The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1891-07-08

hOSt VI tuC IuCH WClO ttWSaAC WACu,
shortly before four o'clock, the
Priests and the Chaplain appeared
The latter spoke a few words of
comfort to Jugiro when he told him
that the end was near, but the Jap
did not receive them in grateful
spirit, and the chaplain passed on to
Smiler's cell, while the two priests
busted themselves respectively with
Slocum and Wood.
The condemned men took very
calmly the announcement that the
sentence was about to be executed.
They were dressed when the chap
lain and the priests entered. Their
clothing was much alike--a suit of
radd diagonal, white shirt and col
lar and black tie.
About 4 a. m. the witnesses dis
tributed themselves about the death
chamber. The electrician was in
charge of the apparatus for measur-
ing the current which was fastened
to the side of the closet opposite the
entrance to cell room. 1t consisted
of a volt-meter, a resistance
coil and row of 20 incandescent
lamps, each measuring 100 volts.
A heavy switch board formed the
connection between the wires from
the dynamo at the other end of the
prison grounds and the wires in the
executioner's closet adjoining. A
push button communicated with a
signal bell in the dynamo room.
When the witnesses had arrang-
ed themselves about the room the
electrician touched this button and
the engineer responded to the signal
and started the dynamo. They had
been tested up to 5000 volts during
the morning. When the current had
been turned on the electrician
threw the switch which turned it
into the row of lamps above his
head. They burst into a glow OF
Light that rivalled the daylight
shining through the canvas COW
J! ering of the windows about the
sides Of the improvised execution
room. The testing apparatus show
ed again a satisfactory strength OF
current. The electrician advised
the warden of the fact. The
warden went to the great
iron door at which stood one
of the assistants, whom he had ap
pointed under warrant of. the law
and it was opened to permit him tc
pass through. He was gone only {
couple of minutes. In that time he
had notified Head Keeper Con
naughton, who was in the condemn
ed cell room, that the chair was
ready for the first of the condemned
The death warrant was not read tt
!, the condemned man in the cell a.
, was done in the case 0
, Kemler. The Warden had sar
that he did not know anything il
I the law requiring him to read tn
death warrant. AS precaution
airy measure he would read it bu
, not at the time of the execution
some time before, if possible. !
was his wish to prevent the othe
: men knowing that the first man ha
: been taken from his cell if it wa
! possible to do so. So the exit fro1
4 the cell room was made as quietl
as possible. The warden and tn
headkeeper walked aheac, then tn
condemned man (between the tw
e priests, Father Creeden and Fathe
|, Lynch), then the two guards. Whe
t the iron door had been closed benin
n the party, Slocum, the first victim
t stood silently and stolidly. He shove
It no depth OF interest In the ceremon
r in which he was to be party. Th
; warden did not ask the prisoner
@ he had any thing to say, and he di
not volunteer anything. The pri
e oner made no resistance, but wake
n quietly to the chair and sat down.
n As he seated himself and leane
< back, the wardens assistance steppe
y forward and drew across his che
d and under his arms the heavy stra]
d which Were securely fastened to tt
,e back of the chair, Then about b
ID wrists and over his arm they Dire
le another strap which they buckl.