Green Mile 3

Perhaps the most prominent issue touched on by Stephen King in "The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix" is Percy's actions during his first execution; and for that matter why he was present at the execution in the first place. King outlines the fundamental corruption in Cold Mountain's prison system, which is that because Percy Wetmore is related to the Governor, he can do anything he wants (i.e. beating Delacroix badly with no consequence) Paul was told by the warden earlier in the story that Percy was to attend the execution of Eduard Delacroix (and later that he was to play a part in it). During electrocutions a sponge was soaked in brine (salt water) to conduct the electricity through a persons body smoothly. Percy Intentionally failed to wet the sponge during Delacroix's execution, which caused the electricity to pop and catch fire, melting the mask on Del's face and setting his hair and face ablaze. Although the mood on the mile changed afterward, Percy's connections would prevail, and he got away with it.