Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-07-08


and the chaplain passed Oh to the
sailors cell, while the two priests
busted themselves respectively with
Slocum and Wood. The condemned
men took very calmly the announce
mcnt that the sentence was about To
be executed. They were dressed when
the chaplain and priests entered Their
clothing was much alike-a suit of
dark diagonal. white shirt and collar,
and black tie.
Soon after 4 o'clock a m. the
witnesses and jurors were ushered into
the death chamber. They gathered
at the prison in response to the
warden's invitation, half an hour
or more before the time fixed for the
electrocution to take place. The war
den invited the full number of those
whom the law authorized him to invite;
and so far as he could he insured their
presence. The law says nothing about
the number of persons who shall be
present Ii directs the warden
to invite certain officers and twelve
citizens. Warden Brown inter-
preted the law TO authorize him
To send out only twelve invitations,
outside of those extended to the
officials named, and he believes that if
one of the witnesses invited should fail
TO come. or should write declining the
invitation, he would have no authority
20 invite more The experts examined
everything and were satisfied that there
would be no hitch
At o'clock Slocum walked into the
bathroom accompanied bS Father
Creeden. He seemed to be making a
tremendous effort TO keep his compos-
ure. He had received Father Creeden's
last Offices. aud had declared himself
ready to die. He was then firmly
strapped into the chair aud the death
current applied Death was instan-
taneous There was sudden contrac-
ton of the nerves and then all was over.
Smiler followed next Rev. Mr.. Ed
gerton chcered him up. Before Smiler
had time To- think he was strapped into
the chair aud i'm an instant later the
current of electricity was flashed
through him that sent him into
eternity.
Next 10 follow was Wood. the negro.
He had been worked up to a state of
religious enthusiasm. and IL was while
in this frame of mind that he was
fastened into the chair and killed by
the fatal shock.
The execution Of Jugiro. the big
Japanese sailor. had been left for the
last In anticipation of a struggle. Tho
v...s.-t-.I lr.Hs1 -
gle with the guards. but was overcome.
placed in the chair, and subjected to
the fatal current at COS o'clock
AL of the men were killed on the
first contact. There was no struggle
after they were strapped down or re-
sistance II any kind. IL will thus be
seen that Warden Brown was unex-
pectedly successful in his melancholy
task The first victim of the dead Y
chair. sIocum. was dispatched at 4:4s.
and at sos Jugiro. the Japanese sailor.
paid the penalty of his misdeed. One
hour asd twentyfour minutes only were
required 10 dispatch the four murder
ers. The greatly increased voltage over
that used in the execution Of Kemmler
was one reason that the executions
were more successful. though doubt
less the experience gained In that irst
affair was a great help in this Fuller
details may bring out new points.
but the general results as far as can
oe ascer-aned with the slim <ecilities
Of obtaining the news Is a very decid-
sd Improvement over the previous eve
rf1ticn
The prisoners had received some in
timstion beforehans that the execu-
sions were 70 take place. and they were
prepared for them They went 10 the
execution chair brsvely and met their
fate without struggle. They offered
N, resistance. hat rather assisted the
keepers when they we're bound down
In the chair The electrodes were not
aoclied as IN the Kemmler case 20 The