientific man,
temporarily residing here. electrocu-
uon does not kill but only renders
the victim unconscious and that the
real death comes after the body goes
upon the operating table.
Walking In the neighborhood of the
hospital at the college today this
scientist. in conversation with a repre-
sentative OF The Intelligencer, asked
the question and then proceeded to
answer Il:
Does electrocutlon really kill? or
does II only render unconscious-the
patient dying, I'm point of fact, upon
the operating table during the autop-
sy?"
There are able physicians who
contend that such is the case" con-
tnued the scientist. Again others
say that IL Is not. Inasmuch as a
human life is in the balance, this Is a
point worth considering-a question
OF some importance from the ethical
no less than the scientific point of
view.
America is the only country in the
world I'm which electrocution Is the
form of capital punishment employ
ed. There are many who do not be-
lieye In capital punishment at all:
but that is not the place to argue
that point Assuming that death has
TO be meted out TO the prisoner,
what Is the safest. the speediest and
the most humane way Of doing so?
Is IL electrocution?
The preliminaries must be trying
TO the strongest nerves! Bllndfolded,
strapped into a chair, having the
adjustments made to the head, feet,
etc.-there Is nothing heroic or stir
ring I'm this. nothing that suggests
anything beyond the dog whipped to
its kennel. and breathing Its last
alone. uncared for. destitute. 1t is
miserable climax to a life which
might have been full OF promise and
hope.
The chair itself is forbidding
looking thing, at best, and suggests
the torture chair OF the Spanish In
quisition. I once saw a chair Of this
latter description, in which the un-
fortunate prisoners were strapped
and tortured; and II assuredly look
ed no more ominous than the chair
OF electrocution. Then the death
cell. Gagged in, as though some wild
beast were within, presents a curious
paradox. In our modern civilization
and culture. In front OF each OF
these death cells (there are quite a
row OF them in Sing Sing) while
blinds are drawn. so that when
prisoner is led between the line OF
cells, their inmates cannot see who
II Is thus led to his fate.
''The prisoner once in the death
chamber the processes OF strapping
commences. and in a few moments
the prisoner Is secure beyond all ef-
forts To release himself. He is
blindfolded. and the service for the
dead Is read aloud. \ physician
stands In attendance, the electrician
Is az the switch waiting for the sig
nal TO throw II In and let forth the
death-dealing current. The signal is
given; the lever Is thrown home and
tEis Is what follows, in the words Of
an eyewitness:
There Is not much To see Those
Who would witness killing by cleo
tricity from morbid curiosity surely
would be disappointed \ deep
whlrring sound shoots into the air,
and for moment reminds you Of
the huInming OF n giant top. The
face OF the victim Is hidden nearly
completely by the headgear attached
TO the chair so that the muscular
,srithing Is kept from the view 10
mrge extent. only the mouth can
be seen clearly. and the distortion Is
enough To make you feel glad the
whole face Is not exposed As the
currents shoots into the body, the per
turc straightens out with bound, and
son stralghtcns out with a bound. and
straps are about 90 burst. The
strain upon them Is intense. The
fearful voltage shot with lightning
rapidly into the body. and circulat-
ing through every vein. makes the
body Quivcr and vlbratc 50 quickly
that the movement Is scarcely visible
The current Is then lowered and the
tension is taken OF the body: but
again the current is turned on and