Crime and Punishment: Who Was William Kemmler?

Interesting History. In 1890 William Kemmler who butchered his wife to death was the first person to be executed by electrocution in the world. The day before the execution the electrical apparatus had been tested and successfully killed ahorse. Kemmler was strapped in the chair and 1000 volts of current was discharged through his body for 17 seconds. Unfortunately, Kemmler did not die, and so the current was doubled to 2000 volts and reapplied until his blood boiled and his skin scorched and he was truly dead.

Ever wonder what his last thoughts were?

Do you think he blamed his wife him ending up like that?

Do you think he actually felt genuinely sorry for the life he had taken?

I feel bad for that poor horse.

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Source: Virily.com

Aug 6, 1890 ~ 1rst #ElectricChair #Execution: Convicted murderer #WilliamKemmler is executed in #NewYork NewYork. He murdered his common-law wife with a hatchet. https://t.co/KU0jBpowgA #onthisday #thisdayinhistory #history #crimeandpunishment #deathpenalty #capitalpunishment pic.twitter.com/wOkiGlIR37

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) August 3, 2019

‘Great God, he is alive!’ The first man executed by #electricchair died slower than #ThomasEdison expected. https://t.co/AD6w9zZes5 #Execution #WilliamKemmler #NewYork #history #crimeandpunishment #deathpenalty #capitalpunishment

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) August 3, 2019

“Electrocution - Crime Museum” https://t.co/EF29htjrg7 “Dr. Alfred Southwick received the idea for electrocution after he had witnessed an inebriated man die from touching an electric generator. ...” #Execution #WilliamKemmler #crimeandpunishment #deathpenalty #CapitalPunishment pic.twitter.com/aua7hM9949

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) August 3, 2019

An Opinion Piece : I am in favor of capital punishment. ...

"I am in favor of capital punishment. Your opposing points of view and comments are welcomed. But don’t even think you will change my mind! The only thing you will get me agree to is that the “form” of execution should NOT be crucifixion. ..."

Capital punishment or the death penalty is still a heated topic being debated on a fairly regular basis.

The CONs steadfastly remain CON or AGAINST; while the PROs continue to remain PRO or FOR and posit that the CONs (those who oppose capital punishment) are really only supporting the convicts and they should shower their compassion, sympathy and possibly empathy on the families of victims, and most importantly, keep in the front of their minds that the victim did not deserve having their life taken.

Yes it is true that putting the murderer to death won't bring back the murdered victim. But the Administrators of Justice are not trying to resurrect the dead. That's not their job. Their duties and responsibilities – for which they are paid, some of them quite handsomely " entail maintaining the peace in the community of law-abiding citizens, and upholding the dignity and humanity of the people who are still alive, and should not have to live in fear and dread amongst each other.

I am in favor of capital punishment. Your opposing points of view and comments are welcomed. But don't even think you will change my mind!

The only thing you will get me agree to is that the “form” of execution should NOT be crucifixion. Why? Because according to the Biblical Archaeology Review, which is a well-known and respected publication that supplies facts, data, historical information and results of archaeological findings, about life during Bible times, mainly in the Near and Middle East areas " nobody is certain as to how a crucifixion was accomplished. Based on that, how I see it, the last thing this world needs is executioners who can't do their jobs and botch executions!!


" Image credits:   Featured image: "Way of the Cross, is in the public domain and was found at Pixabay.com;

Execution: The Guillotine, the Pendulum, the Thousand Cuts, the Spanish Donkey, and 66 Other Ways of Putting Someone to Death

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El Greco Christ...

El Greco - Christ Carrying the Cross Canvas Print
by Art_Museum

Related articlesAmericans and Capital Punishment | The Economist

Content was first published at Daily Two Cents, Aug 2017. Site no longer exists.

Americans and Capital Punishment | You're Either For It OR Against It

Do you read “The Economist”? They publish very worthwhile reading material. Food for thought. On this particular topic, for many, however, there is not too much think about. Most people have drawn their line in the sand and they are either for capital punishment or against it.



My friend Jo Harrington is AGAINST the death penalty and provides more than ample information to support her position.

• Death Penalty: 14 Year Old Executed in USA May Have been Innocent (Related link: YouTube Video)

• Answering Pro Death Penalty Arguments

• Death Row: Waiting to be Killed

In the end, though her arguments are powerful and thought-provoking, my position is FOR and I can not be dissuaded. Not even the pope can persuade me.  (Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases - The New York Times) While the guilty criminals sit on death row awaiting execution, it gives them time to reflect on the events which brought them to their soon to be final destination - events in their life and their life or lives of those who are no longer with us because of them - and maybe they can come to grips with the fact they are only receiving their comeuppance.

Poor Eve.  Mother of the first murderer and the first murder victim.  In that particular case, The Judge showed mercy and spared the murderer's life.  The debate continues.

Image credit: By Urban [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons

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America is falling out of love with capital punishment http://t.co/TYFLazhI2i pic.twitter.com/RK7b1BSVHK

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 28, 2014

How America - Can And Will - Abolish The Death Penalty

New Hampshire has just failed to abolish the death penalty-by one vote. Given that the Granite State has not actually executed anyone since 1939, you might think this doesn't matter much. But, obviously, it matters to the one man on death row in New Hampshire, a cop-killer called Michael Addison.

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