. the current! was the the command from the warden, and Electrician
a >
ji ( i Le » oy v5
of the shock, when a strange noise was heard, and he began to. gasp
for breath and-saliva,was seen to exude from his mouth, 'alurn on
*«
Davis tried to obey, but was dumfounded to find no response to the
-jvurning of the lever. The dynamo had broken down, The labored
breathing of the condemned victim continued, and his chest rose and
fell convulsively. Davis hastened outside to the dynamo to ascertain
the trouble, and found the dynamo had burned out. It could be used
no more today. The victim, who was now gasping and groaning aloud,
was unbound and placed on a cot and carried into an adjoining room,
His pulse grew stronger, and he endeavored several times to rise from
his. cot. Physicians said he was unconscious precisely. in the condi-
tion of a man stricken with apoplexy. He would recover, they thought
and the only way to carry out the sentence of the law was to again
place him in the chair, Linemen quickly connected the prison appara-
tus with a street electric light plant, and in an hour all was ready
for the second execution. Taylor continued to grow stronger and was
‘given aninjév ction of morphine. A small dose of chloroform was also
administered, Hewas then carried bodily to the chair, which had been
repaired, and was strapped in a sitting posture. The current was ther
turned on, the body straightened tp, and for half a minute 1,2h0 volts
pi a4 iy 2 sh
of the shock, when a strange noise was heard, and he began to gasp
for breath and-saliva.was seen to exude from his mouth, 'alurn on
. the current! was the the command from the warden, and Electrician
Davis tried to obey, but was dumfounded to find no response to the
gurning of the lever, The dynamo had broken down, The labored
_ breathing of the condemned victim continued, and his chest rose and
fell convulsively. Davis hastened outside to the dynamo to ascertain
the trouble, and found the dynamo had burned out. It could be used
no more today. The victim, who was now gasping and groaning aloud,
was unbound and placed on a cot and carried into an adjoining room,
His pulse grew stronger, and he endeavored several times to rise from
his cot, Physicians said he was unconscious precisely in the condi-
tion of a man stricken with apoplexy. He would recover, they thought,
and the only way to carry out the sentence of the law was to again
place him in the chair, Linemen quickly connected the prison appara-
tus with a street electric light plant, and in an hour all was ready
for the second execution, Taylor continued to grow stronger and was
*given andnj&v ction of morphine. A small dose of chloroform was also
administered, Hewas then carried bodily to the chair, which had been
repaired, and was strapped in a sitting posture. The current was they
turned on, the body straightened up, and for half a minute 1,20 volts
of the shock an a strange hoise was heard, and he began to. gasp
for breath. a1 a.was seen to exude Brom his mouth, '¢lurn o
the eeceein was the the command from the warden, and Electrician
Davis tried to obey, but was dumfounded to find no response to the
furning of the lever. The dynamo had broken-down, The labored
breathing of the condenned victim continued, and his chest rose and
de to the dynamo to ascertain
Tt-could be used
asping and groaning Be:
fell convulsively, Davis hastened outs:
the trouble, and found the-dynamo-had burned out.
no more today. The victim, who was now
as unbound and placed on a cot and carr:
His pulse grew stronger, and he Sercral axed Ae os See ae
his cot. Physicians said he was unconscious precisely in the condi-
tdon of a man stricken with apoplexy, He would recover, they thought,
and the only way to carry out the sentence of the law was to again
place him in the chair, Linemen quickly connected the prison appara
tus with a street electric light plant, and in an hour all was ready
the second execution, Taylor continued to grow stronger and was
given andnjav ction of morphine, A small dose of chloroform was also
administered, Hewas then carried bodily to the chair, which had been
repaired, and was strapped in a sitting posture. The current was the
turned on, the body straightened up, and for half a minute 1,2h0 volt
ny ss iia
TAYLOR - New York - Continued
coursed through Taylor's uncoscious form, and he was pronounced dead,
A stethescope was applied to his heart to make sure, and Dr, Jenkins
and others declared that there was no pulsation, The witnesses had
not been allowed to leave theprison and were invited to luncheon by
thewarden, after which they signed thedeath certificate and all was
over. The first electrocution took place at 123l\8 and the second
at 1255," COLUMBUS ENQUIRER-SUN, Columbus, Ga., 7-28-1893 (1-3),
"Auburn, 9=22=1892-A cold-blooded mrder was committed in the prison
this afternoon, William G, Taylor, 27, a negro convict, deliberately
cut the throat of Solomon Johnson, a fellow convict, 32. No one wit-
nessed thearime which occurred in a storeroom under the broom shop,
where both men were employed. The weapon used was a large knife used
in cutting and manufature of brooms, After committing the murder, Tay:
lor went tothe keeper's hall, where he reported the affair by saying
to Keeper Wells: 'If you fellows will go over and look after bhe broom
shop, you'll find a carcass there,' The murderer gave up the blood-
stained knife, and submitted to being ironed without assistance. From
the position in which the body of the victim was found, it is thought
that Taylor approached Johnson from the rear, and, pulling his head
back, made the fatal gash which nearly severed the head from the body.
