The electric chair is the brightest in all senses representative of the known methods of execution in the entire history of mankind. Today, the electric chair is an informal symbol of the United States and, in particular, the legislative process. So what, where, by whom and for what?
The invention of the electric chair
It's funny, but the "merit" in the invention of the electric chair belongs ... to the dentist! If GreenPeace had already begun its work at that time, it is unlikely that this method of execution would have reached us - the inventor Albert Southwick used during the development of animals as material for experiments.
However, this method of execution is considered humane - the condemned is not tormented, and death occurs almost instantly. As a result, on the first day of 1889, electrocution becomes the main method of execution (New York became the first state). On the same day the first execution was carried out.
Mechanism of action
How did the electric chair of that time work? Actually, the design is simple - a chair to which several electrodes and several straps are attached. The criminal was put on him, his whole body was sequentially secured - from the ankles to the chest. After that, two copper electrodes were attached to the body. Places for fastening - leg and crown. As a rule, the skin at the point of contact with the electrode was shaved in order to improve conductivity.
The electrodes were lubricated with a special substance to improve current flow and minimize skin damage. An opaque mask was put on the face of the criminal - this was done so that the convict would not bite his tongue.
First execution
Next question: to whom? The electric chair was the first to be "tested" by a murderer named Kemmsler. Alas, he could not give comments on the operation of the device for objective reasons, but an interesting fact: after the first discharge in about 20 seconds, he was still alive! The executioners had to increase the amperage and duration, which led to the torture of the convict and subsequent convictions of the method in print.
Challenges and weaknesses
Alas, often this “humane” procedure turned into a real torture for the sentenced. Negligence in preparing a suicide bomber, a short circuit in the power supply system, the instability of energy supply has repeatedly led to the terrible torment of the convict. There are cases when a suicide bomber literally burned alive. As a good example, the film "Green Mile". It shows in a very interesting way the execution through an electric chair. In particular, a fine execution is of interest, during which a person literally "burned alive."
Today
Electric chair is still used. In the system of punitive organs there is a kind of competition between execution through lethal injection and through electric stools, and the injection gradually comes forward - low cost, lack of torment, reliability. The disadvantages of the electric chair are the difficulty of operation, the features of the preparation of the convict and the cost of the procedure.