19th century methods of execution in U.S.A
Hanging was the universal mode of execution for the majority of the 19th century with the semi-exception of California, Oklahoma, and Utah who tended to utilize the firing squadron method of execution more frequently although they used hanging as well. There was no such thing as gibbetting or anything like it in the U.S it was just a hanging, executions were a big social event in some parts of the U.S, just like in the U.K . The U.S and the U.K both used hanging as their primary form of execution for the majority of the 19th century, while U.K only had two different forms of hanging, the U.S had three; the short drop, the standard drop, and sudden suspension.
Up to the 1850s the short drop method was used. The short drop method involved hanging from a height usually less than a foot, it often did not deliver sufficient force to severe the head from the spine and kill the condemned immediately but instead the condemned would suffer and choke to death slowly. The standard drop method was used in the second half of the 19th century as the primary method of execution by hanging, although hanging became increasingly unpopular in the second half of the 19th century. The standard drop was a hanging from four to five feet and had the same problems that the short drop had except in much less frequency due to the added force gained from the longer drop. Although not quite as popular as the standard drop, some states used the sudden suspension method as well in the second half of the 19th century. As opposed to the conventional trap door, or step off, kinds of gallows used with the two previously mentioned methods of execution by hanging, the sudden suspension method utilized weights connected to the rope tied to the condemmed which jerked upward heaving the condemned along with it when they were released by the executioner operating the releasing lever. The bodies were disposed, discarded or given to the family of the condemned if there was any family or if the family even wanted the body; unlike in the U.K where the body would be given to medical science or fought for by the family between the doctors and the executioner. Hanging as a method of execution declined in popularity in the late 19th century because more and more people began to feel that it was inhumane.
In 1881 a committee was established in New York to develop a new more humane form of execution to take the place of hanging. Eight years later the committee came out with the electric chair and it was put into use for its first time in 1891 for the execution of William Kemmier. Ironically after turning on the chair for 17 seconds, it was thought that Kemmier was dead, but a few minutes later, he was jolting and moaning in pain indicating the need for another round of electrocution. The chair was turned back on for 70 more seconds and was only turned off after the chair started smoking and the scent of burning flesh filled the room.
Up to the 1850s the short drop method was used. The short drop method involved hanging from a height usually less than a foot, it often did not deliver sufficient force to severe the head from the spine and kill the condemned immediately but instead the condemned would suffer and choke to death slowly. The standard drop method was used in the second half of the 19th century as the primary method of execution by hanging, although hanging became increasingly unpopular in the second half of the 19th century. The standard drop was a hanging from four to five feet and had the same problems that the short drop had except in much less frequency due to the added force gained from the longer drop. Although not quite as popular as the standard drop, some states used the sudden suspension method as well in the second half of the 19th century. As opposed to the conventional trap door, or step off, kinds of gallows used with the two previously mentioned methods of execution by hanging, the sudden suspension method utilized weights connected to the rope tied to the condemmed which jerked upward heaving the condemned along with it when they were released by the executioner operating the releasing lever. The bodies were disposed, discarded or given to the family of the condemned if there was any family or if the family even wanted the body; unlike in the U.K where the body would be given to medical science or fought for by the family between the doctors and the executioner. Hanging as a method of execution declined in popularity in the late 19th century because more and more people began to feel that it was inhumane.
In 1881 a committee was established in New York to develop a new more humane form of execution to take the place of hanging. Eight years later the committee came out with the electric chair and it was put into use for its first time in 1891 for the execution of William Kemmier. Ironically after turning on the chair for 17 seconds, it was thought that Kemmier was dead, but a few minutes later, he was jolting and moaning in pain indicating the need for another round of electrocution. The chair was turned back on for 70 more seconds and was only turned off after the chair started smoking and the scent of burning flesh filled the room.