William Kemmler

The practical details of the Chair were finalised by the first State Electrician , Edwin Davis .

The first attempt at execution failed: Kemmler was shocked for 17 seconds, but remained alive. The Voltage was increased to 2000 volts, but the Generator needed time to charge up again. During this interval, the badly burnt Kemmler could be heard moaning. The second attempt lasted for over a minute and the scene was described by many present as gruesome, with a smell of burning flesh and smoke rising from Kemmler's head. Westinghouse later commented: "They would have done better using an axe." A reporter who witnessed it also said it was "an awful spectacle, far worse than hanging".

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William Kemmler

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