The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-08
he current measured som,

At tho end OF the twenty seconds the
current was turned Off, but only for a
minute. the chest of the man In the
CHAIR began to heave, and the curren,
was turned on once more, until, as In
the case of Slocum. it burned the flesh.
Then it was shut off again. and after a
delay which showed that there was no
chance OF revival, the body was un-
strapped and taken from the chair to
the autopsy room adjoining.
Wood was the third so DO executed.
lie came willingly, accompanied by the
Two priests and wont through tho ordeal
oravely with substantially tho same re-
suit The difference in the arrange
ment OF his case mas the attaching of
the negative electrodes to tho left leg
instead of to the right. Tho reason for
this change was that there was an
liberated sore on tho right leg at the
calf
Inc hrSt contact in Woods case, as
in the others, did not seem to lie final.
and 1T needed second, which continued
until the flesh was singcd, to satisfy the
physicians that the man was dead. IL
the kemmler case the burning of the
body was ascribed in part to the fact
that the sponges were not we'll wctted.
Today the sponges were wettcd con.
stantly.
The fourth man to meet death was the
Jap, Jugiro- Owing to his brutal ma
ture it had been feared that he might
make resistance, but his long confine-
ment had broken his spirit. When
the warden and keeper came to his cell
he was seated on tho -four lIe has
never wanted bed in his cell. lie
spranE to his feet as though he met
summons gladly and followed the guard
quietly Ills face was repulsive and
brutlsh. The long beard had been cut
OIL, but few days stubble made his facs
untidy. lie was bound without resist.
ance and stolidly awaited the shock.
The first contact did not DESTROY all
appearance Of life and the second
burned the flesh. There was no doubt
though of the death of the Japanese
when he was taken from the chair.
with tho conclusion OF tho fourth
execution Warden Brown led tho wit
nesNcs back to his house. where, after an
hours wait, a second breakfast moro
elaborate than the first was served to
them.
NO one knew exactly who was inside
that board house with carefully screened
windows. No ono knew just all who
were legal witnesses to the killing, but
this is an imperfect list:
DR.. Southwicll, Buffalo: DIR. Danicls.
Buffalo, DR.. Carlos L. Mcdonald, State
board OF lunacy, New York; Dir. Al.
phonso d. Rockwell, New York;
DIR. Samuel L. Ward, OF Albany:
DIR. Franklin Townsend, Auburn: DR..
i'arker, of the local prison stall; DR..
l!aram barber and Prof. l.. H. Landy, of
New York; Father Hogan, Rev. John Is.
Creeden, Deputy Attorney General llo-
gan Il. j.. Davis, electrician, and Chas.
purSton. warden of the Auburn prison
All OF the witnesses had remained in
tho prison all night. 1t was tho idea of
the warden to keep them within the
walls, where they could not be inter.
viewed and where they would have no
chancc to talk to any one. lie kept
them pretty we'll.
TIE AUTOPSY.
The autopsy was begun at about half
past 10 o'clock and the first body ope.-
atcd upon was that Of Slocum DR.. Nc
Donold was in charge OF tho autopsy and
was assisted by DR.. Ward DR.. Town.
send and DIR. Southwick Tho same
force continued on the other bodies
Ihey will not finish tonight aud DR..
McDonad's official statement may not
be given out for some days.
The autopsy of Slocum was confined
mostly to the brain and heart to find
OUT how the strong current affected
them. The brain of Sl0cum at every
place the contact was made the tissues
were burned and destroyed. Dr. Me-
Donald, who conducted the execution
and autopsy was asked tonight for Il
statement. He declined to give any in
formation, saying that the results would
he given out in Albany from official
sources.
When asked to deny the statement
that the men did not die instantly, he
said: II have nothing to say" DR..
Ward was ask ed did the first shock kill
the men, and said Il do not care TO
answer that. | think the execution
successful All of the witnesses have
gone, and the prison has returned to its
natural state.
Warden Brown says that all informa-
tion VIII be given out at the Office OF the
superintendent Of prisons in Albany.
The bodies OF Jugiro, Wood and So
cum will he buried in the pottcr's field
in quick lime. Smiler's body will be
removed by his wife in the morning.
TIE STORY OF THEIR GRIMES.
All the Victims Made Desperate Struggles
to Escape the Awful Fate.
James j. Slocum killed bis Wife Mel
lie, with an axe in their rooms at ia
Roosevelt street, on the night Of Dec.
81, 1880
hrs. Slocum was young and hand
scmc woman, although She had led to
some extent dissipatcd life in consc-
qucnce of the condnct of her husband.
Slocum was at one time Il professional
baseball player. For some time before
the murder he was supposed to work as