This article examines the life and career of John Hurlburt – the “electric chair executioner” who performed 140 executions at Sing Sing Prison in New York, including the infamous case of Julius Miller in 1926 – and the profound psychological toll that state-sanctioned killing took on him, ultimately leading to his resignation and tragic suicide. The content is for educational and historical documentation only, based on prison records, contemporary newspapers, and historical sources. It does not aim to glorify violence or advocate for any political ideology.
John Hurlburt: The Electric Chair Executioner Who Killed 140 Men
John Hurlburt (1867–1929), dubbed the “electric chair executioner,” was a key figure in early 20th-century American penal history. He performed 140 executions at Sing Sing Prison in New York, including the infamous case of Julius Miller in 1926. Starting as an electrician at Auburn Prison – the site of the world’s first electric chair execution in 1890 – Hurlburt’s career exemplified the grim profession’s toll, leading to his resignation and tragic suicide amid personal anguish.
Trained under Edwin Davis, the first “state electrician” who executed 240 people, Hurlburt’s work involved meticulous preparation for “Old Sparky.” But the psychological burden – witnessing convulsions, smoke, and the smell of burning flesh – drove many executioners to depression, addiction, and family secrecy. His 140th execution, meant to be routine, became his last, highlighting the human cost of state-sanctioned killings.
This story, set against the backdrop of Sing Sing’s “Death House,” reflects the era’s retributive justice and the executioner’s isolated life. Examining it objectively reveals the ethical horrors of capital punishment, underscoring reforms like New York’s 1963 abolition and the need to learn from history to prioritize rehabilitation over vengeance.
1. Early Life and Career: From Electrician to Executioner
John Hurlburt was born in September 1867 in Auburn, New York. He began his career as an electrician at Auburn Prison – the very place where the electric chair debuted with William Kemmler’s botched execution on August 6, 1890. That execution was described as “horrible” by inventors like George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, who had competed in the “War of the Currents” that led to the chair’s adoption.
Hurlburt assisted Edwin Davis, the world’s first professional electric chair executioner, who trained him and Robert Greene Elliott. Davis executed 240 people from 1890 to 1914 and created the “Black Thursday” record by killing seven inmates in a single day on August 12, 1912.
2. The Rise of “Old Sparky” at Sing Sing
When New York designated Sing Sing Prison in Ossining as its primary execution site starting in 1915, Hurlburt replaced Davis as the prison’s chief executioner. His 140 executions included many notorious cases, but the psychological strain was immense. Post-traumatic stress, depression, and substance abuse plagued executioners throughout the era.
During Julius Miller’s execution in 1926, Hurlburt meticulously attached electrodes soaked in saline solution to prevent burning. Yet sweat beaded on his face from stress. Miller, strapped into the oak chair, convulsed under 1,750 volts of electricity as smoke rose from his body – a common but horrifying sight.
3. The Personal Toll: A Life Destroyed by Death
Hurlburt’s personal life compounded his torment. His wife Mattie suffered from chronic illness, which racked up mounting medical bills. This forced him to continue working despite his growing hatred for the job. He was paid **150perexecution∗∗(plus150perexecution∗∗(plus50 for multiple executions on the same day), but the money could not compensate for the moral weight he carried.
He hid his profession from family and friends, fearing retaliation or ostracism. When traveling to perform executions in other states like New Jersey and Massachusetts, he became increasingly irritable, reportedly throwing objects in frustration.
4. The Breaking Point: Resignation and Suicide
Mattie’s death in September 1925 devastated Hurlburt. He resigned after performing only two more executions on January 16, 1926, stating simply that he was “sick of killing.”
Robert Greene Elliott – another executioner trained by Edwin Davis – succeeded Hurlburt, going on to execute 387 people until 1939.
Hurlburt’s life ended in tragedy. On February 22, 1929, he committed suicide in his Auburn basement using a pistol he had obtained from the prison. His death echoed the fate of many executioners who became entangled in domestic violence, depression, or despair. The men who killed for the state often ended up killing themselves.
5. Sing Sing’s “Death House”: A Slaughterhouse
Sing Sing’s “Death House” – dubbed the “Slaughterhouse” by inmates – executed 614 people from 1891 to 1963. The last execution at Sing Sing took place in August 1963, when Eddie Lee Mays was put to death.
Today, the execution chamber has been converted into a vocational center for inmates. “Old Sparky,” the electric chair that claimed so many lives, is now exhibited at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. – a grim artifact of a bygone era.
6. The Human Cost of Capital Punishment
John Hurlburt’s career as Sing Sing’s “electric chair executioner” – ending with his 140th kill and his personal tragedy – exemplifies the profound toll that state-sanctioned death takes not only on the condemned but on those who administer it.
From meticulous preparations amid moral anguish to hidden lives lived in fear of retribution, his story reveals the human cost behind what was called “justice.” The psychological burden was not unique to Hurlburt. Many executioners suffered from:
Post-traumatic stress disorder from witnessing violent deaths.
Alcoholism and substance abuse as coping mechanisms.
Depression and suicidal ideation.
Family breakdowns due to secrecy and shame.
7. The End of an Era: New York’s Abolition of Capital Punishment
New York State abolished the death penalty in 1963 – just one year after the last execution. The state has not executed anyone since. The growing recognition of the ethical horrors of capital punishment, including its toll on executioners, fueled the reform movement.
By reflecting objectively on Hurlburt’s life, we confront how executions destroyed not just the condemned but also the executioners. This history urges societies to reject capital punishment’s cycle of trauma, promoting:
Rehabilitation rather than retribution.
Mental health support for those working in the justice system.
Ethical alternatives to state-sanctioned killing.
8. Conclusion: Learning from History
John Hurlburt’s story is a warning. A man who began as a simple electrician ended his life in the basement of his own home, killed by the same kind of pistol he might have seen in the execution chamber. He performed 140 killings for the state – and then killed himself.
The electric chair is gone. The Death House at Sing Sing is now a vocational center. But the questions Hurlburt’s life raises remain: Can the state ever ethically take a life? And what does it do to the people it asks to pull the switch?
Until we answer those questions honestly, the ghost of John Hurlburt – and all the other executioners who paid with their own lives – will continue to haunt us.
Primary Sources:
Auburn Prison execution records (1890–1914)
Sing Sing Prison “Death House” records (1915–1963)
Contemporary newspaper reports – The New York Times, New York Daily News (1926–1929)
New York State Archives – Executioner payroll and records
Historical studies of the electric chair and capital punishment in New York
The Newseum – “Old Sparky” exhibit records