The first execution by electrocution in history is carried out against William Kemmler





On August 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison in New York, the first execution by electrocution in history is carried out against William Kemmler, who had been convicted of murdering his lover, Matilda Ziegler, with an axe.

William had accused her of stealing from him, and preparing to run away with a friend of his. 
When the argument reached a peak, Kemmler calmly went to the barn, grabbed a hatchet, and returned to the house. 
He struck Matilda repeatedly, killing her.
 He then went to a neighbor's house and announced he had just murdered his girlfriend.

Kemmler's resulting murder trial proceeded quickly. 
He was convicted of first-degree murder on May 10. 
Three days later he was sentenced to death, destined to be the first person executed in an electric chair under New York's new execution law replacing hanging with electrocution. 
A chair was made ready at the Auburn state prison, and the date set for his execution - August 6th.

On the morning of August 6th, Kemmler was awakened at 5:00 a.m. He dressed quickly and put on a suit, necktie, and white shirt. 

After breakfast and some prayer, the top of his head was shaved. 
At 6:38 a.m., Kemmler entered the execution room and warden Charles Durston presented Kemmler to the 17 witnesses in attendance. 

Kemmler looked at the chair and said: 
"Gentlemen, I wish you all good luck. I believe I am going to a good place, and I am ready to go."

After William was strapped in, a charge of approximately 700 volts was delivered for only 17 seconds before the current failed. 

Although witnesses reported smelling burnt clothing and charred flesh, Kemmler was far from dead, and a second shock was prepared. 

The second charge was 1,030 volts and applied for about two minutes, whereupon smoke was observed coming from the head of Kemmler, who was clearly deceased.
Blood vessels under his skin ruptured and bled, with some witnesses claiming his body caught fire.

An autopsy showed that the electrode attached to his back had burned through to the spine.
Doctors also found the blood vessels under the cap of his skull, had carbonized and the top of the brain had hardened. 

The killing had taken approximately eight minutes.

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