The New Instrument Of Execution in The North American Review

Brown, Harold P., New York State Expert on Electrical Execution

Published by North American Review Publishing Company, NY, 1889

About this Item

Entire issue, November, 1889, in original wraps, light general wear, spine ends thumbed, with minor loss at tail, edged untrimmed, many pages uncut, wraps separated about 2-inches at bottom spine edge, "specimen copy" stamp noted at front wrap. Article is 8-pages. The author, working with Thomas Edison during the battle of the currents -- AC vs DC technology -- is generally credited with developing the first electric chair for criminal execution. The author also manages to throw shade at George Westinghouse (who is not named, but is certainly the target) for his promotion of Alternating Current technology, which the present author calls 'hopelessly deadly." From text, specific to the electric chair, "The preparations necessary for electrical execution are very simple. The condemned criminal's cell is visited by the prison authorities and his hands and feet are saturated with the weak potash solution which so rapidly overcomes the skins resistance; during this space of thirty seconds or less his electrical resistance may be measured, though Mr. Edison's researches in this line have rendered even this unnecessary. Shod in wet felt slippers, the convict walks to the chair and is instantly strapped into position; his feet and hands are again immersed in the potash solution contained in a foot-tub connected to one pole and in hand-basins connected to the other. With this perfect contact there is no possibility of burning the flesh and thus reducing the effect of the current upon the body. Dials of electrical instruments indicate that all the apparatus is in perfect order and record the pressure at every moment. The deputy sheriff closes the switch. Respiration and heart action instantly cease, and electricity, with a velocity equaling that of light, destroys life before nerve sensation, at a speed of only one hundred and eighty feet per second, can reach the brain. There is a stiffening of the muscles, which gradually relax after five seconds have passed; but there is no struggle and no sound. The majesty of the law has been vindicated, but no physical pain has been caused. Such is electrical execution." Very scarce.

Seller Inventory # 023291

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The New Instrument Of Execution in The North American Review
• Publisher: North American Review Publishing Company, NY
• Publication Date: 1889
• Language: English
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Good