Weekly News. — 1890-08-14 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.  The convict Kemmler, sentenced to death for the murder of his paramour, a Mrs. Ziegler. in March, 1889, was on Wednesday executed by electricity at Auburn Prison, New York. The execution, which took place at seven ,'clock in the morning, was a trying spectacle, as, owing either to imperfect registration of the strength of the currents or faulty contact of the electrodes, the convict's death was not instantaneous. There were present in the chamber where the execution was carried out twenty-six persons, including several physicians, scientists, and officials. The unhappy man showed great nerve, placing and adjusting himself in the execution chair with perfect calmness. The lethal shock continued for eighteen seconds. Two minutes after the current was suspended there were evidences of respiration. As soon as possible the current was renewed and then cut off, but again respiration was evident, and a minute or two afterwards saliva issued from the mouth, the chest heaved, and a wheezing sound came from the throat. The shock was than applied for the third time, and Kemmler was pronounced to be dead. The physicians say that he was unconscious from the moment of the first shock. Smoke appeared at the back of the body, where the flesh was burnt by the intensity of the current. The voltage at the first shock was 1,800. Later particulars respecting the execution of Ketnmler state that the culprit was declared to be dead in thirteen minutes from the first contact. Unconsciousness is said to have set in immediately, and the death was apparently painless. Medical experts who beheld the execution denounce the new departure in emphatic terms. They all looked, on coming out of the prison, as if they had been through some terrible strain. Dr. Fowler said, in horror-stricken tones, " There will never be another electrical execution. It was the most brutal butchery ever seen." Dr. George Schrady said : I have seen many persons hanged, but never anything so revolting as this scene. The man was not killed by the first shock, although I think he felt no pain after that." Dr. Cherles MacDonald, chairman of the United States Lunacy Commission, concurred in the belief of Dr. Schrady. It was quite true, he said, that the first current did not kill Kenamler, but it was equally evident that he ejierienced no suffering. On the other hand, Mr. C. H. Huntley, electrical expert, who attended the execution as representing the State, gave a harrowing description of the scene. "It is impossible," he said, "for any one to describe in words the apparent horrible sufferings of the poor wretch in the interval between the application of the first and second current. Nothing on earth will ever induce me to assist at another such barbaric affair." Dr. Schrady further adds : I regard this as a far more dignified execution of the law than any method of hanging, but the whole affair consumes so much time and involves such expense and danger of failure that I believe it will never be adopted in any other States, and that this will be thee first and the last electrical execution. The electrical current fluctuated from 800 to 1,300 volts. This was practically duo to he Awn power failing.