Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-07
STORY OP A WITNESS.


STORY OP A WITNESS
Narrative Of One Who Saw the Quadruple
Execution.
NEW YORK, July 7.-One Of the witnesses of
the electrocution, whose name for obvious
reasons cannot be printed, gave the following
account of the occurrences in the
had gathered in n'A the chamber
some Of them appeared very nervous and
showed signs Of the great strain on their sensi-
bilities. The sliding door, which concealed
the switch board on the outside Of the execu-
gathered about Drs. Macdonald and Rockwell
and Prof. Landy. the scientists in charge Of the
electrocution, who proceeded to signal the
electrician in the dynamo room.
Five bells, the signal to get ready. was soon
followed by one toll which signifies: Turn
on the current.
Immediately the inoandescent lamps on the
switchboard gave out their white light and
scientists turned the current into the welt
meter, then into the amperemeter, and when
formed the warden.
Warden Brown, Deputy Warden Connaughton
and two keeper deputies then entered the death
cell building to bring forth the trembling
wretch who was first to pay the penalty Of his
crime. Fathers Creeden and Lynch were
engaged with Slocum when Warden Brown and
his deputies entered.
sLoCUM FIRST.
Slocum had been selected as first victim, and
as soon as the good priests had finished their
supplications he said he was ready and stepped
out OF his cell with alacrity. The walk to death
began. Following the warden and his deputy
came Slocum between the two priests, who held
steadfastly gazed. The two keeper deputies
brought up the rear of the fateful procession.
Slowly the heavy doors swung back and with
solemn tread and mien the little procession
walked into the room, where the silence Of
death prevailed.
They had but few steps to take. The chair
was directly in their front. As the the callers
parted the chair stood out in all its awfulnoss
before the man about to sit in it aud die.
Slocum halted at the warden's command.
just on the edge OF the rubber mat which was
to protect those who were watching his life 60
out.
The doomed mans gaze was riveted ON the
chair. Then it wandered to the dangling wire
and the closet from which it was suspended.
Back to the chair it came, like needle to
magnet, and he started though he had re-
ceived u shock from the wire, when the
warden began reading the death warrant, while
the reverend men engaged in silent prayer.
The witnesses were grouped to the left OF the
chair.
The scientists stood in front of the switch
board watching the current, which they read
like . book as 1t flashed in the lamps and
through the recording instruments.
THE ExEcUTIoNKR READ.
The executioner was heard to rise from his
chair in the closet and place himself ready to
do bis duty. With an attempt at a SMILE Slo-
cum seated himself In the chair and leaned his
head back against the rubber rest as though he
was simply preparing to be shaved.
The forced smile remained on his face and as
Fathers Creeden and Lynch took up
position in front Of him he again directed his
gaze at the CROSS, while Connaughton began
fastening the straps.
Slocums eyes were clear, and he appeared to
be in perfect physical condition. He took his
eyes from the cross long enough to aid Deputy
Warden Connaughton in his task, and then un-
til the shield was placed on his face his lips
moved in prayer as he looked fixedly at the
cross.
The straps crossed and recrossed his body
and his legs were tightly bound to the foot
rest. Then his arms were fastened and Slocum
could no longer move a muscle.
Finally an oddly -arranged set of straps that
bound his chin in one position and covered
his eyes were put in place.
Now Drs. Macdonald and Rockwell and Prof.
Landy approached to attach the electrodes.
The positive electrode was placed on Slocum's
head, the same as in the Kemmler electrocu-
| ton. The negative electrode was attached to
| the right leg, the trousers having been rolled
up for this purpose before Slocum was bound
| in the chair.
When the electrodes had been satisfactorily
adjusted and the wires attached the three
scientists glanced at the switchboard and saw
that the current was steady and registered !, 800
volts.
sLoCUM SAT RIGID.
| Doctors Macdonald and Rockwell then stood
| off the current. Slocum sat rigid and lifeless
in the chair.
| When the electrodes were removed it was
discovered that the skull and the flesh Of the
| leg had been slightly burned; but there was no
smell Of roasting flesh such as made the Kemm-
| Ter electrocution SO horrible.
The straps were unloosened and the body
carried back into the rear room.
| sM1LER DID NOT HESITATE
| Smiler did not hesitate when told that his
hour had come, but when the death chair ap-
peared before him he almost fell to the floor
His knees knocked together and but for the
| support Of his spiritual advisers he would GER
tainly have collapsed.
Warden Brown quickly read the death war
rant and Smiler was hastily seated in the chair
His face took on a CHASTITY hue and Connaugh-
ton got no assistance from this victim in ar
ranging the straps.
Smiler was bound and the electrodes applied
in q much briefer time than Slocum and in
few seconds Smiler also was dead. The same
slight burning under the electrodes was noticed
| as in Slocums CASE
WOOD WAS PREPARED.
Wood had been prepared by Fathers Creeden
and Lynch while Smiler was going to his death
and he was all ready. He uttered no word
when his time came. He walked to death, sup
ported by the priests.
Wood betrayed no emotion when he gazed on
the chair, but kept his eyes fixed on the cruel
fix. He sat down in the chair diffidently and
his binding was accomplished SO quickly that it
was only twenty-four minutes from Smiler's
| end until death came to him.
| InuN N DACKrp nraD