TAYLOR - New York = Continued
coursed through Taylor's uncoscious form, and he was pronounced dead.
A stethescope was applied to his heart to make sure, and Dr, Jenkins
and others declared that there was no pulsation, The witnesses had
not been allowed to leave theprison and were invited to luncheon by
thewarden, after which they signed thedeath certificate and all was
over. The first electrocution took place at 12:8 and the second
at 1255," COLUMBUS ENQUIRER-SUN, Columbus, Ga., 7-28-1893 (1-3),
"Auburn, 9=22=1892-A cold-blooded murder was committed in the prison
this afternoon, William G, Taylor, 27, a negro convict, deliberately
cut the throat of Solomon Johnson, a fellow convict, 32. No one wit-
nessed thecrime which occurred in a storeroom under the broom shop,
where both men were employed. The weapon used was a large knife used
in cutting and manufature of brooms, After committing the murder, Tay:
lor went tothe keeper's hall, where he reported the affair by saying
to Keeper Wells: 'If you fellows will go over and look after bhe broom
shop, you'll find a carcass there,’ The murderer gave up the blood-
stained knife, and submitted to being ironed without assistancee From
the position in which the body of the victim was found, it is thought
that Taylor approached Johnson from the rear, and, pulling his head
back, made the fatal gash which nearly severed the head from the body,
TAYLOR - New York ~ Continued
coursed through Taylor's uncoscious form, and he was pronounced dead,|
A stethescope was applied to his heart to make sure, and Dr. Jenkins
and others declared that there was no pulsation, The witnesses had
not been allowed to leave theprison and were invited to luncheon by
thewarden, after which they signed thedeath certificate and all was
overs The first electrocution took place at 12:l8 and the second
" COLUMBUS ENQUIRER-SUN, Columbus, Ga., 7-28-1893 (1-3),
Se
rears 9-22-1892.
this afternoon, William G, Taylor, 27,
cold-blooded mrder was committed in the prison
a negro convict, deliberately
cut the throat of Solomon Johnson, a fellow convict, 32, No one wit-
nessed thecrime which occurred in a storeroom under the broom shop,
vhere both men were employed, The weapon used was a large knife used
in cutting and manufature of brooms, After committing the mrder, Ta;
lor went tothe keeper's hall, where he reported the affair by saying
to Keeper Wells: 'If you fellows will go over and look after bhe broom|
shop, ee che a carcass theres! The murderer gave up the blood
stained knife, submitted to being ironed without as
iuetdoattton dn aachae body of the victim was found, it
that Taylor approached Johnson fromthe rear, and, pulling his head
back, made the fatal gash which nearly severed the head from the bodys
encod seo Ta
Taylor has served 2 een in Clinton’ prison. for burglary, committed fe
Albany, In December, 1886, he was sentenced to ten years for a bur- |
oe committed in Saratoga, While in Clinton prison he attempted to |
escape and assaulted Keeper William L. Wood, He was transferred
in 1891 to the Asylum for Insane criminals in this city, and later
was transferred to Auburn Prison, Johnson had also served a previous
sentencein prison for burglary, and was serving a sentence of three
years for assault committed in thgp county. No motive can be ascribed
for the crimes Jt is not beieved that Taylor is insane, as.no signs
of insanity were observed during his long stay in-prison," ENQUIRER-
SUN, Columbus, Gay 9-23-1892 (1-6),
Taylor has served @ term in Clinton prison for burglary, committed ial
Albany,. In Decanber, 1886, he was sentenced to ten years for a bur-
glary committed in Saratoga, ‘hile in Clinton prison he attempted to |
escape and assaulted Keeper William L, Wood, He was transferred
in 1891 to the Asylum for Insane criminals in this city, and later
was transferred to Auburn Prison, Johnson had also served a previous
sentencein prison for burglary, and was serving a sentence of three
years for assault committed in this county. No motive can be ascribed
for the crimes It is not beieved that Taylor is insane, as.no signs
of insanity were observed during his long stay in-prison,'"* ENQUIRER-
SUN, Columbus, Ga,, 9-23-1892 (1-6).
