A Story of the First Electrocuted Man

William Kemmler was the first man on the electric chair. Between August 3rd and August 6th of 1890 in New York City, William Kemmler's execution would take place.
Kemmler was informed the precise day of his execution was to take place on August 6th, at 6:00 a.m. The day finally came. William sat in the electric chair, got strapped to it and had his head sponged so the electricity would flow through his body better. The executioners went and sent the voltage, which went through William Kemmler’s bodyfor seventeen seconds .

After this short period of time, the executioners went and turned of the machine. Soon everybody realized that William Kemmler was still alive!! The executioners went and increased the voltage to 1000 volts, and Kemmler died.

Witnesses from the event went and told the press that William Kemmler had flames coming from his mouth. The paper explained everything about the event, even the lies about flames through the mouth.

Today the city of New York continues to have the death penalty, but it is lethal injection and not the electric chair.

By Kelsey J.

The picture on this page was found at http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/methods.htm

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