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Priyadarshini Bhagwati College of Engineering
( Affiliated to R.T.M.N.U. Declared by UGC under act 1956)
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
PRESENTED BY
ABHILASH.A.MENDE
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
Ms. S.B. DHOBLE
DATE
31/08/2013

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CONTENTS
1. Introduction.
2. History.
3. First Executions.
4. Working.
5. Components.
6. Block diagram.
7. Electrodes, helmet and sponge.
8. Procedure.
9. Famous Facts.
10. Botches.
11. Map of Usage.
12. Conclusion.
13. References.

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INTRODUCTION
 Execution using electric chair is an
execution method originating in the United
States in 1881.
 The condemned person is strapped to a
wooden chair and electrocuted through
electrodes placed on the body.
Fig. 1: An African-American prisoner is
prepared for execution in Sing-Sing Prison in
1900.

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HISTORY
 It was invented by Dr. Alfred Southwick, who was a dentist, and later designed by Harold
Brown and Arthur Kennelly, employees of Thomas Edison.
 Brown intended to use alternating current (AC), then emerging as a potent rival to direct
current (DC), which was still in commercial development.
 Brown and Edison publicly killed many animals with AC for the press, driven by Edison's
claim that AC was more lethal than DC.
Fig. 2: “Executing an
elephant”, filmed by
Thomas Edison

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FIRST EXECUTIONS
 The first person to be executed by the electric chair was William Kemmler in New York's
Auburn Prison on August 6, 1890.
 The first woman to be executed in the electric chair was Martha M. Place, executed at Sing
Sing Prison on March 20, 1899.
Left: William Kemmler
Right: Martha Place
Fig. 3 Fig. 4

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WORKING
 Once the condemned person is attached to the chair, various cycles of alternating current is passed
through the individual's body.
 This causes fatal damage to the internal organs (including the brain). The first jolt of electric
current causes immediate unconsciousness and brain death; the second one causes fatal damage to
the vital organs.
 Death is frequently caused by electrical overstimulation of the heart.

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 The Electrocution Process works on the most basic principle of
electricity: Voltage divided by resistance results in flow of current.
 In this case, the human body itself acts as a
resistor against the voltage fed to it.
Fig. 6: The principle behind the
electrocution system

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COMPONENTS
 The power supply consists of a 208 volt primary, 2640 volt as a secondary transformer. (with
a current of 5Amperes).
 The control console is a metal cabinet consisting of timing circuitry.
Fig. 7: An electric
chair with the
control panel on
it’s left.

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BLOCK DIAGRAM
Fig. 8: Basic block diagram of the electrocution system

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ELECTRODES
 Electrodes are made of solid brass.
 They are connected to the subject’s legs during the execution.
 Through these electrodes, the electricity disperses inside the body.
Fig. 9: A set of
electrodes used in
an execution
pictured at right

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HELMET
 It’s composed of 2 parts.
 An outer helmet is made of leather.
 The inner one is made up of sponge
and wire mesh.
Fig. 10: The helmet
pictured on the right was
used in the Massachusetts
State Prison from 1901 to
1947

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SPONGE
 Salt water, is a good conductor of electricity. Having the brine-soaked sponge causes the
electricity to move in a more efficient line, thus killing the prisoner faster.
 Without the sponge, the electricity would simply disperse over the body, meeting with a lot
of resistance, causing the body to cook, and death would be much more agonizing.
Fig. 5: An execution can go
horribly wrong if the chair is
not properly set up

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PROCEDURE
 The subject is shaved to prevent burning of hair.
 Sponges are soaked in salt water and helmet is installed on subject’s head.
 The subject is strapped to the chair
 The electrodes are connected to subject’s legs.
 The power supply is switched ON.
 A current of 0.070 ampere causes heart problems and may be fatal.
 On the basis of this fact, 2000-2200 volts at 5-6 amperes for 60 seconds is passed through the
body.
 This step is repeated with certain variations in voltage until execution is accomplished.

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FAMOUS FACTS
 In December 1942, Winston Churchill proposed that Adolf Hitler, if caught, should be
summarily executed in an electric chair.
 A number of states allow the condemned person to choose between electrocution and lethal
injection.
 The last use of the chair was on January 16, 2013, when Robert Gleason, Jr. decided to go to
the electric chair in Virginia.

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BOTCHES
 In1903, Fred Van Wormer was electrocuted twice, being already dead the 2nd time!
 On January 12th, 1928, Ruth Snyder’s execution was stealthily photographed by Tom
Howard, a Chicago Tribune reporter.
 It still remains one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century.
Fig. 11: Tom Howard, with
ankle camera being fitted
Fig. 12: The famous
photograph of Ruth
Snyder’s execution

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APPLICATIONS
 The only application of the electric chair is to be used as a means of capital
punishment to the accused, thus making society a safe place to live.

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MAP OF USAGE
Secondary method only
Used electric chair previously,
but not today
Never used the method
Fig. 13: Map of usage

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CONCLUSION
 The Electric chair has helped serve justice since it’s invention and will continue to do so in
the near future.
 It’s complex yet interesting nature makes it a fine subject for extensive study.

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REFERENCES
 The Electrical Chair: An Unnatural American History by Craig Brandon.
 Edison and the Electric Chair: A Story of Light and Death by Mark Essig.
 The Electric Chair by Miss Milkweed L. Augustine.
 The History of the Electric Chair by Mary Bellis.
 Old Sparky: The shocking history of the Electric Chair.
 AC/DC: The savage tale of 1st standards war by Tom Mcnichol.
 Have a seat, please by Don Reid.

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