There was a punishment in the basement of block 11 of Auschwitz, and it left no marks on the flesh, yet teddy-bears with the inside broken out. These were referred to as Standing Cells. These were small stone boxes, small enough to make one feel like being an imprisoned bird in a chimney. No Space to Move The guards would snatch four inmates and make them get on their knees and squeeze through a small opening on the wall. As soon as they got inside, the door was closed. Space was inadequate to sit down. Space was lacking to bend the knees. The four individuals were forced to stand together, shoulder to shoulder in the dark and breathe on one another hours on. A Day of Work, A Night of Standing What made this so really evil was the time of the year. These prisoners were not confined in the cells throughout the day. When the daytime came, they were capitalized to work hard just like the rest of the people. These prisoners were sent to the basement, whereas the remaining part of the...
On August 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison, New York, William Kemmler became the first person to be sent to the chair
On August 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison, New York, William Kemmler became the first person to be sent to the chair. He was convicted of murdering his lover, Matilda Ziegler, with an axe. After he was strapped in, a charge of approximately 700 volts was delivered for only 17 seconds before the current failed. Although witnesses reported smelling burnt clothing and charred flesh, Kemmler was far from dead, and a second shock was prepared. The second charge was 1,030 volts and applied for about two minutes, whereupon smoke was observed coming from the head of Kemmler, who was clearly deceased. An autopsy showed that the electrode attached to his back had burned through to the spine. Electrocution as a humane means of execution was first suggested in 1881 by Dr. Albert Southwick, a dentist. Southwick had witnessed an elderly drunkard “painlessly” killed after touching the terminals of an electrical generator in Buffalo, New York. In the prevalent form of execution at the time—death b...