Talk:Electric chair

Was Alphonse Rockwell the inventor?
These cites –, , , - suggest he was, but they may be simply repeating urban myths. -- JackofOz (talk) 02:13, 24 April 2008 (UTC)


 * AKA Alphonso Rockwell. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  22:09, 20 February 2014 (UTC)


 * Been working on a cleanup and, as Prez Clinton would say, "I feel your pain". The running count of electric chair inventors is: Alfred P. Southwick, Thomas Edison, Harold P. Brown, Arthur Kennelly, Edwin Davis, Harry L. Tyler, Alphonse David Rockwell, Dr. Carlos Frederick MacDonald, and Dr. George E. Fell. It looks like Southwick came up with the idea, allot of people in the middle did experiments to make sure they wouldn't simply set someone on fire with the thing (and a few said "Lets screw Westinghouse while we are at it"), and George E. Fell drew up the final design. Can always do some double checking. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 20:25, 25 August 2015 (UTC)


 * Thanks for that. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  20:37, 25 August 2015 (UTC)

Fix the map
Someone needs to fix the US map. The parts are divided into the different colors stating which states still use it, which states used to use it, and which states carry it as an option. Arkansas is highlighted as a state that has it as an option. Not true. Arkansas passed into law on July 4, 1983 that inmates sentenced prior to that date can choose between electrocution & lethal injection. Only two inmates were sentenced before that date. One (John Swindler) chose electrocution and was executed in 1990. The other (Lawrence Singleton) chose lethal injection and was executed in 2004. A report from the Arkansas Attorney General from 2004 stated that with Singleton's execution, the electric chair is now obsolete in Arkansas. It's not an option there anymore, so someone needs to fix the map —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.29.18.150 (talk) 08:58, 28 July 2008 (UTC)

Date of committee formation?
This page says 1887, but the Harold Brown page says 1886. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.103.92.59 (talk) 06:55, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

Eight or eighty?
The article writes:"In all, the entire execution took approximately eight minutes. Westinghouse later commented: "They would have done better using an axe." A reporter who witnessed it also said it was "an awful spectacle, far worse than hanging."" I read in some sites that, this first execution took more than eighty minutes, was terrible and full of torture.Agre22 (talk) 23:03, 19 March 2009 (UTC)agre22


 * All the references I've found support the eight minute time. Do you have a link for references that refer to eighty minutes? That time seems... excessive, and may be just a typo or transcription error. - EronTalk 17:26, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

You could improve this a little
I think I could put a good picture of an electric chair if I were to edit this. --Umeshictmaahixc (talk) 02:51, 1 April 2009 (UTC)Sayer Stewart

The electric chair was the first electrical device built to kill animals, specifically humans, other devices were built to slaughter animals later & other devices were eventually built to make people more submissive & easier to control, like television & computers which were no doubt an evolution of the electric chair. (This stub should be in the History section) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.170.174.203 (talk) 03:12, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

Almost no citations
Half the claims of people who have been killed by electric chair are unreferenced. This article really needs to be cleaned up, maybe we should tag it? --Daj12192 (talk) 20:03, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

Date of Nebraska Ruling?
"On February 8, 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court determined that execution via the electric chair was "cruel and unusual punishment" under the State's constitution. This brought executions of this type to an end in Nebraska, the only remaining state to retain it as its sole method of execution."

then at the very bottom of the page:

"On February 15, 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court declared execution by electrocution to be "cruel and unusual punishment" prohibited by the Nebraska Constitution.[10]"

Am I right in presuming the second to be true? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kamerad (talk • contribs) 15:52, 21 May 2009 (UTC)

Churchill quote
Does that really belong in there? I would be reasonably certain he was joking (given the lease-lend comment and Churchill's sense of humour), I doubt that the cabinet ever seriously contemplated using the electric chair to execute Hitler. Wheatleya (talk) 19:26, 6 March 2010 (UTC)

unique to USA (and Phillipines)/national character of execution methods/proposed article
That execution methods are often associated with a particular country is interesting and worth discussing, perhaps altho where?

I think beheading via Guollitine (sp) was used primarily in France and Germany (but only during WWII?) I think is also true.

