Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 19, Number 22, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 November 1888 — Page 8

THE_MAIL.

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

Electrical Executions.

HOW THEY WILL BE WORKED-

S«w Virtoot KaHmi O* Tbclr CHmliuU 1o D«atk—New Tarfc $Ut« the First Community to Adopt the New eat Thing to Capital PunlAhmetrt.

After Jan. 1, 1880, murderer* in New York state will depart this life oo a streak of light* ning. Any man wbo has been sentenced to death will gooff so quick that be wont know anything about it. The subject of patting murderers to death by electricity has been agitated in the Empire state for more than a year.

After mature deliberation it was concluded that banging would have to go. Hanging lias been the fashionable mode of punish men for centuries, but a commission appointed by Governor Hill concluded that it was too harrowing. They made a number of experiments, and finally decided upon electricity. A bill was passed by the legislature, but no provision was made as to the way the fluid was to be applied. Finally the Medico-legal society took the matter up, appointed a commission, and the result was that a particular form of applying the electricity was suggested. This way of killing off the refuse population will probably be used in New York state hereafter. Three ways of applying the fatal electricity were proposed, but none of them answered the purpose. One was piling the electricity from wrist to wrist through the body, another was passing the current from the head to one of the wrists, the third was to pass the current completely through the prison er's body from head to foot.

a C0RR.NT Tine braix

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The objections to

thm) met hods were

that the prisoner might have convulsions. It was desired, of course, to take the utmost care of the prisoner. He was to die as pleasantly as possible. Then the attendant under this method might make a mistake and be struck himself.

The commission Anally concluded that the best way would be to have the current pass through tho head from the top to tho back of the nock. One olectrode is fitted to the top of the prisoner's head, another placed in contact with the small of bis bock. The top electrode oounects with the positive pole, the bottom with the negativo pole. A leathern rest holds the prisoner's head and bands keep him from moving. The current, in going from one electrode to another, does not keep in a straight line, but spreads out and goes through the entire brain. It resembles somewhat a bundle of faggots tied at the two sods and swelling out in the middle. The seat ct consciousness being in the brain, and the headquarters for all the nerves being located ffcore, it is of ooum as plain as day that, when an electro-motive force of 3,000 volts is applied, the prisoner is bound to die. The great beauty of this system is that the prisoners don't know it either.

Here we have a villain who is too bod to stay around and commit murder any mora. Step up, ladies and gentlemen, and gam on the way itis done. Here we have a stout table covered with rubber cloth and having holm around its borders for binding. Prisoner, oome up hero and lio on the table. Attendant, bind the prisoner to the table. Here is an •lectrodo (the negative one) which comes up through the table and touches the small of the prisoner's back. Here we have a helmet, to which the other electrode is joined, and the helmet Is put on the prisoner's head. The electrode now touches the top of the prisoner's head, which has been moistened by warm water. Prisoner, are you ready! Then, let 'er go, Gallagher, and the thing is done. The man is as dead as a

door nail. Another modification of this* method is to let the prisoner sit in a chair. Some prisoners will undoubtedly prefer to sit in a chair, while vthers who were born tired will prefer to lie at full length. Everything

TBI UKATO APPARATUS.

will tie done in regard to the comfort, of the prisoners, and their taste will be consulted in every (wrticular.

This, in brief, is the way the prisoners will "kick the bucket" after the 1st of January. When Klbridge T. Gerry, Mathew Hals and Alfred P. Bouthwick were ap|olnted last winter to investigate the matter they took the trouble to look up the various methods of punishment iu different countries. kaai.y Monies or axsctmosr.

Hanging i* a very old institution. The •artiest form of the gallows was undoubtedly a stout tree and a convenient limb, and they seem to have retained their popularity ever since the hanging of Ai by Joshua, as recorded in the Bible.

