The Daily Extra # 61

A dentist invented the electric chair

In 1881, an unusual historical incident occurred when Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, N.Y., observed a strange accident involving an intoxicated man who was electrocuted after touching a live generator terminal. This led Southwick to contemplate the possibility of using electrocution as a quicker and more humane alternative to traditional execution methods like the guillotine or hanging. He successfully collaborated with the governor of New York and state legislators, helping to pass laws for electrical executions in New York and 20 other states. –50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know