Taylor has served @ tern in Clinton prison for burglary, committed in
Albany, In Dates 1886, he was sentenced to ten years for a bur-
glary conmitted in Saratoga, ‘hile i i attempted to
escape and assaulted Ke ili Wood, He was transferred
in 1891 to the Asylum for Insane criminals in this city, and later
ee Gee ferred to Auburn Prison, Johnson Lee also served a previous
set ence of three
Me eee
for the crime. It is not believed that Taylor is insane, as.no signs
of insanity were observed during his long stay in-prison," ENOUIRER-
SUN, Columbus, Ga, 9-23-1892 (1-6),
ls bg see Fd Grad
Peer iay ert hep ot
a a a da aa Oi i i cs as es
r i Ae ra . oy gael 1 Ho anti Ste wo
TAYLOR, William G. ne is
27-year-old black man, electrocuted, Auburn, N. Y., 7-27-1893.
"Auburn, July 27, 1893-William J,. Taylor was today electrocuted for th
murder of Samel Johnson, Taylor and Johnson were convicts in Auburn
Prison and worked together in a broom shop, The murder was committed
to satisfy a private grudge. Taylor was black and Johnson white,
laylor left a confession behind, It was 12:0 when the warden invited
the witnesses to follow him to death chamber, The equipment was same
that had been used a month ago for Firzhum, State Electrician Davis
was at the electric cabinet and his preliminary tests witha bank of
incandescents were entirely satisfactory, the dial indicating a vol-
tage of 1,320. In the morning it had run up to 1,820 volts., Two
priests, three keepers and the condemned came in from an adjoining
room and Taylor was immediately hustled into the chair and tightly
pinioned. His fare wore a look of set determination, with the lips
tightly compressed. When all was ready the signal was given and the
current turned on, Taylor's powerful frame shot back and up in the
chair until the straps creaked and simultaneiously there was a crashe
The strain upon the foot rest had broken it and the under pining of
the chair gave way. The body sank to a reclining posture, with the
victim's feet resting on the floor. The spectators were startled but
es eee Nas It was supposed the victim was dead from the effects
TAYLOR, William G. ~ SubylF, 189
27-year-old black man, electrocuted, Auburn, N. Y., 7-27-1893.
"Auburn, July 27, 1893-1William J, Taylor was today electrocuted for thi
murder of Samel Johnson, Taylor and Johnson were convicts in Auburn
Prison and worked together in a broom shop, The murder was committed
to satisfy a private grudge. Taylor was black and Johnson white,
Taylor left a confession behind, It was 12sl,0 when the warden invited
the witnesses to follow him to death chamber, The equipment was same
that had been used a month ago for Firzhum, State Electrician Davis
was at the electric cabinet and his preliminary tests witha bank of
incandescents were entirely satisfactory, the dial indicating a vol-
tage of 1,320. In the morning it had run up to 1,820 volts. Two
priests, three keepers and the condemned came in from an adjoining
room and Taylor was immediately hustled into the chair and tightly
pinioned. His fare wore a look of set determination, with the lips
tightly compressed. When all was ready the signal was given and the
current turned on, Taylor's powerful frame shot back and up in the
chair until the straps creaked and simultaneiously there was a crashe
The strain upon the foot rest had broken it and the under pining of
the chair gave way. The body sank to a reclining posture, with the
victim's feet resting on the floor, The spectators were startled but
did not’ move, It was supposed the victim was dead from the effects
TAYLOR, William a, > Sabet,
27-year-old black man, electrocuted, Auburn, N, Y., 7-27-1893,
"Auburn, July 27, 1893-Nfillian J, Yaylor was today electrocuted for 4
murder of Samel Johnson, Taylor and Johnson were convicts in Auburn
Prison and worked together in a broom shop, The mrder was committed
to satisfy a private grudge. Taylor was black and Johnson white
Taylor left a confession behind,
the witnesses to follow him to death chamber,
that had been used a month ago for Firzhum, State Electrician Navis
was at the electric cabinet and his preliminary tests witha bank of
yy the dial indicating a vol-
priests, three keepers and the condemned came in from an adjoining
room and Taylor was immediately hustled into the chair and tightly
pinioned, His fare wore a look of set determination, with the lips
tightly compressed. When all was ready the signal was given and the
current turned on, ‘Taylor's powerful frame shot back and up in the
chair until the straps creaked and simultaneiously there was a crash.
The strain upon the foot rest bad broken it and the under pining of
the chair gave way. The body sank to a rec: posture, with the
victim's feet resting on the alge, The spectators were startled but
did not: move, It was supposed the victim was dead from the effects
