Electric Chair- Another Edison Invention

[THE PILGRIM]

During the early years of electricity, Edison and Westinghouse were locked in a battle.
Edison wanted us to use DC electric, Westinghouse was already building AC power components.
So Edison took the opportunity to demonstrate just how dangerous AC electric could be.
He signed up to build the worlds first electric chair.
Using straw buyers, he bought some components from Westinghouse.
So Aug 6, 1890 at Auburn, NY a convicted murderer named William Kemmler was
the first person executed legally by electricity.
Apparently it didn't go well, it appears they sort of cooked him!
But when it was over, Kimmler was deceased and Edison could say,
See! I told you so!

Edison Financed The Electric Chair - Business Insider

William Kemmler - Wikipedia

 

[DWalt]

Before the execution, Edison had a road show traveling around the country electrocuting dogs, cats, etc. to show the public how dangerous and lethal AC was. I believe even an elephant was electrocuted. Edison didn't actually invent the electric chair, but someone n the NY prison system probably saw the animal executions and thought electricity was a good way to kill prisoners sentenced to death. But Westinghouse ultimately prevailed over Edison, as AC had great advantages over DC.

Anyone ever see the old Stacy Keach movie "The Traveling Executioner" apparently loosely based on a real executioner who in the 1920s traveled around to southern prisons with an electric chair and generator in a truck to perform their executions.