It's possible you are thinking of Giovanni Aldini, an Italian physicist who was famous for his experiments with electricity and corpses in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is most known for his demonstration on the body of George Forster, a convicted murderer, in 1803.
Here's what likely happened:
* Giovanni Aldini performed a public demonstration of galvanism (using electricity to stimulate muscles) on the body of George Forster, a recently executed criminal.
* This demonstration was a sensation at the time and sparked debate about the nature of life and death.
* Aldini's goal was to show that electricity could be used to revive dead bodies, though this was ultimately proven false.
It's important to note that while the experiment was controversial, it was not intended to be cruel or harmful. Aldini believed he was contributing to scientific understanding and sparking important discussions about life and death.
If you have any further questions about Giovanni Aldini, his experiments, or the history of electricity, feel free to ask!