Yesterday I listened to a podcast that revolved around the history of the electric chair. Yes, the one that is (or was) used to execute criminals that were on death row.
Though the hosts spoke about many facts, one really got my attention: "electricians". They were in charge of basically moving a switch that closed the circuit and thus allowed the flow of electricity and kill the inmate.
Allegedly, one electrician executed seven inmates on a single day. They even were in the same room waiting for their turn.
I don't remember much, so here is where I begin my own research.
John Hurlburt was a State Electrician who, according to my research executed 140 inmates. He was the second of New York's five electricians through history.
He was born in New York, in September 1867, and was initially hired as an electrician at the Auburn Prison, which was the first to host an execution by way of electrocution on August 1890.
Hurlburt slowly deteriorated while executing each of the 140 prisoners.
John was personally trained by the first electrician at Auburn, a man named Edwin Davis.
Davis conducted the day known as Black Thursday in Sing Sing's, in which, on August 1912, seven men were electrocuted consecutively. He executed 240 inmates between 1890 and 1914.
Supposedly, Hurlburt took Davis's place after he retired. On his first official shift, Hurlburt executed two inmates on August 31, 1914.
The job paid well, and the money he earned helped pay up debts he had due to his wife's illness.
Hurlburt suddenly resigned on January 16, 1926. When asked about the resignation he replied that he got tired of killing people.
John's wife died in September 1925. On February 22. 1929, Hurlburt entered the basement of his Auburn home with a revolver and shot himself. His body was later found by his son.
Though the hosts spoke about many facts, one really got my attention: "electricians". They were in charge of basically moving a switch that closed the circuit and thus allowed the flow of electricity and kill the inmate.
Allegedly, one electrician executed seven inmates on a single day. They even were in the same room waiting for their turn.
I don't remember much, so here is where I begin my own research.
John Hurlburt was a State Electrician who, according to my research executed 140 inmates. He was the second of New York's five electricians through history.
He was born in New York, in September 1867, and was initially hired as an electrician at the Auburn Prison, which was the first to host an execution by way of electrocution on August 1890.
Hurlburt slowly deteriorated while executing each of the 140 prisoners.
John was personally trained by the first electrician at Auburn, a man named Edwin Davis.
Davis conducted the day known as Black Thursday in Sing Sing's, in which, on August 1912, seven men were electrocuted consecutively. He executed 240 inmates between 1890 and 1914.
Supposedly, Hurlburt took Davis's place after he retired. On his first official shift, Hurlburt executed two inmates on August 31, 1914.
The job paid well, and the money he earned helped pay up debts he had due to his wife's illness.
Hurlburt suddenly resigned on January 16, 1926. When asked about the resignation he replied that he got tired of killing people.
John's wife died in September 1925. On February 22. 1929, Hurlburt entered the basement of his Auburn home with a revolver and shot himself. His body was later found by his son.
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