The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-09-09
Nevada Law Provides Peculiar
Form Of Execution for Men
Convicted Of Murder.
CHAMBER IN new PRISON
stats Architect ordsrsd to Plan Cham
Der Where Witnesses In Safety
May See Man Die-soms Say
Method 10 Cruel and
0arbarous.

Carson City, Nev.-In this capital
city Of Nevada they are building a
new state penitentiary which will con-
tain a lethal gas chamber for the exc
cution Of condemned criminals.
Under n law passed MT the recent
session Of the state legislature all per-
sons condemned to death In this state
must be killed by the administration
Of lethal gas.
The laws affecting the death pen
atty have been out Of the ordinary In
this state for number Of years past
Under certain restrictions the con-
demned criminal has been able to
choose his own method Of execution.
The last man to die at the hands of
the state was one Mircovich. who. In
the language of Gov Emmett ID.
Boyle, accepted shooting" The con-
demned man was seated In u chair
In the prison yard with his back to
a wall. A diagram was fixed upon
his clothing. A company of men were
engaged to shoot ut the living target.
All the ritiemen were expert marks
men. As they entered the prison
yard they were handed loaded weap-
ons. Some of the guns contained
blanks and others were loaded with
steel bulleted shells. No member Of
the firing squad knew what his rifle
contained.
Death Was instantaneous.
After the single crash of the volley
that snuffed out the forfeited life 1t
was found the figure IS" traced on
his breast had been perfectly per-
forated by the bullets, which were
found 70 have plugged the back Of
the chair on which he sat. The chair
Of the states shooting gallery" Is
| one Of the gruesome objects Of curl
| oslty which you can see In the old
prison yard The figure IS" is very
accurately outlined In the wood where
the bullets lodged after they sped
through the human body.
Those who witnessed the execution
say that death was practically instan-
taneous, The physicians believe that
shooting Is the quickest. least painful
| and most humane method of execution
| The new law has precipitated much
discussion. There are many lawyers
| In Nevada who hold that n criminal
may not be legally executed by lethal
| gas. They say II Is unconstitutional
because Il violates the constitutional
prohibition against cruel. harbarous
and unusual punishment. There Ii
sufficient weight Ia this contention In
the minds OF the members of the
prison board 80 that they have care
fully preserved the gallows for such
use rs may be necessary.
Gov. Emmett D. Boyle. head OF the
state. Who signed the blu making ME
lethal gas execution legal. holds tina,
II Is perfectly feasible aud constitu
tional.
There are n number of letha
gases that may be employed" he told
ME. ANY win produce practically
instant death. satisfied myself thor
oaghly concerning this phase Of IN,
proposition before signed the blu
I am convinced that this method OF
execution can be simply administered
and Viii be- effective
Use Mechanical Methods.
The gas will be administered b,
some person designated by the war
den. II will he administered by me
chanicai methods, The execution b,
this method will not be painful.
Il do not think. however. Il Is re
lated In any respect TO the aholitio,
OF the death penalty
NO actual steps have yet beef
taken 10 provide the facilities for IN,