Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-03
"JOE- WOODS EXECUTIONS.
How He Bore Himself Through the Pre-
liminary Ordeal.

Joe" WOODS EXECUTION.
How He Bore Himself Through the Pre-
liminsry Ordeal.
When Warden Thayer gave the word for
Wood to be brought out for execution yestsr-
day at Dannemora prison there were grouped
the reporters, physicians and others invited 10
witness the execution.
Four minutes after IL o'clock. after the wit
nesses had entered the death room, the ma
ehinery was started, the electric current was
turned on, and an instsn. later the two rows of
electric test lights placed In the death chair
showed that the deadly current was both quick
and powerful enough to Satisfactorily perform
the purpose for which it was generated: Pre-
vious to the test the warden cautioned the
spectators against any interference. After the
preliminaries were over the spectators sat in
silence waiting for the coming OF the prisoner
The condemned man walked with a firm and
steady step along the corridor toward the spot
where the warden and two keepers were wait
ing for him. As the little procession entered
the room ahalf-suppressed murmur Of surprise
escaped from some of the witnesses. Wood
was neatly attired in black suit; his shirt,
collar and cuffs were snow white and tie Of
the same hue encircled his neck. His face was
smoothly shaver, with the exception OF the
mus.ache. Wood looked anything but the
Crossing the threshold Of the room, the pris-
oner turned to the right and with two or three
steps stood in front Of the fatal chair. The
condemned mans face was pale and there was
the slightest tremor about the compressed lips,
but he permitted no other outward sign Of the
emotions which must have filled his breast.
When Wood reached the chair the keepers
stepped to one side and the prisoner said:
II want to thank Warden Thayer for his great
kindness to me. Also my keepers. My time on
earth is not long enough TO return my thanks
to Judge Whitman for his noble efforts. He
has been nearer than brother to me and hope
he will live a long life and die happy In the
Lord. pray that God will now give me the
strength of two men TO go to meet Him. for
know l am going there. God bless you all.
May He make you all happy"
Here Woods voice trembled little. As he
sat down in the chair Wood said, in a strange
voice: '.God remember me- He repeated
this three times while the straps were being ad-
justed. His last words were, "God bless me"
repeated twice.
The fatal signal was given by Keeper Welts Of
Auburn prison. At the contact Woods body
Strengthened out rigidly and the hands turned
upward on the arms Of the chair. Twelve Sec
onds was the duration of the first contact. The
second contact was two seconds shorter. and as
it reached full power q curl Of blue smoke arose
from the murderer's forehead and an odor Of
burned rubber filed the room, and this was re-
peated in the thirdaud fourth contacts, the time
of which was six seconds long. As the current
was turned on each time Woods body straight
ened out. This followed by a relaxation rs
the electric fluid was shut off
Wood entered the death chamber Just at
II "A and at II 80 he was dead. He was in the
death chair one minute and fourteen seconds.
An interval Of three seconds was given between
each contact; the smoke came from the burn
ing end of the rubber tube down which the salt
water ran to the electrodes. There was q slight
I,x-~ -zf& a.. ~
justment of the straps and electrodes took but
twelve seconds.
The physicians in charge made an examina-
ton of the body Immediately after the fourth
contact. The voltage was $50, with amperags
Oft.
The witnesses were then allowed to make an
examination before the prisoner was pro-
nounced dead. Warden Thayer announced that
the post-mortem would be held Immediately and
the body was taken to the post-mortem room on q
stretcher. The autopsy was conducted by DR..
Abbott, the other physicians assisting. The
death certificate was signed by the witnesses
and the first legal electrical execution at Dam
nemora was over. The body was delivered to
Woods wife.
The autopsy was held upon the body by Drs.
Irving, BuIlard and Abbott.
DIR. Irving said subse quently that there were
no traces of the electrical current found upon
the remains save a slight blistering Of the skin
the left calf The Uranium, he added, was
thick, but the brain was large and good speci-
men. The heart was normal. but the kidneys
were slightly affected with incipient interstitial
Bright's disease. This, under ordinary condi-
tions. would probably not have advanced to q
fatal stage for a dozen years or more.
Joseph Wood, better known as Cal Wood,
was convicted on September II, 1891. Of muir
dering his father-in-law, Leander Pasco, a
farmer Of Warren county, on May 10, 1880.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, alleging
temporary insanity. The successive courts ad-
judged him guilty, and Gov. Flower refused to
interfere.
On March 2 previous to the crime Wood
had secretly married Pasco's daughter. I'M
mediately after the marriage they separated,
returning to their own homes. Pasco, who was
very severe with his children, was displeased
with the marriage and would not recognize
Wood. About a month later Wood told q
neighbor that Pasco. VINO was then living with
his housekeeper. fought to be put out Of tho
way so the children could have his property"
After Wood and his wife went to live together
they were subjected to some petty annoyances,
which they charged to Pasco. Wood sought to
get warrant out for his arrest, but, being de-
MED, uttered more threats. About three weeks
later Pasco was murdered by two gunshot
wounds. 1t was satisfactorily proved that
Wood had lain in ambush for his father-in-law.