The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-08
LET HER Cor HE CRIED.
[CoNTINUED FROM PAGE IL

For applying the current adopted to-
day an entig2ly new chair had been con
structed. lt is an idea of Yard Master
Hilbert, who ever since the quadruple
electrocutions of last July has insisted
that the current could be applied without
burning or otherwise marking the body.
The new chair is of the same general pat
tern as the old chair with the exception Of
the arms.
The list of witnesses invited included
representatives OF the Associated Press,
the United Press, the New York Sun,
World and Herald and THE PROVIDENCE
News.
The Onicia1 Statement.
According to the official statement the
first application of the electric current
lasted fifty seconds; the voltage was six
teen hundred; the second application was
made after an interval of forty-three
seconds and lasted thirty y-six seconds; volt.
age was fifteen hundred.
IL was just 1l:26 o'clock when the first
shock was administered.
The crime for which Charles McElvaine
has just paid the penalty with his life was
the murder of Christian w. Luca, a
Brooklyn grocer, in the early morning of
the 23d of August, 1889.
The murder caused intense interest
from the fact that "A similar crime had
been committed but short time pre-
viously and the murderer had never been
caught
Mr.. Luca was q well-to-do German
grocer living over his store on the corner
of Jay and Aigh streets. About $3.50
O'Clock on the morning of the 23d of
August, 1889, Charles McElvaine, in com
pany with pal, placed n ladder against
the rear of the house which Mr.. Luca oc-
cupied and McElvaine entered the second
story window.
The plBn was to rob the grocer and then
McIlvaine was TO take the money, and his
pal was to take whatever else valuable,
and tney were TO meet after the vigilance
of the police was supposed TO have in a
measure subsded.
McElvaine had entered the passageway
TO the bedroom when Mr.. Luca was awak-
ened Yy the noise Quickly arising, with
out arousing his wife, he went out into
the passageway, where he stood face TO
the burglar and would have easily over
powered him. as Mr.. Luca was a large.
powerful man while McElvaine was small
and weak had he not been met with n
murderous knife. AS soon rs Luca
seized the intruder terrible struggle en-
sued. McElvaine trying to work his victim
toward the window The noise attending
this struggle awakened Mrs. Luca, who
rushed into the room only TO see her hus-
band down on his knees by the window
and McElvaine literally hacking him TO
pieces with big knife.
Mrs. Luca rushed forward TO try and
save her husband, but McElvaine's warn
ing "Stand back, or | will rip you open
as have done him ~ caused the woman
10 shrink back into the corner where she
remained McElvaine let himself out of
the window.
in the meantime Mr.. Luca had struggled
to his feet and was begging his wife to run
for help. The rushed out and soon re-
turned with DIR. Stone who lives on Jay
street but short distance away IL was
too late, however. and a few minutes later
Mr. Luca died. Meanwhile McElvaine was
running through High street, carrying
his shoes in his hand. He had proceeded
but n short distance when he met Police
man Kennedy who called out TO him TO
stop. The murderer did not heed the sum
mons of the officer and Kennedy started
in pursuit After n short chase he came
up with McElvaine and after "A hard strug-
gle succeeded in placing the handouts on
him. lie was placed in Jail and was soon
after sentenced to death.
Appeal after appeal was taken and every
effort has been put forth TO save the muir
derers life, but all without avail Nc
Elvaine was married, his wife being only
Is years old.