The First Execution by Electric Chair
On this day in 1890, the world witnessed a grim milestone in the history of capital punishment: the first execution by electric chair. William Kemmler, convicted of murdering his common-law wife Matilda “Tillie” Ziegler with a hatchet, was the first person to be executed using this new method at Auburn Prison in New York.
William Kemmler’s crime and subsequent trial set the stage for this historic event. Born in Philadelphia in 1860, Kemmler was a vegetable peddler who fell into a rage and killed Tillie Ziegler on March 29, 1889. His case drew widespread attention, partly because it coincided with a fierce technological battle between two of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. Edison promoted direct current (DC), while Westinghouse supported alternating current (AC). Edison sought to prove the dangers of AC by advocating its use in executions, hoping to tarnish Westinghouse’s reputation.
The electric chair was invented by Dr. Alfred Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, who believed it would be a more humane method of execution compared to hanging. On the morning of August 6, 1890, Kemmler was strapped into the wooden chair, and electrodes were attached to his body. At 6:38 AM, 1,000 volts of electricity surged through his body for 17 seconds. Initially, witnesses thought Kemmler had died, but he began to show signs of life. A second jolt of 2,000 volts was then administered, which lasted about two minutes and resulted in his death.
The execution was widely reported and sparked significant controversy. The New York Times described it as “an awful spectacle, far worse than hanging.” Many were horrified by the apparent brutality of the process. George Westinghouse, upon hearing about the execution, reportedly remarked, “They would have done better using an axe.” Despite the outcry, the electric chair soon became a common method of execution in the United States.
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This event marked a significant technological milestone, but it also raised important ethical questions. The first use of the electric chair highlighted the ongoing debates about the death penalty and the methods used to carry out capital punishment. Even today, more than a century later, these discussions continue, reflecting society’s evolving views on justice and humane treatment.