The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-20
KILLED By THE FIRST SHOCK
Fred McGuire's E~lecirocution at Sing
Sing Accomplished Without a Hitch.
It Took But Twelve Seconds to Burn the life
Out of the Murderons Piend-His Terrible
Crime-Four Negroes Carve Each Other.

prison. and, as the time approached for the
TO take his place In the death
chamber. seemed TO be fully resigned to the
fate which awaited him. He confessed his
guilt of the crime for which he was con-
victed. He assumed full responsibility for
the murder of Mrs. Gregory, and went to
his doom q penitent man.
At 1857 o'clock the witnesses were sum-
moned to the death chamber. At Ii o'clock
they entered. Four guards were already
there. Electrician Davis was in his shirt
sleeves, preparing the electrical apparatus
for the test. He tested the current, first
by volt-meter, then by incandescent lights
on the switchboard. He then tested a row
of tw~enty-three lights which rested on the
electric chair, and which showed the num-
Dor of volts which should pass into the
subject. The register showed 1900 volts.
At 1l:O9 the warden requested every one
present to keep quiet and remain In their
seats. At lilo the warden and head keeper
C~onnaughton went into the cell that was
occupied by Gotta. who was executed some
time ago. A half minute later the warden.
C~onDaughton and McGulre, tue latter be-
tween Chaplain Edgerton and Rev. Mr..
CoEkiin. entered the death chamber. Mo-
outtO WathCu btCu4iAl w tn0 WV
ministers. He appeared calm. and even
stolid. he stepped quickly TO the chair,
sitting down as calmly as he
would have done In an ordinary chair.
lie rested his head back on the rubber
cushion. and placed his arms upon the
arms of the chair and closed his hands
tightly. As Mcclure sat down the two
ministers began chanting the burial ser
vice. The electrodes were placed at bis
head and on the calf of his right leg. One
Len Of hfa frnnaara wla Qlif in nr1er fO an
ply the electrodes to the flesh. After ne
had been fastened in the chair. DR. Abbott
and Prison Surgeon Irvine examined the
bindings, and. stepping back. Dr. Abbott
gave the signal for electrician DAVIS 1t
was then ten minutes and fifty seconds
after IL O'clock; at this moment the first
current was turned CD. The first shock
lasted fifty seconds. 1t PAS turned on
again at IL o'clock. IL minutes and 2 sec
ouds. This was the second shock. and it
only. lasted u few seconds. Only two
shocks were administered Mcclure was
killed by the frat shock. DR.. Abbott SAID
that McGuire was killed in twelve seconds.
The second current was only turned on AS q
precautionary measure.
At IL O'Clock. II MINUTES and so seconds
McGuire was officially pronounced dead by
DR.. Abbotf. McGuire was then examined
by the doctors, and, az far as could be seen,
no marks of scorching could DO found. nor
was there any discoloration of his flesh.
When the first current was turned on Me-
CURES body swelled and tusged against
the straps. and a deep gurgling sound was
heard for a second, which was caused by
expulsion of air from the lungs. McGuire's
execution was declared the most successful
one thai was ever had In Sing Sing prison.
MOI has any other execution been finished
so rapidly as this one. The smell OF burned
flesh that has heretofore characterized
these executions was not noticeable. This
has heretofore been nauseating TO the wit
nesses.
Fred Mcclure was a farm hand engaged
during the summer of 1871 ny Noah Greg
DRY. whose farm was a mile and a half from
MIddIetown. N. On the afternoon of Oct.
"a, 1891, while Mr. Gregory and all OF his
mon except McGnire were at work in tho
celery-feld.. Mrs. Gregory was found by her
son Arthur lying III o pool OF blood IN the
sitting-room of the house The boy gave
the alarm, ana Mr.. Gregory and his men
ran to the house. where an awful sight net
their gaze. The floor was soaked with
blood and the furniture AID walls were
spattered with il. Two bul t-wounds In
the womsn's head and a gaping wound in
her skull told the history. A cigar-box in
the bedroom where the money Was kept
had been broken. aud the amount. some
thing over 800. was gone. McGuire con-
feEsed that he shot her az she stopped to
pick mp IA piece OF wood from the floor. She
fell, but struggled 10 her feet, ran into the
sitting : room and closed and held
the door against her assallant, who
pursued her TO COMPLETE his work.
Finding the IGOR resisted his efforts. he
fired through il, and rs his victim relaxed
her grasp upon the knob. pushed his way
into the room and discharged three more
shots at the unfortunate woman. She fell
To the floor. bGt apparently did not die
quickly enough for the fiend. As she lay
gasping out her life, be repeatedly struck
her with al earthen vessel until be be-
lieved che had expired. McGuire then
went into the bedroom. where he ransacked
the bureau and closets until be found the
money which prompted him to commit the
crime. Leaving the bedroom and passing
the supposed corDse be heard his name
Fred" uttered In a VOICE like thar from
another world. folio wed by "a feeble moan.
Turning quickly he saw q faint heaving of
the chest of his victim. and. rushing to her
side. with the heavy heel OF his boot. he
stamped ana trampled upon her head IN
til the skull was crushed like a she'll.
Fully satisfied now that his work was done
be left the house. A bloody footprint
upon the front doorstep furnished O clsw
which was followed with untirIng dill
gence. IL developed others, and finally
Mctinire. surrounded by q network of
evidence. confessed.
Drs. Irwin, Abbott and Speehan per-
formed the autopsy on the body of Me-
Guire. and found he died from an electric
shnck. The brain and all the other organs
were found In a normal condition. Not A
scorch or a burn was found on hcGuire's
body. There was no discOloration of tho
SkfD. lUe upctoIe uBClAi6 the eieCtrOcu-
tion an entire success.
-Four Negroes Cut Each Other to Pieces.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 19.-In q fight early
Saturday morning. between a gang OF la
borers. at Hog Run, near Walton, OIL the
Louisville IL Nashville road. two men were
killed and two more Will die of their in
juries. They were four colored men-Will-
lam J Jackson William Grimes. Dudley War