Hanging was used and known by the English in the Thirteenth century. They probably got it from the French. It is recorded by a French historian in 1343 that a knight, who had been judicially put to death, was hung on the gibbet after the breath bad left his body. The first um of the primitive gal lows seems to have been to exhibit the body after death. The first gibbet used in Eng. land to expo** criminal* was in the reign of Henry lit. The first to be executed by the drop was Karl Ferrer*, May 3, ITU). After his arms had been secured by a blade sash and a common halter passnl around his neck, he mounted a part of the scaffold eighteen inches above the rest, and the signal being given by the sheriff that part of the floor under him to a level with the rest, and km remained with nothing to stand on.

It :»to be fairly settled that sensation, reflect and mental horror accompany the physical tortures of those who are in the act of etraaguki* Kra~~toe are at of ffcoee who ait s» by 1 atregain ttafr foothold, finding the tortures of mgulatiau gr er than they ted ««WL ii It is rep id of woman, executed is 19®. "that the rapt slipped her cap part "f from hi face, and whtte banging at hatter* I, by mighty effort she pot up onset her hands mt Kitty todraw it ««hr 4ftKv.»d feature*.* I ttXYttOM »OW W EMS.

Berearescmmof ttos dtflKveteMMet assenting crt AMo 4a ft a. cdMtfft* if IksSpaaMi

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Rowing from cannoa, employed ja quelling a rebellion among tho Sepoys la India. Botttag, formerly wed ia Efegtaad is the case at poisotiwa.

Burning- a familiar mode of execution in the time of the early religious persecutions. Burying aiire, employed sruntig bartjarous tribes and even la civilized countriea

Crucifixion, a ray ancient form of execution. Decimation, employed by military tribunals where erety tenth man was cboten by lot to die in eases where a large number of soldiers murtnfcwL

Dichotomy, or bisecting, mentioned in the Bible, where it is written men were sawn asunder. Dismemberment, used in France in the Seventeenth century.

Drowning. In vogue la ancient Syria, Greece, Some and Persia. Exposure to wild beasts, an ancient punishment-

Flaying alive, formerly used in Fngisnd, Hogging with the knoot, used in Russia Uarroting, a punishment originally devised by the Arabs and Moors.

The guillotine, hari-kari. Impalement, poisoning, tianfrtnpr pounding in a mortar, precipitation, pressing to death, the rack, running the gauntlet, shooting, stabbing, stoning, strangling and suffocation.

It will be readily seep by the observant reader that any one of these methods might be improved upon so far as the physical comfort of the victim hi concerned. In countries where these modes of punishment were and in some cases are now practiced, the main object was to give the prisoner as much suffering as possible. He was held up as a terrible example. Now, however, the main object is to get the prisoner out of the way as soon as posrible. Iu order to understand bow quick a man can die under the force of electricity, let us consider first how fast a man can think. Well, it takes just one-tenth of a second for a nerve to communicate with the brain, according to Professor Hemholz. Now Professor Tyndall estimates that an electric discbarge occurs in one hundred thousandth of a second, or ten thousand times more rapidly than nerve transmission. So you see that if it were possible a man would die by the process described ten thousand times before his nerves would have time to communicate with his brain.

Last winter, for the purpose of ascertain ing the effect of the electric light current on the action of the heart, the thorax of chloroformed dog caught in Buffalo was opened, so that the lungs and heart could be seen in action by forcing respiration as in conscious life. At the instant when the current passed through the heart it became a mass of quivering flesh. It was noticed that an attempt to breathe was made after the current was passed through the dog. This indicated that the brain had not lost its susceptibility to impressions, and shows that in executiou the current should be pas through the center. It should not be forotten, however, that the doc was from luffalo. The commission could ave selected no tougher subject than a Buffalo dog. There can be no question, however, that electricity is the thing to do the business.

THE SLAYER OF KINO.