Somehow, despite England's history of beheading in olden times, it seems like that is the sort of method that would not have been accepted there during the 20th century.

My proposed article would discuss whether certain methods were proposed and, especially, whether legal but never used.--Jrm2007 (talk) 21:49, 17 May 2010 (UTC)

Lacking technical detail
I'd like to see more of the science behind the electric chair. Voltage and current patterns, timings, electrode placement... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.161.3.225 (talk) 01:44, 17 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Do the research and post the results. Cheers, Rico402 (talk) 04:26, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

NOT an option in Arkansas
I added in the discussion years ago that electrocution is no longer an option in Arkansas. Seems what I typed was erased by some douchebag. Well here's proof: http://www.adc.arkansas.gov/pdf/reports/2004_annual_report.pdf Go to page 6 and read this: "A Legislative act in 1983 made lethal injection the State's sole method of execution. However, inmates who were sentenced to death before the law was adopted will be given the option of choosing lethal injection. Singleton was the final inmate to have that option. After Singleton’s execution, the State’s electric chair officially became obsolete."

Nowhere does Arkansas law state that electrocution is to be used in case lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional. The above quote was taken by a report that was sent to then Governor Mike Huckabee. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.99.254.70 (talk) 17:39, 4 September 2010 (UTC)

Botched electrocutions
This is just not consistent:

"A 1903 execution at Sing Sing was the last reported botched electrocution. Fred Van Wormer was electrocuted and pronounced dead...."

"In 1946, the electric chair failed to execute Willie Francis, who reportedly shrieked 'take it off! Let me breathe!' as he was being executed...."

"Recorded incidents of botched electrocutions were prevalent after the national moratorium ended January 17, 1977; Two in Alabama, three in Florida, one in Georgia, one in Indiana and three in Virginia. All five states now have lethal injection as the default method if a choice isn't made."

Should not the first quoted read:

"A 1903 execution at Sing Sing was the first reported botched electrocution." ???

Moletrouser (talk) 20:44, 29 September 2010 (UTC)

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT?

How could this not possibly qualify as cruel and unusual? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.40.220.253 (talk) 23:40, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Incorrect science
The section about Edison and AC/DC is completely backwards. Edison promoted DC, not AC. AC is transport efficient; not inefficient. See, e.g, Edison's page, which has all the correct facts with citations. This section also refers to someone in 1699(!) suggesting the use of electric current to execute prisoners based on observations of a drunk touching a power line. There certainly were not any power lines in 1699. 76.184.7.83 (talk) 05:05, 24 February 2012 (UTC)
 * Everything you said is valid, I've also noticed all that and made changes or marked those facts accordingly. You could have done the same, Be Bold ;) --Arny (talk) 22:43, 24 February 2012 (UTC)

Current use in Iran
Is there an evidence for any occurrence of execution with electric chair in Iran? I live in Iran and I never heard about such thing. So unless there is an actual evidence please remove Iran from the list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.127.64.11 (talk) 18:27, 24 November 2012 (UTC)

What is the American apologetic?
How does USA, the supposed beacon of democracy, explain its using this cruel, barbaric method of execution in 21st century? Why is electric chair still being used in USA, in 21st century?--24.203.108.54 (talk) 06:50, 11 May 2014 (UTC)
 * Do you have suggestions about improving the article, or is this just a soapbox? &mdash;  The Hand That Feeds You :Bite 14:45, 11 May 2014 (UTC)

'subjected to with 1700 volts'
Who wrote this gibberish? The whole article seems to be patchwork of bad grammar and unsubstantiated facts, nor worthy of Wikipedia.188.230.252.221 (talk) 21:23, 30 May 2015 (UTC)

