The event that took place that day at Auburn Prison in New York State reflected the grim side of technological progress. The New York Times called it a gruesome sight. However, there were other opinions: another American newspaper came out with the headline, “At last we live in a civilized world!" This was how an American lawbreaker's first encounter with the “Yellow Mama” – the electric chair – occurred. The “lucky man" who experienced its humane effect was William Kemmler, who killed his beloved with an axe. Today every American criminal is at risk of going to the electric chair, except those whose IQ is below 70. These are sentenced to life imprisonment; due to their stupidity they did not know what they were doing.