Portrait or Elisabeth Beeehler, Who Refused to Be Discarded. Following is tdo graphic account of the shooting ut Omaha of H. W. King, Jr., given by Miss Elizabeth Beechler, the woman wbo killed him aud with whom ho had lived. She made the statement immediately after she bad committed the murder. The portrait herewith presented is from The Chicago Tribune: "I left Chicago yesterday," she said, "with the best of intentions in my heart. Arriving in Omaha, I inquired where Harry was living, and was told be was boarding at the Paxton. I had been told by a lady on the train whom I happened to meet that Harry was married, but supposed that I was the only wife. I then went to the hotel and registered as Mrs. Elisabeth M. King, and asked for Harry's room. The olerk told me that it was No. 68, and I went upstairs, I think to the third floor. In the meantime had asked for a room adjoining Harry's, bat was told that I could not have it until later in the day. I wanted to be close* to them, or on the same floor at least, so I could watch their movements. I supposed that hi* wife was with him, but when I rapped at his door I did not hear any voices or talking on the inside. I rapped several times beforo there was a response. Finally Harry came to the door in his night clothes, and sticking his bead out asked what was wanted. I said: 'Good morning, Harry you were not expecting to me me, were your He replied: 'No, and I don't care to see you,' and shut the door in my face. "My heart sank for a moment, and 1 did not know what to do. Again I said that I most seo him, and he said: 'Oo down in the parlor and wait until I get dressed.' Ireplied that I would wait there, and I did. In about ttor minutes he came out, and we walked to I ao elevator togother. Getting in the elevator, we descended to the parlor floor, where we had a conversation. At first wo were seated. I asked Harry to take me down to breakfast He said he did not want any breakfast, and for me to go on down to the dining room alone, as he had to go to the store. I insisted on his going to breakfast with me, but he blankly refused and arose to his feet to go. I said: 'Harry, you are my lawful husband, and I have a right to demand your company to breakfast' Ho said: 'Shut up! There's a girl and shell hear you.' I said: 'I dontcare who hears me,' At this he grasped at my throat and, grating ft* teeth, said: 'I could choke you off rfrht f-rre.' I then shoved him back and f! I ,•

KUZABBTB BKXCHUER.

flTSt

shot I

flrsd took effect in his tide. I think, for he turned rnlo and clasped his band on his hip. After that I was so excited that I hardly remam ber hat what did take place. I shot several times more, but dont know exactly how many. ACSer the first shot Harry ran around the corner of the elevator and started down stairs. At this time we were standing at the platform of the •levator. As Harry raacbmd the bead of

the

stairs I was close behind him, and shot repeatedly. When I saw him fall oo the stairway and saw the blood ooaiug from his month. I rustbed to him ancl laid his bead in my arms, where he hreathud his last Jost before leaving Chicago." continued Miss Beechler, "I telegraphed Miss Duffy's mother the situation her daughter was in. The telegram cost me 3.301 The poor gtrft mother will be heartbroken when she bears the sad am* and hers the woman broke completely down in tears and soba.

A Cltashtec Use Ball*.

Miss Bells Meader came down to Stow* began from Sorridgswoek oomOr recently fair tfce (Special pw~r~seof climbing totiw tap of the water wu staad pipeL. Tbedtetanca to the top is seventyfeet, sa aa ironlakkr fixed parpec- -rty sida. Tbe young lady a --bed the feat which shows, wfc_ _i.jsr»d that skis looked down to Wal«r i- ei* 113 Cast below, that she poeMsaeda ivutrkahtycoot aaddsar heed.— LseiitoJawasl

IjOvs ts Composed os eo many ssbmbobs that something new of a ran alway«b»«aftl ~-4M&t-Fraqpsr.

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TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL,

MARY'S DAFT ONE.

Daughterty, Who Fell In Love with An derson. ,,

us these day* a oan—u«u.» =. tbe town—who has attained the age of and has not been wildly in love with one or more actresses, is a rarity. &

When faint suggestions of microscopic down commence to appear an a youth's chin when be is at a loss whattodo with his hands and feet: when be outgrows a coat once week, nnd his sleeves are always too short when his voice is a combination of preter natural bass and yodling tenor when he looked upon by bis sisters as a positive nuisance, and by bis younger brothers as the very embodiment of all that is hereic, grand and noble when be is eternally hungry, never gets enough to eat, and eats enough to ration a regiment it is at this age, back upon which a man always looks with mingled feelings of amusement and tenderness, that your ingenuous youth experiences calf love for an actress.

