Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-08
THE DETAILS
OF How the Executed Men Met their
Tesfib,s Death.

SiNe SING. N. r., July -Four con-
demDed murderer, Harris A. Smiler,
Joseph Wood, James j. Siocum and Shi-
kick Juairo this morning paid the death
penalty by being electrocuted. The four
condmned men vent to their death without
tiinchipg. Jugiro, the eccentric Jap, had
previously given the keepers much trouble
and was expected to offer resistance when
be WAS led to the fatal chair, but did not.
He died % others did game" The follow
ing persons were in prison as witnesses.
DR.. Carlos F. Mcdonald, chairman Of the
State Lunacy Commission; Prof. Louis
Laudy; Deputy Attorney General Hogan;
DR.. Alphopso d. Rockwell, New York; /;
DIR. S. v. Ward, Albany; DR.. Southwick,
Buffalo; DR.. F. Townsend, Albany; DR..
Charles Z. Daniels. Buffalo; DIR. Hiram
Barber, prison physician; Il. e. Davis; /;
Warden Charles E. Durston. Auburn;
Warden W. r. Brown, Sing Sing; Rev.
Fathers John B. Creeden and Lynch; Rev.
G. w. Edgefton, chaplain Of Sing Sing
prison; Secretary Brown. state lunacy COM
missioner; ex-Warden Brush and R. e.
Oliver.
information TO the Newspaper men when
each man Was executed by flsg. A black
flag indicated that Wood had died in the
electric chair, a red flag for Jngifo, white
for Slocum and blue for Smiler.
Precisely ut 4.4G the white flag was run
up, indicating that SIocum had been killed.
The Hsg remained up scarcely two minutes.
At 5 10 the blue flag vas run up on the pole,
indicating that Smiier had been put to
death. Ats 43A The black flag conveyed
the intelligence that the negro Wood bad
died in the electric chair. The red flag
showing that the Jsp, Jugiro, had met his
fate Was run MP 1t 6 %.
About 6 30 Fathers Creden and Lynch,
Who attended the condemned men in their
last moments, cams out Of the wafden's
building and 90. into carriage. Some re-
porteYs attempted to approach the carriage,
but were told by the ghards to stand back.
The carriage drove away, and few min
uses later Drs. Rockwell and McDonaid
and Deputy Attorney General Hogan came
out Of the prison and got into carriage to-
gether. They we're driven TO 1.-The depot,
bat refused to give any information except
to say that the electrocution had passed on
SUCCESSFULLY.
AOther Witnesses as came from the cham
Der of death we're equally reticent After
the gfeasest persuasion one OF the witnesses
consented 10 tell about the electfocu.ion.
He said that when everything vss in
readiness Warden Brown passed through
the big iron door leading from the death
chamber to the low building where the coz
denned were waiting in the cells. The
warden was gone about two OF
three minutes when he and Phnci.
psi Keeper Connsughton. hesded 4
little procession in which walked
Siocum between Fathers Creedsn
and Lynch. Guards brought up the rear.
When the procession passed through thu
door into the execution room the wituessei
were grouped about the chair, while ths
exsefts and physicians stood in front
Siocum was promptly led toward tbt
chair and Warden Bfush, without AM
cere mony told the condemned man to b
seated. Slocum promptly obeyed the com
mand, and vas soon settled in the chsir
He was quickly strapped BY ts'
men detailed By thei warden % do this
work. The elecRode. or cap, wss place.
in position on the condemned mans hesd
A vet sponge. was under bis cap. IN
pcsitive current wss TO be sent through thi
cap, and the negative csrrsnt BY anothe
electfeds ss the calf Of the legs.
Dr.. Mcdonald personally saperintsndss
the adjussment Of sli Straps. One ~
tightly drawn across the chin and mout
% prevent the condemned man fsom max
ing any estcfy. Another was fsstene
over beth eyes. The positive wire m
down tie arm Of ths cabinet, and the negs
i've viRs came up through the door. On
doctor spongsd the two electrode
4 with salt wstes. Dr.. Daniels, Di
Southwick and Warden DuYstan The
exsnired the straps ard nodded to Di
Med who stood behind the chair Wit
l lContnusd on 4th psgs.j