The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-09
And Then 1000 Volts Of Electricity Sped
Through the Connecting Wire and
Burned the Life Ont of His Body.
Scenes Attending the Execution of q
Murderer at Sing Sing Yesterday.
Two Applications of the Deadly Current Nee
essarytO Kill the yictim-DenOunced as
Brutal by One of the Witnesses.
SHOCKED TO DEATH.
Charles McIivsine Eiectrocuted for the Mur-
der Of Grocerymau Luca.

Charles McIivsine Elecrrocuted for the Mur-
der OF Grocerymsn Luca.
SING SING. n. Y. Feb. S-The awful
clinic is over. and Charles McIlvaine, the
murderer. 10 O thing of the past. lie paid
n double debt for his crime. for he was
made the subject of one of the ghastliest ex-
periments ever tried. twas as cold blood
ed and cruel as vivisection, but the doctors
liked It. and they will fill the air with val
liable contributions TO medical science as
the result OF the ex pertinent upon this poor.
dull clay. The men of science say that
McIlvalne was unconscious from the in
slant the first contact began. and that his
death was painless although instanter.
"The toughest man in Sing Sing" was the
name that Mcllvaine gained for himself
with his keepers In the prison. He used 10
be sullen. ugly and defiant and when he
first entered the prison was openly REBEL
ious. One day he broke his bedstead. and
when his keeper entered the cell the mur-
derer knocked him down with one of the
iron legs to the bed. 1t took three men to
subdue the man. and as o punishment be
was kept In a dark cell for several
days. He has had several Quarrels with
guards and keepers. as well as with
his ellow.convicts. When Wood. who was
executed last July. passed Mc1lvaine's cell
on his way to the death-chair. MoIlvaine
cried out TO him: Goodbye. - you.
You'll be in hell beforeI am" There came
q change, however. when his last hope
vanished. Lately he was subdued and gen.
tie in demesnor. and spent much of his
time during the last few days In reading
his Bible and talking with Father Creedon,
his spiritual advisor.
The warden read the death warrant TO
the condemned man at midnight The lat
ter remained quiet and did not seem TO be
visibly affected. The guard, or so-called
death line in front of the warden's Office,
was established at z o'clock this morning.
At that hour the convicts marched 10 the
shops and began work as usual for the day.
Except the armed guard patrolling in front
of the warden's Office there was nothing
unusual TO indicate the tragic occurrence
which was soon TO be enacted within the
prison by the representatives of the law.
McIlvane slept well, and xot q at 6o'cock
this morning. He partook OF light break
fast. consisting of dry toast and bowl OF
milk, and appeared to be In good spirits.
Afterward he engaged in prayer with
Father Creedon.
AT 10 O'Clock Warden Brown, accom-
og the sSs se
At IL o'clock the witnesses were al In the
warden's Office and were summoned 60 the
death chamber. They were Ur. ). ID.
Ward. of Albany; Prof. L. ii. Laudy. Of
Columbia College; DIR. l.. A. Saxer, of syrs-
cuse; Dr. 4. ). Robertson. OF New York;
DR.. Herbert 4. Williams of BROOKLYN; DIR.
j. Marill, of PoughkeeDsie; DIR. A. 4. Car
roll. OF BROOKLYN; Dr. j. Hasbrouck. of
New York. Led by warden Brown and
keeper COnnaughten, the procession of
witnesses traiied down through the lower
prison regions by tortuous passages TO the
haf mi h.ar ~ Ion
THE NEW DEATH CHAIR.
Stools were ranged about the room. in
the middle of which stood an execution
chair, which all who had seen Kemmler's
death and the subsequent electrocutions at
Sing Sing recognized as new. 1t involved
in Its construction n new feature-that OF
provision for application of the current
through both hands. as had been some time
ago suggested by Thomas A. Edison. The
chair itself was the outRrowth OF ideas
held by prison yardmaster Hilbert who,
since the quadruple execution last July,
has been studying TO effect electric con-
tacts without burning the flesh or scalding
the skin Of the subject. The new chair is
fashioned in its general outlines after the
chairs previously in use. The new pattern
involved change at the arms. however.
They ore high at the back and fit
closely under the armpits OF the sub
front. The distinctiyely new feature
was the provision Of deep glass cells Sc
curely fastened 90 that the hands MAJ be-
Immersed IN water, which filed the Jars.
The water was solution Of chloride of
sodium and warm. SO az TO not shock
the nervous subject on the brink OF death.
One of the cells received the current from
beneath; the other from above. The coil
OF conducting wire for the electrode for
the head dsngled from above. stout.
broad straps were placed for fastening the
wrists in the cells. aud other bands held
the elbows tightly. The volt meter and
other appliances for measuring and con-
trolling the current were in readiness. and
Prof. l.. ii. Laudy, of Columbia College,
stood before II ready 20 do the bidding OF
Drs. Ward and Mac Donald. who had charge
of the professional details in behalf OF the
State. DR.. Ward took bis place near the
chair of DEATH ana DIR. Macdonald directly
in front, greater distance away.
The time was 1905. when Warden Brown.
addressing his visitors. warned them col
lectively that no gratuitous advice or sug-
gestions would be tolerated from any save
those In charge officially: Bring Me-
llvsine M said Warden Brown, turning
TO keeper Connaughten and a deputy, who
stood near the door opening into n corridor
that leads TO the cells for the condemned.
The time was 1l:OS A. NJ. There was
tramping of feet heard in the corridor. the
door was pushed open aud the offcers
with q lOw-siZed, dark browed and swarthy
faced young man between them, entered
the room. The condemned man, Mcllvaine,
was palid and his hands, which held q
crucltix before him, trembled and shook.
Fathers Creedon and Smith were at his
side as he entered the room. the officers
giving way TO the priests. "Oh. Jesus help
me- he murmdrea with suppressed emo
tlon, and. then as the control OF his nerves
slackened, he almost shouted. "Oh. God,
i am sorry that have offended Thee. Oh,
Christ. have mercy
Meantime. he had been lowered into the
chair. The head was pressed back against
the leaden necK-rest An electrode was
quickly clapped upon the forehead and the
clamp on the rubber tube was l0osened so
the water flowed down into the eleetrode-
sponge. And while this was being done an
officer on each side had strapped the wrists
and elbows. while others yet were strap
ping the legs at the an kles and an electrode
was bound upon the calf of the right leg.
from which the trousers leg. already
ripped open, had been stripped away.
Jesus spare me, merciiul God. help me-"
muttered the prisoner as the broad leather
mask was bound across his face. conceal
ing all the features save the nose and
mouth. The time was ll:12 A. NJ.
LET FER Co." HE SAID.
81 am heartily sorry. o God. that have
offended Thee" came once more the mutiled
voice of the condemned man. and then