Old sparky : the electric chair and the history of the death penalty / Anthony Galvin.
"In early 2013, Robert Gleason became the latest victim of the electric chair, a peculiarly American execution method. Shouting Pog mo thin ("Kiss my ass" in Gaelic) he grinned electricity shot through his system. When the current was switched off his body slumped against the leather restraints, and Gleeson, who had strangled two fellow inmates to ensure his execution was not postponed, was dead. The execution had gone flawlessly-not a guaranteed result with the electric chair, which has gone horrifically wrong on many occasions. Old Sparky covers the history of capital punishment in America and the "current wars" between Edison and Westinghouse which led to the development of the electric chair. It examines how the electric chair became the most popular method of execution in America, before being superseded by lethal injection. Famous executions are explored, alongside quirky last meals and poignant last words. The death penalty remains a hot topic of debate in America, and Old Sparky does not shy away from that controversy. Executions have gone spectacularly wrong, with convicts being set alight, and needing up to five jolts of electricity before dying. There have been terrible miscarriages of justice, and the death penalty has not been applied even-handedly. Historically, African-Americans, the mentally challenged, and poor defendants have been likely to get the chair, an anomaly which led the Supreme Court to briefly suspend the death penalty. Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976 Texas alone has executed more than 500 prisoners, and death row is full. "-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781631440267
- ISBN: 1631440268
- Physical Description: xii, 257 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Publisher: New York, NY : Carrel Books, [2015]
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- 1 A History of the Death Penalty 1 -- 2 Capital Punishment in the USA 5 -- 3 Electrical Death Commission 15 -- 4 War of the Currents 43 -- 5 Development of the Electric Chair 53 -- 6 William Kemmler, the Poor Peddler 57 -- 7 Spread of the Chair 67 -- 8 A Cabinet of Curiosities-Six Notable and Unusual Executions 75 -- 9 Last Meals 105 -- 10 A Moratorium on Executions 113 -- 11 Supreme Court Changes Its Mind-Executions are Back On 121 -- 12 Back with a Bang 131 -- 13 Top Ten-The Most Notorious Victims of Old Sparky 135 -- 14 Refining the Death Penalty 201 -- 15 Rise of Lethal Injection 215 -- 16 Problem of Innocence 225 -- 17 Innocence is No Defense-Herrera v. Collins 229 -- 18 Into the Future 237.
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Available copies
- 4 of 4 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 0 current holds with 4 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Library | 364.66 GAL (Text) | 37810435250609 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Goldsboro Library | 364.66 GAL (Text) | 900000000365560 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Mocksville | 364.6609 GALVIN (Text) | 39872001751855 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Statesville Main Library | 364.660973 GAL (Text) | 33114017669235 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
| LDR | 03560cam a2200349 i 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 5264861 | ||
| 003 | CARDINAL | ||
| 005 | 20150819184731.0 | ||
| 008 | 150504s2015 nyuaf b 001 0 eng | ||
| 010 | . | ‡a 2015014590 | |
| 020 | . | ‡a9781631440267 ‡q(hardcover) | |
| 020 | . | ‡a1631440268 ‡q(hardcover) | |
| 035 | . | ‡a(OCoLC)890180936 | |
| 040 | . | ‡beng ‡erda | |
| 082 | 0 | 0. | ‡a364.660973 ‡223 |
| 100 | 1 | . | ‡aGalvin, Anthony. ‡0(CARDINAL)691301 |
| 245 | 1 | 0. | ‡aOld sparky : ‡bthe electric chair and the history of the death penalty / ‡cAnthony Galvin. |
| 264 | 1. | ‡aNew York, NY : ‡bCarrel Books, ‡c[2015] | |
| 300 | . | ‡axii, 257 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : ‡billustrations ; ‡c24 cm | |
| 336 | . | ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent | |
| 337 | . | ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia | |
| 338 | . | ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier | |
| 504 | . | ‡aIncludes bibliographical references and index. | |
| 505 | 0 | 0. | ‡g1 ‡tA History of the Death Penalty ‡g1 -- ‡g2 ‡tCapital Punishment in the USA ‡g5 -- ‡g3 ‡tElectrical Death Commission ‡g15 -- ‡g4 ‡tWar of the Currents ‡g43 -- ‡g5 ‡tDevelopment of the Electric Chair ‡g53 -- ‡g6 ‡tWilliam Kemmler, the Poor Peddler ‡g57 -- ‡g7 ‡tSpread of the Chair ‡g67 -- ‡g8 ‡tA Cabinet of Curiosities-Six Notable and Unusual Executions ‡g75 -- ‡g9 ‡tLast Meals ‡g105 -- ‡g10 ‡tA Moratorium on Executions ‡g113 -- ‡g11 ‡tSupreme Court Changes Its Mind-Executions are Back On ‡g121 -- ‡g12 ‡tBack with a Bang ‡g131 -- ‡g13 ‡tTop Ten-The Most Notorious Victims of Old Sparky ‡g135 -- ‡g14 ‡tRefining the Death Penalty ‡g201 -- ‡g15 ‡tRise of Lethal Injection ‡g215 -- ‡g16 ‡tProblem of Innocence ‡g225 -- ‡g17 ‡tInnocence is No Defense-Herrera v. Collins ‡g229 -- ‡g18 ‡tInto the Future ‡g237. |
| 520 | . | ‡a"In early 2013, Robert Gleason became the latest victim of the electric chair, a peculiarly American execution method. Shouting Pog mo thin ("Kiss my ass" in Gaelic) he grinned electricity shot through his system. When the current was switched off his body slumped against the leather restraints, and Gleeson, who had strangled two fellow inmates to ensure his execution was not postponed, was dead. The execution had gone flawlessly-not a guaranteed result with the electric chair, which has gone horrifically wrong on many occasions. Old Sparky covers the history of capital punishment in America and the "current wars" between Edison and Westinghouse which led to the development of the electric chair. It examines how the electric chair became the most popular method of execution in America, before being superseded by lethal injection. Famous executions are explored, alongside quirky last meals and poignant last words. The death penalty remains a hot topic of debate in America, and Old Sparky does not shy away from that controversy. Executions have gone spectacularly wrong, with convicts being set alight, and needing up to five jolts of electricity before dying. There have been terrible miscarriages of justice, and the death penalty has not been applied even-handedly. Historically, African-Americans, the mentally challenged, and poor defendants have been likely to get the chair, an anomaly which led the Supreme Court to briefly suspend the death penalty. Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976 Texas alone has executed more than 500 prisoners, and death row is full. "-- ‡cProvided by publisher. | |
| 650 | 0. | ‡aElectrocution ‡zUnited States. | |
| 650 | 0. | ‡aCapital punishment ‡zUnited States. ‡0(CARDINAL)335778 | |
| 650 | 0. | ‡aExecutions and executioners ‡zUnited States. | |
| 902 | . | ‡aMARCIVE 201809 | |
| 902 | . | ‡aMARCIVE 201909 | |
| 902 | . | ‡aMARCIVE 201912 | |
| 901 | . | ‡a5264861 ‡b ‡c5264861 ‡tbiblio ‡soclc | |
