11

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his head back none too gently, I saw Washington's teeth clench. His lips were
moving, whether in the act of prayer, or in some non-voluntary reflex. One of
the attendants kept asking him to "sing-dong't you want to sing, Charlie?"
Washington only nodded his head."

"I do not suppose that sixty seconds were consumed between the time we
entered the chamber and the completion of the strapping-in task. The the little
harness-arrangement was adjusted to his head, with a buckled strap passing around
his forehead and holding his head firmly to the head-rest. Then they strapped the
other electrode to the calf of his left leg, removing the trousers to above the
knee. His shirt they unbuttoned and folded back so as to disclose the left
breast. The hurculean chest development of the man became even more striking.
The black handkerchief was placed over his face and the attendants drew back
as though fearful of the work they had done."

"A little window furnished a means for cummunicating the signal that all was
in readiness with the dynamo room to the rear. A man raised a paddle with 'ready'
on one side and 'switch' on the other. He waved the paddel before the little
window, and with a whine and a groad the dynamo began to spin."

"Just before the signal had been given, I heard someone in the rear of the
room say "look at his hands.'"

"Iwas the fingers draw up confulsively as the full force of the current
hit the man, His massive chest flexed outward, and strained against the belts
holding him down. The only other movement that I could see was the reflexive
jerking of the man's legs. By some mischance, the feet had come in contact, and
one could see the blue flames arising from the spot of contact. Washington
wore the heavy cotton socks of the prison regulations, and the odor of the
burning flesh and cloth formed an intolerable stench. The man nearest him
waved the air with handkerchiefs - some placed their handkerchiefs or hands