It is not violent nor fierce, nay, the boy scarcely says a word. He considers himself deeply injured by the universe in general broods becomes morbid and surly quits playing ball enters the yard by the back gate and the house by the back door anxiously watches the glass for the wished for pallor of his countenance combs his hair back straight reads Byron, and wishes he were a corsair roams aimlessly, sighs con tinually hovers around the theatre door, probably lacking funds to enter and rapturously gaze upon bis idol in short, is as great an ass as lie possibly could be.

Why notf It hurts no one, and the boy may be the better for the experience.!^

IT'S DIFFERENT WITH A^GittOWa KJHI. But when a man of 3S becomes so deeply smitten with an actress that he will follow her over two continents for six years, and waste a fortune in traveling without ever having spoken a word to the object of his affections, and finally lands himself in jail on account of his persistence in trying to obtain an interview with her, the matter grows rather more interesting, and the only inference to be drawn is that the man must have been either insane or singularly unfortunate, or both.

J. V. DOCQHXRTT.

He is probably both. The name of the man is James M, Dougherty, and the name of tho actress he has been following is Mary Anderson.

Dougherty is from Salem, N. Y., and he says that six years ago he had an independent fortune, all of which he spent in Abasing Miss Anderson over Europe and America. On tbe night that Miss Anderson reappeared in this country at Palmer's theatre in Ne^ York city, Dougherty was arrested by Inspector Byrnes while standing in front of the theatre, a:id a huge bulldog revolver was found in his pocket Inspector Byrnes had been notified by Miss Anderson's father that a strango man, who had been frequently observed by them at the theatres of Europe, had returned on the same vessel with them, and had effusively presented a banquet to Miss Anderson when they landed. Whether or not he intended to shoot Miss Anderson at the theatre is a mooted question, but hs him-

If says that he did not

MRS. CHANLER'S FOOTWE

She Has Her Shoe* and Stockings Hade with Toes, as Glaves Have Fingers. Mrs. Amelie Rives-Chanler, high priestess of eroticism, grand mogulesB of the unconventional and past mistress in the doubtful art of feverish word painting, after having at one bound sprung to the topmost pinnacle of fame through that burning novel, "The Quick or the Deadf' and the drama "Herod and Mariamne," has just sprung anew thing on the breathless public.

Digitated shoes! That is, shoes with toes. They are made of kid. They come up to tbe knees, and are fastened on the inside by small buttons. Mrs. Chanler has beautifully arched little feet, and when she describes the feet of tbe impulsive Barbara in her book she was thinking, no doubt, of her own.

Curious things, too, those digitated shoes. They are apt to startle you when you see them peeping from the lower flounce of a soft, well fitting morning eown. Mrs. Chanler thinks it heathenish to crowd the toes all to-

(fe

TKE RTVES-CHANLL R'S FOOTGsSfit gether in tight shoes. Why should we crowd our toes all together and let our flngan go free! she asks.

Ingenious Amelief She has several pairs of tbra shoes. They are in different colors. They are lined with satin throughout, except in the toes and over the instep. They are made of the same kid which is used for gloves, and cost about $30 a pair.

Mary Anderson is the only other known woman who has put her toes in fingers. When she plays Galatea she wears a pair of white silk stockings fitted to the toes. She does not like to appear in her bare fait, and plain stockings would not be art so die wears digitated stockings and little white asndals under than. These stockings she had made specially to order aad each pair cost her $30.

AM Anecdote ®f *r. Blatae. A Philadelphia business man tells this incident of Mr. Blaine's visit to London. One day he happened into the estahlinliinent at a well known bootmaker and asked to SMJ some shoes. Having selected a pair to his liking, Mr. Blaine inquired the cost, at tbs same time casually remarking that he had been referred to the boon by a friend 1m Loaeashire, Aram which district hs had himself j%st n» up to London for a short time. "Bat yoa are not an Fnglfihinau, dr,* asld the attendant wbo was waiting as him. "And why notf said Mr. Blaine. **1)01 not look Mke ao Englishman! And did I not say 1 hailed from LanoaAMT "Yoa may have lost eoana from aorashira, and I do not say that your looks are not English," atsneaied the aaluMisn,

Mbot

MR. AND MRS. GILL.

