THE EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8361, 15 September 1890, Page 3

THE EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

DREADFUL DETAILS. Particulars of the execution of the convict Keinmler by electricity, on August 6, shows that the scene was a very shocking one— I At four o'clock a.m. the condemned man was sleeping quietly, and was awakened by a warder. Kemmler was perfectly selfpossessed, and responded immediately to the call. He dressed himself with unusual care, and then ate a light breakfast. Looking out of the grated window, he saw the immense crowd jammed against the railings of the Gaol; hut he made no comment, and, indeed, appeared to have lost all sense of fear. Then Chaplain Yates and Dr. Houghton approached the cell door. Keinmler greeted them, and said, " I realise you have come to say good-bye. I am prepared, and I think I am going to a good place." "I hope so," replied Chaplain Yates. The Holy Communion was then administered, after which the warder entered the cell and read the death warrant to the condemned man, who then asked for a glass of brandy, which was given him. It was now exactly six 0 clock, and everything was ready for the execution ; but owing to the causes already mentioned the official witnesses had not arrived. They were all in the gaol, however, by '20 minutes past six, and were received by the warder, who brought them down to the execution room. As soon as they had entered Keminlcr was brought in. Looking about him without any signs of outward fear lie bowed to the warder amid a deathlike silence. " Sit down, William," said the warder, pointing to a chair, which had been placed alongside the fatal seat. Keinmler obeyed, and then the warder continued : " I have read you the death warrant, William, and have conformed with the law. Is there anything you wish to say before the sentence is executed V" Kemmler replied, " Yes ; I wish you all good luck in this world and the next. I think I am going to a good place. The newspapers have not treated me right. The only thing 1 have to say is, I wish you all very good luck." The silence m _ the death chamber was intense during the delivery of these brief sentences, and those present appeared hardly to breathe. The warder then said, " Stand up," and Keinmler did so readily. lie was perfectly cool, and was, in fact, the most completely self-possessed person in the room. Being told what to do, lie deliberately removed his coat and waistcoat, and placed them on the chair in which he hail been sitting. He was then told to sit down in the fatal chair, which lie did quietly ami calmly, placing his arms in the position required, and looking steadily at the warder, Iho DeputySheriff of Erie county then stepped forward to adjust the straps, He buckled one about the legs, and another about the right arm, (jod. fastened the head to the head-rest. \\ hue the sheriff was tying a long handkerchief over his eyes, Keniiuler remarked to him » \ nu have forgotten to strap my other arm. ' The sheriff rectified his mistake, trembling violently meanwhile, and then stepped ' J i l i C »' , '"Good-bye, and good luck to you all, Kemmler said, in a strong, firm voice. At this moment District-attorney ljuimby, of Buffalo, fainted in the arms of the persons sitting next to him, but quickly recovered. 1 he warder then gave the signal, and the man at the switchboard in the adjoining room switched the levers. A sudden twitch passed over the body, the limbs of which seemed to shrink an inch or more. The contortions of the body which followed are declared by the physicians to have been only natural, but they were terrible to behold. 1 he body and mouth worked convulsively, and it seemed as if the writhing form of the unfortunate man would tear itself away from the straps. Even the physicians turned their heads away. Then came a deep-drawn sigh from the body, which lay stiff. Dr. Spitzka stepped forward, and after a brief examination pronounced life to be extinct. I liree minutes had elapsed from the time of the turning on of the current, and the current was now stopped, the electrodes being taken from the head. Suddenly, however, an apparent breath came from the seemingly lifeless form in the chair. Lhe chest heaved_ convulsively, and the same frightful contortions were witnessed as before. George Bain, a correspondent, was overcome by the spectacle, and fell to the floor in a dead faint, and everyone present was dumb with horror. The sight was indeed appalling, Keinmler frothing at the mouth and seeming to be trying to chew his lips. Hurriedly the rubber cap was placed back in position on the head, and the signal was given for another and heavier shock. The lever was turned, the warder being obliged to leave the room in order that this should be done. As the current entered the body a sickening smell of burning flesh and hair was perceived. This last current was kept up for precisely 17 seconds. The physicians once more oronounced Kcmmler