
The First Electric Chair Execution | Yore Town Podcast Ep. 68
07/22/24 • 13 min
9 Listeners
The First Electric Chair Execution
On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of the first electric chair execution that during a vacation to Lake Placid, the hosts stumbled upon a tasting room for Prison City Brewery and learned about the story behind one of their beers called Crispy Boys. This led to a discussion about the history of the electric chair and the infamous execution of William Kemmler. The episode explores the context of capital punishment in the late 19th century, the battle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over electrical currents, and the development of the electric chair. The botched execution of Kemmler raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the methods used to carry it out.
Check out our friends of the show!
Milwaukee Pretzels: https://milwaukeepretzel.com/
Vermont Flannels: https://vermontflannels.com/beardlaws
Copper Johns Beard: http://thebestbeardproducts.com
Episode Highlights
Lake Placid is home to Prison City Brewery, which has a beer called Crispy Boys with a controversial name.
The electric chair was developed as a more humane method of execution and was adopted by the state of New York.
The execution of William Kemmler in the electric chair was botched, leading to public outcry and improvements in the method.
Kemmler's case raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the intersection of technology, ethics, and law.
Episode Quotes
"She refused to drink it and actually left because the name Crispy Boy, she thought, was inspired by the electrocution chair."
"The electric chair was actually developed by Alfred P. Southawik. What do think the P stands for? Paul."
"The botched execution horrified those present and actually led to a public outcry."
Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com
Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com
Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The First Electric Chair Execution
On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of the first electric chair execution that during a vacation to Lake Placid, the hosts stumbled upon a tasting room for Prison City Brewery and learned about the story behind one of their beers called Crispy Boys. This led to a discussion about the history of the electric chair and the infamous execution of William Kemmler. The episode explores the context of capital punishment in the late 19th century, the battle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over electrical currents, and the development of the electric chair. The botched execution of Kemmler raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the methods used to carry it out.
Check out our friends of the show!
Milwaukee Pretzels: https://milwaukeepretzel.com/
Vermont Flannels: https://vermontflannels.com/beardlaws
Copper Johns Beard: http://thebestbeardproducts.com
Episode Highlights
Lake Placid is home to Prison City Brewery, which has a beer called Crispy Boys with a controversial name.
The electric chair was developed as a more humane method of execution and was adopted by the state of New York.
The execution of William Kemmler in the electric chair was botched, leading to public outcry and improvements in the method.
Kemmler's case raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the intersection of technology, ethics, and law.
Episode Quotes
"She refused to drink it and actually left because the name Crispy Boy, she thought, was inspired by the electrocution chair."
"The electric chair was actually developed by Alfred P. Southawik. What do think the P stands for? Paul."
"The botched execution horrified those present and actually led to a public outcry."
Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com
Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com
Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode

The Extraordinary Story of Ann Hodges and the Meteorite Strike | Yore Town Podcast Ep. 67
The Extraordinary Story of Ann Hodges and the Meteorite Strike
On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of Ann Hodges, the only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite. They explore the events leading up to the meteorite strike, the aftermath, and the legal battle over ownership of the meteorite. The hosts also touch on other notable incidents involving meteorites and the significance of studying meteorites in understanding the early history of our solar system.
Check out our friends of the show!
Milwaukee Pretzels: https://milwaukeepretzel.com/
Vermont Flannels: https://vermontflannels.com/beardlaws
Copper Johns Beard: http://thebestbeardproducts.com
Episode Highlights
Ann Hodges is the only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite.
Meteorite strikes on humans are extremely rare, with odds estimated to be about one in 1.6 million.
Meteorites provide valuable insights into the early history of our solar system.
The story of Ann Hodges is a testament to the unpredictability of life in the cosmos.
Meteorites have played a memorable role in Earth's history and continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike.
Episode Quotes
"Ann Hodges became the first and so far only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite."
"The odds of a person being hit by a meteorite are as low that it's almost unfathomable."
"Meteorites remain a hot topic of study, providing valuable insights into the early history of our solar system."
Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com
Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com
Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode

The Real Story Of Albert Fish | Yore Town Podcast Ep. 69
On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of Albert Fish, one of America's most notorious serial killers, was known for his violent and gruesome crimes. He had a troubled childhood, with a family history of mental illness and abuse. Fish engaged in self-harm and engaged in sadomasochistic practices. He targeted young boys, torturing, mutilating, and murdering them. One of his most well-known victims was Grace Budd, a 10-year-old girl whom he killed and cannibalized. Fish was eventually arrested, found guilty, and executed in the electric chair. His case highlighted the need for improved mental health care and criminal justice system.
Check out our friends of the show!
Milwaukee Pretzels: https://milwaukeepretzel.com/
Vermont Flannels: https://vermontflannels.com/beardlaws
Copper Johns Beard: http://thebestbeardproducts.com
Brio : https://brio4life.com/ Use Code BEARDLAWS
Episode Highlights
Albert Fish was one of America's most notorious serial killers, known for his violent and gruesome crimes.
Fish had a troubled childhood, with a family history of mental illness and abuse.
He engaged in self-harm and sadomasochistic practices, targeting young boys for torture, mutilation, and murder.
One of his most well-known victims was Grace Budd, a 10-year-old girl whom he killed and cannibalized.
Fish was eventually arrested, found guilty, and executed in the electric chair, highlighting the need for improved mental health care and the criminal justice system.
Episode Quotes
"The real story of Albert Fish begins now. Let's start at the beginning with his early life and the events that may have shaped the monster he would become."
"Fish is said to have helped the executioner position the electrodes on his body. His last words were reportedly, 'I don't even know why I'm here.'"
"When pressed by the assembled journalist to reveal the document's contents, he refused stating, 'I will never show it to anyone. It was the most filthy string of obscenities that I have ever read.'"
Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com
Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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