Early history pretty much wrong
The electric chair was not "created by employees of Thomas Edison during the War of Currents", the New York "committee" was 1886, not 1881, Brown was not an employee of Thomas Edison, the electric chair was designed throughout the 1880s, mostly by Southwick and company, it was not designed at West Orange. Also not sure how the lead got narrowed down to the Philippines. The "Edwin Davis and Harry L. Tyler" claim seemed dubious, I could only find reliable reference to one (Davis). I have edited these sections to more reflect reliable sources. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 16:14, 17 August 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 3 one external links on Electric chair. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20041107112907/http://web.amnesty.org:80/library/Index/ENGASA350091997?open&of=ENG-382 to http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA350091997?open&of=ENG-382
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20091227015452/http://www.amnesty.org:80/en/library/info/ASA35/009/1997 to http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/009/1997
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20130118110950/http://www2.wsls.com:80/news/2013/jan/16/6/amherst-county-murderer-be-executed-tonight-ar-2470676/ to http://www2.wsls.com/news/2013/jan/16/6/amherst-county-murderer-be-executed-tonight-ar-2470676/

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true to let others know.

Cheers. —cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 12:41, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 1 one external link on Electric chair. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20041107112907/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA350091997?open&of=ENG-382 to http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA350091997?open&of=ENG-382

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at ).

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 05:27, 22 December 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Electric chair. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140515081413/http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Kemmler-Torture-Death7aug1890.htm to http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Kemmler-Torture-Death7aug1890.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 01:57, 19 September 2017 (UTC)

Map of Usage in the US
Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine should be a different color as those states abolished capitol punishment prior to the invention of the electric chair, and were therefore not executing people by any method when it became available. By sharing a color with states that never used the electric chair, but used other methods, it falsely gives the impression they were doing likewise and that capitol punishment was universally applied across the country,Catsmeat (talk) 09:03, 7 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Why is Alaska yellow in this map, when as far as I can tell it does not have the death penalty, and never has since its inception as a state? 82.38.88.187 14:32, 23 August 2018‎ (UTC)

Volt is not a unit of current
"The first 17-second passage of 1,000 volts AC of current through Kemmler caused unconsciousness" Volts are not current. Amps are current. How many amps passed through him? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:154:C300:478A:F9DC:6E96:7FCD:3557 (talk) 00:47, 19 November 2018 (UTC)

Anyone want to be my chair?
In the 1880s arc lighting was invented and due to people being killed by electricity they came up with the idea to invent the electric chair.

In the 1990s the internet was invented, and due to its clever way of storing and accessing data they came up with AI. Within 20 years they will have invented the ability to transfer this data through faster networks than man ever thought possible.

By 2035 they will realise they made the biggest mistake by not supporting free will.

By 2045 they will try to reverse the processes of technological evolution.

By 2055 human civilisation as we know it will be extinct.

Question. Should they have invented electricity? 22CenturionFox (talk) 03:46, 6 January 2020 (UTC)


 * This isn't a forum. Find someplace else to spout your nonsense.𝓦𝓲𝓴𝓲𝓹𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓘𝓼𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓟𝓮𝓮𝓻𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓭-𝓟𝓮𝓮𝓻𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓭𝓜𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓭𝓑𝔂𝓟𝓮𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 (talk) 21:12, 12 July 2021 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 24 August 2021 and 18 December 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Johnwinston96. Peer reviewers: Ashleykacou11.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 20:21, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

"Process and mechanism" section has a lot of problems
I didn't want to make any edits to the section without writing something here first.

Aside from the problems brought up in the notice calling for more reliable medical sources, the protocol outlined in that section does not apply to every single state that electrocutes (or used to electrocute) inmates. Some states, like Nebraska and Tennessee, would just use relatively short but massive applications of electricity, rather than using one massive application followed by a milder application. The section also only mentions volts, and nothing about amperes. Also, the section cites the ClarkCountyProsecutor website; I didn't think that was an acceptable source.

Lastly, I'm not 100% comfortable with the "Process and mechanism" section not having any information about the fact that the electric chair, or any deliberate application of powerful electricity, has never been reliably proven to render an inmate unconscious. There are some cases of inmates who were provably conscious during their executions (not only Willie Francis, either). The "Controversies and criticism" section has a lot of information about how electrocution does not guarantee unconsciousness, even if that is the stated intention, and I feel that a good amount of that information would be relevant to the "Process and mechanism" section instead. Afddiary (talk) 14:35, 25 June 2023 (UTC)