dead, but declared, as already stated, that tjio breathing and contortions were onlva natural muscular reaction, and that the first shock killed Keinmler, who had really died peacefully and without pain. Dr. George Schrady stood by Kcmmler during the proceedings, and thus describes the scene: So far as Kemmler was concerned, the scene was most harrowing. I mean by that that his conduct was so admirable, and lie bore himself with such gentle dignity that it went to the heart of all present. \\ hen he came in lie stepped first inside the doorway, and made a slight bow, at once respectful and dignified, to those present. \\ hen the cap containing the wet sponge was applied to his head he said, . ' on mid better put that head-piece on more firmly. 1 don t think it tight enough for me. I his was said in a quiet and even tone, with no trace of nervousness. "I think you can stand another inch of pressure. It won't hurt you, will it? ' 1 asked. " No," replied Keinmler. "I wish you all good luck!" f ",°d bless you, Keinmler," I replied. 1 hank you, answered Keuiinler. This was said in a commonplace way, and was a most marvellous exhibition of fortitude, entirely free from bravado. I then added, I think it due to you that I say you are a man, and I say again, God bless you ! All the witnesses present joined in a low voice, saying " Yes Kemmler, God bless you! ' He, at this, showed first the only sign of emotion by a slight twitching of the mouth. Tne electric current was then applied, and the body stiffened under the shock. I think that consciousness was immediately lost. After the current had been applied a number of seconds I myself said the man was dead. Then Dr. Fell acted rather precipitately and began to loosen the headpiece, upon which came convulsive movements of the chest, and there was a general demand that the current should be applied again. This was done, and the instant contact was made there was capillary congestion of the face and hands, which is regarded as a post-mortem appearance, just as though you applied a current to a dead body. The longer the current was kept on after the period we call the death period, this line of congestion gradually sank, until it was shown that blood was no longer being propelled to the vessels, but had settled down to deliendent parts of the body, as in dead subjects. As to the practicability and advisability of using this mode of execution the doctor further said : 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 this will be the first and the last electrical execution. The electrical current fluctuated from 800 to 1300 volts. This was practically due to the steam' power' failing. An Auburn correspondent says :—Medical experts who beheld the execution denounce the new departure in emphatic terms. They all looked, on coining out of the prison,'as if they had been through some terrible strain.. I'owler said, iu 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. Cmrles 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 Kemmler, but it was equally evident that he experienced no suffering. On the other hand, Mr. C. E. Huntley, electrical expert, who attended the execution as representing the State, gave a harrowing description of the scene : " It is impossible," he said, " for anyone 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." Dissension has arisen amongst the doctors, who hold Dr. Spitzka responsible for the failure. They point out that it was he who said 1300 volts were sufficient, and who first pronounced life to be extinct. Kemmler's hair was not cut before the cap and sponge were applied. It is the opinion of the doctors that it should have been, in which case they believe the first shock would have proved fatal. POST MORTEM EXAMINATION. The autopsy was conducted in the execution chamber by Deputy-coroner W. Jenkins, of New York, and Dr. Daniels, of Buffalo. Nearly all those who witnessed the execution were present, Dr. Schrady taking notes of the proceedings. The autopsy lasted three hours, being conducted with scrupulous care and with perfect order, as there existed a possibility that it might serve as a basis for future legal proceedings. Dr. Daniels examined the head, brain, and spinal column, Dr. Jenkins the chest and abdomen. On top of the head was found a well-defined circle

where the skin had been scorched. The stiffening of the body began within an hour of death. In the small of the back, where the second electrode was applied, the physicians found a circular-shaped spot four inches in circumference. Owing to the intense heat the fluid in the sponge had evaporated. The body was very much burned. The heart and the abdominal organs were normal in appearance. Over the brain and beneath the spot where the electrode was applied the blood looked like charcoal, all fluids having evaporated. The examination of the spinal cord was negative in its result, no trace of the current being visible, while the muscular tissues were of natural appearance.