First Electric Chair Execution: Kemmler Dies at Auburn Prison
William Kemmler's agonizing execution by electric chair at Auburn Prison proved that the new method was far from a humane alternative to hanging, as his body smoldered for minutes and required a second jolt of electricity. This botched spectacle immediately triggered intense legal challenges and public outcry, compelling New York state to refine its capital punishment protocols before the technology could spread nationwide.
August 6, 1890
136 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Capital punishment
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New York
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New York State
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electric chair
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Auburn Prison
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William Kemmler
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Auburn Prison
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New York
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Capital punishment
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Auburn Correctional Facility
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William Kemmler
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Electric chair
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Auburn (Nueva York)
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Hinrichtung
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