The Dickinson press., 1891-07-11

ately incandescent lamps on the switch
board gave out their white light and
the scientists turned the current into the
voltmetre and then into the ampermetre
and when fully satisfied with its indi-
Gated power they informed Warden
Brown. Deputy Warden Connaughton
and two keeper deputies then entered the
death cell building to bring forth the
trembling wretch who was the first to
pay the penalty of his crime. Fathers
Creeden and Lynch were engaged with
Slocum when Warden Brown and his
deputies entered. Slocum had been Sc.
lected as the first victim. and US soon as
the priests finished their supplications,
ne said he was ready and step ed out of
his cell with alacrity and the walk to
death began. Following the warden
and deputy came Slocum between the
two priests. who held aloft in front of
him cruci6x at which he gazed. Two
keeper deputies brought up the rear OF
the fateful procession.
SLOWLY THE HEAVY DOORS
swung back, and with solemn tread the
little procession walked into the room
where the silence of death prevailed
The had but few steps to take. The
chair was directly in their front, and as
the leaders parted, the chair stood out
in allits awfulness before the m an about
to sit in it and die. Slocum halted ut
the warden's command just on the edge
OF the rubber mat which was to protect
those who were watching his life go out
| Tho Innro.l Al
on the chair, then wandered to the
was suspended Back to the chair it
started as though he had received a
shock from the wire when the warden
began reading the death warrant, while
Ths witnesses sDsse were "a arranged range to the
left of the chair The scientists
stood in front of the switchboard
watching the current which they read
like book as it flashed in the lamps
and through the recording Instruments,
the executioner was heard to rise from
his chair in the closet and place him.
self ready to do his duty with au at.
tempt to smile. Slocum seated himself
in the chair and leaned his head against
the rubber to rest, as though he was
preparing to be shaved. The forced
smile remained on his face, and us Fa-
theirs Creeden and Lynch took up q
position in front of him, he again di-
rected his gaze to Gross while Oonnaugh
ton began fastening straps. Slocum q
eyes were clear and he appeared to be
in perfect physical condition. He toob
his eyes from Gross long enough to aid
Deputy Warden Connaughton in his
task, and then until the shield was
placed on his face his lips moved in
prayer and he looked tixedly at the
cross straps crossed, and the one that
crossed his body and his legs were
tightly bound to the footrest
Then his arms were fastened and Slo-
cum could
| NO LONGER MOVE A MUSCLE
Finally oddly arranged set straps that
bound his chair in one position and COW
cred his eyes were put in place. Now
Drs Mcdonald and Rockwell and Pro
fessor Landy approached to attach the
electrodes Positive electrode was
placed on Slocum's head, the same as in
the Kemler electrocution. The negative
electrode was attached to the right leg
trousers, having been rolled up for this
purpose before Slocum was bound in the
chair. When the electrodes had been
satisfactorily adjusted and wires at
tached the scientists glanced at
the switch board and said that the cur
rent was steady and registered 1,GOo
volts Drs. Mcdonald and Rockwell
stood on the other side of the chair The
other physicians b' ing witnesses also
dr. W near The laymen stood back as
though to be sure of their
nerves. Drs Daniels. South
wick and Ward took special
interest in these prel1minaries, and
with the watch in hand, waited the
signal of Professor Landy's hand, which
grasped the handle of the switch which
turned the current into the wires in
the electrocutioner's closet Warden
Brown ,aised his hand and Professor
Landy turned the switch, and then the
warden tapped on the closet. The un-
known on the inside gave quick pull
to his rubber covered lever. The
electric fund wps released before the
sound Of the tap reached Slocum s ears,
aud like flash it sped through his
body. There was not tremor of the
body as the ply sicians counted the
seconds. and when Professor Landy
turned eff the current Slocum sat rigid
and lifeless in the chair. When the
electrodes were removed it was discov
cred the skull and flesh of the leg had
been slightly burnei, but there was no
smell Of roasting flesh such as made the
| Kemmler electrocution so horrible. The
straps were unloosed and the body was
carried back into the rear room.
DID NOT HESITATE
when told that his hour had come, but
when the death chair appeared before
him, he almost fell to the floor. His
knees knocked together and but for the
support of the spiritual advisers he
would certainly have collapsed. War
den Brown quickly read the death war
rant, and Smiles was hastily seated in
the chair His face took on CHASTITY
hue and Connuughton got no assist
ance from his victim in
arranging the straps Smiles was
bound and electrodes applied in q
much briefer time than on Slocum and
in few seconds Smiles was also dead
The same slight burning. under the
electrodes was noticed as in Slocum' g
case.
WOOD HAD BEEN PREPARED
By Fathers Cueden and Lynch while
Smiler was going to his death and he
was all ready. He uttered not a
word. When his time came
he walked to death supported
by the priests. Wood betrayed no emo