EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6069, 27 October 1887, Page 1

EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

An electrician of New York — •_ at present a visitor in the French capital —recommends to the attention of sensitive Frenchmen three systems for putting condemned criminals to death, which are, he says, being studied in his own country, and one of which, he believes, will shortly be selected for carrying out the death sentence. The first consists of a copper bandage placed round the criminal's head in such a manner that a magnetic pole presses closely on the nape of the neck. The "patient" stands on a large zinc platform, his hands beingr tied behind his back. A second pole is attache^ to this species of platform, and at the right moment the signal is given, the discharge takes place, death being instantaneous. M. Jablochkoff has invented a more "comfortable" plan, his notion being to place the condemned man in an easy chair, with hi 3 hands on the arms of fhefauieuilj and his feet touching the zinc platform. A stop is pressed, the electric current ''seizes the* man by the two elbows and by his feet/ and in half a second all is over. A third system has been devised by another electrician which differs in no material wp.7 from the first-mentioned ; and certain American legislators are, it appears, carefully examining the three with tlie object of deciding in favour of that which will ensure the quickest and most painless death.