EXECUTIONS BY ELECTRICITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXECUTIONS BY ELECTRICITY.

MR. EDISON'S VIEWS.

A reporter of the New York World has been interviewing Mr. Edison on the subject of executing criminals by electricity.

" How quick will electricity kill a man? Mr. Edison was asked.

"In an incalculable space of time, replied the wizard. "An electric light current will kill a regiment in the tenthousandth part of a second. '' "Of the various plans that have come out since the new law abolishing hanging was made, which do you look upon as the best ?" Mr, Edison's reply was to pick up a piece of paper and quickly trace upon it two hands manacled, with a chain attached to each manacle. "The condemned could be handcuffed in his cell," said Mr. Edison, "and walked out followed by the Sheriff and those persons that the law says shall witness the execution. Attach each of thesi? chains to the respective poles of the battery. When the time comes touch a button, close the circuit, and," snapping his ringer, "it. is over. The current, which should come from an alternating machine, a machine that gives a series of rapid shocks, passes up one arm, through the heart and lungs, as well as the base of the brain and out through the other arm about a thousand times a minute. Death is instantaneous. The culprit will never know what has happened. Nothing could be surer than that way. The only disfigurement would be a white blister which would be burned in the wrists. One thousand volts would be enough, but two thousand volts would be sure beyond any question." THE ECONOMIC VIEW. Dr. Bleyer's suggestion to the MedicoLegal Society that- the current used for purposes of execution be obtained from the uncertain-electric light wires was improved upon by Electrician Kenally, who assuming the adoption of the handcuffing system, " favoured the creation" of the current, right where r.he execution was to take place. "An alternating engine, capable of exerting an energy of 2000 volts, is probably worth loOdols," said he. "In nearly all large prisons there is an engine used for some purpose or other. Less than two horse-power would be required to run the dynamo. An electrician who understood his business thoroughly could, when the occasions arose for using the machine, visit the prison and make the connections. Wires would be run from the dynamo to a block of wood fastened in the wall and continued from the block for any desired distance. When the Sheriff was ready all he would have to do would be to attach the wires to the chains running to the handcuffs. No matter what position the prisoner took, nor how much he twisted and turned, whether he stood or sat down, he could not escape the shock. In prisons where there was no steam engine, a small gas engine would answer every purpose to drive the dynamo. " The manacles appear to be the most practicable. If a man about to be executed by any other method should take it into his head to resist—which the mystery of his surroundings might induce—he could prolong a very agonising scene. Unless bound down tightly in the ' electrical chair,'he could prevent the completion of the circuit. To stand him on a plate and form the circuit by a band about the head or throat, might be feasible if he stood still. Unless secured by some sort of harness he could step off the plate and refuse to return. It would hardly be safe to take hold of him. The manacles are the surest, and, with a dynamo of sufficient power, appear to be the safest and most humane method of applying electricity as a means of capital punishment,."