The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-08-18
Nevada Law Provides Peculiar
Form of Execution for Men
Convicted of Murder.
CHAMBER IN new PRISON
State Architect Ordered to Plan Cham
Der Where Witnesses In Safety
May See Man Die-Some Say
Method Is Cruel and
Barbarous.

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 a law passed at 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 a number of years past,
Under certain restrictions the con
demncd 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 d.
Boyle, accepted shooting The con
demned man was seated in a 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 at the living target
All the ritlemen 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 buIeted shells. No member OF
the firing squad knew what his rife
contained
Death Was instantaneous.
After the single crash of the yOlley
that snuffed out the forfeited life II
was found the figure "8" traced on
his breast had been perfectly per
forated by the bullets, which were
found to have plugged the back Of
the chair on which he sat The chalt
Of the states shooting gallery" Is
one of the gruesome objects Of curl
osity which you can see in the old
prison yard. The figure "8' 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 tha
shooting is the quickest, least painful
and most humane method Of execution
The new law has precipitated mucl
discussion There are many Lawyers
In Nevada who hold that q crimina
may not be legally executed by letha
gas. They say it is unconSttutiona
because II violates the constitutional
prohibition against cruel, barbarou
and unusual punishment. There i
sufficient weight to this contention il
the minds of the members Of th'
prison board so that they have care
fully preserved the gallows for Sucl
use as may be necessary.
Gov Emmett y. Boyle. head Of th'
state. who signed the bill making tn,
lctha gaS execution legal holds tina
1t Is perfectly feasible and constitu
tioual.
"There are number Of letha
gases that may be employed" he toI'
nae. ANY wiz produce PRACTICAL,
instant denth ! satisfied myself thof
oughly concerning this phase Of tn
proposition before signed the bill
am convinced that this method o
execution can be simply administered
and viii be effective,
Use Mechanical Methods.
1.-THE gas will be administered b.
/ some person designated by the war
den Ii win he administered by me
chonIcnl methods. The execution D.
this method will not be painful.
u do not think, however i Is re
lated In any respect to me hoolitio
OF the death penalty
mo actual steps have yer nee
taken 10 provide the facilities Tor "