The Cartons Marnier to Which They Recently Were United. How are portraits of William Fearing Gill, sometimes known as William Fearful Gill, of New York, and his recently made bride, Edith C. Gwynn, of the same city.

That part of the public which reeds the newspapers will remember that some months ago it was announced that Mr. Gill and

WiM

Gwynn bad taken the most important step of their lives in uniting their fortunes and their fatureai

There was something peculiar about the wedding. No minister was present, and for a time it was said there were no witnesses either.

Another funny thing was that the bride directly after the marriage betook herself to Newport, while Mr. Gill remained in New York. Tbe wedding was almost, if not quite, repudiated by Mrs. Gill's alleged aristocratic relatives (you know she is related by mar-

XR. AND MRS. IXABJNG GILL.

riage to tbe Vanderbilts, one of her sisters having married a scion of the great railroad house), and it was at one time thought that the marriage, if it really bad taken place, would be annulled but now they have had a regular ceremony performed by a regular minister in a regular church. Tbo story of tbe first marriage has been told by one of the bride's friends as follows:

Mr. Gill and Miss Gwynn were discussing the marriage laws of New York, which are proverbially loose, and Mr. Gill said, banding Miss Gwynn a ring, "If I were to say I take you to be my wife"— "Why, then we would be married," said Miss Gwynn. "Precisely," said Mr. Gill, slipping a ring upon ber finger.

Mr. Gill is a playwright. He is a jolly good fellow. 8o say some people.

He is a down right sneak. So say some others. As to tbe truth of the matter the present writer knows nothing.

THE FINAL HANGING.

Parkenham the Last to he Kxecnted In New fork Before the Age of Electricity. On the 4th of January next, unless the governor intervenes, New York city will bang a very old and rather venerable looking man. Patrick Packenham may be called "venerable," now that he has been shut up many months and compelled to temperance but when he committed the murder he was an ordinary old drunkard. One murder is not much in New York, but this case is remarkable, because the man is very old, because he murdered his wife and was convicted by tbe testimony of bis son, and because he will doubtless be the last man hanged in the state, as the law for killing murderers by electricity goes into effect immediately after. He will also be, by very many years, the oldest man ever banged in the state for in New York, as elsewhere, the worst criminals are nearly all young.

Packenham was a drunkard of long standing, and on complaint of his wife, for cruelty, was sent to Blackwell's Island for a term. Hi came out enraged at ber, and after taking two drinks one evening, stabbed her to death in tbe presence of their 14 year old son Robert The defense put in the plea of "alcoholic insanity but it was conclusively overthrown by the evidence. Recorder

Smyth, presiding judge in Part III

FACKBNHAM.

of the court of general sessions, occupied an hour in charging the jury, and laid down the principles of tbe law of insanity with a clearness and specific directness very interesting to lawyers. The murder took place on the 3d of last April, in a miserable room on West Twenty-seventh street, New York and the parties belonged to a very low and degraded class. Much sympathy was expressed for tbe boy whose testimony convicted his father, as he behaved throughout the trial with a fitness not to be expected from one of his youth and rearing. If tbe electrical execution proves a success, of which there seems no doubt, old Patrick Packenham will tako his place in history as the last man hanged in New York.

The Lilla Boyle Mystery.

The confession of Alice Hoyio that ber statement incriminating Cowie and McQuaid in the murder of ber sister is false, leaves the mystery as deep and dark as ever. The two men have now been released, and there will be no trial.

Women distrust men too much in general aad not enough in particular. —Commerson.

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Stand for apart in olotlies. Then we were voung and the boys helped us to learn. Since then the olothing world has taken many a forward step, and we've had much to do with bringing the changes about A steady increasing business means a constant and continuous adding in style, fit, character of clothing made. Here find:

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