The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-19
Vito .Murdorer Tlce Electrocuted
Without en- Accident.
THE PRISONER DIED GAME. I
IIo was IN Old Soldier and Stood tho
Ordeal UnninchinGly 80. His Lnst
Words..-His Crime Was a Brutal
One, and Was Duo to Intomrcrnnce.
"If1 Had Only Lot Whisky Alone"
lilo Said.

cSecutcu nv O:oU tnla morning. ne
execution was a great success from tho
start. Short contacts wcro made, this
being deemed better than too long ones.
There was nothing revolving about the
scene. 5
Tho murderer mot his fate calmly.
Tho electric current was turned into
tho body four times, each contact being
brlef. Tho complete time OF contact
was City seconds. Tice slept from 10 to
u o'clock last night. AZ midnight he
was awakened TO be shaved. lIo had
bccn told carly In the evening by his
spiritual advisors that his life would bo
taken this morning. IIN said no was
ready and no would moct his death like
a soldier, and no joined ieryently in tho
prayers OF tho clergymen. Tice slept
but little alter midnight. lie paced tho
floor re,tlcssly when not lying on his
cot. About s o'clock he had almost
completely overcome his nervousness.
Cabs. NJ. was the hour the witnesses
were requested to report at tho prison
gato and they were all on hand. The
witnesses, led by Warden Durston, filed
out into tho basement, and n moment
later they found themselves in the
death chamber.
Warden Durston then left the room
with two attendants to warn Tice his
end was approaching fast and to bring
him to the place where he should die.
Soon tho warden %rcappcarod with the
condcmned.man between wokeopers
and behind him walking tho clerGymen
who have attended him.
Owing to a spinal trouble contracted
in the late war. Tice walkel with a can
He was perfectly calm as he took his
sent in tho chair OF baltimore so than
the attendants who were with nervous
haste stamping him fast to the chair
and adjusting tho apparatus OF death.
Here take my cane, guard" said
Tice, as his right arm was seized by the
guards who were about TO bind it fast
to the arm OF the chair. "Oh, you will
break my nose" cried the condemned
man. Those were Tees last words.
He was complaing because the broad
leather straps over the face were too
tight ~.
Chaplain Yates and Pastor Penney
drew near and all officially engaged took
places for their duties. It was just
$3.50 to a second when DR.. Daniel raised
his right arm as a signal to Electrician
Davis. The latter pressed down a lever
and instantly the body of Tice leaped
and tugged at the straps. This lasted
fifteen seconds. Then the contact was
broken for q space OF three seconds
when the current vas turned on Tor
another fifteen seconds. Once more tho
body pulled at its fastenings and again
it settled back when tho circuit was
broken. For a third time a contact
was made, this time lasting ten seconds.
Then there was a rest OF fifteen Sec
onds. The fourth and last contact
lasted ten seconds. The total time OF
contact was fifty seconds and the total
time OF execution sixty.three seconds.
At the request OF Dr.. Daniels, Drs.
Baler andlDivine examined the body.
They said there was no pull sation what
ever.
The other physicians also examined
the body a little later on the invitation
Of DR.. Daniels. All agreed that Tice
had passed into eternity the instant the
first contact was made. Electrician
Davis said that the indicator showed
1120 volts: on the first contact, with a
very slight falling of when tho three
other circuits were made. A closer OK
animation Of the body showed no mark.
or burns upon it. DR.. Daniels an.
nounced that the autopsy would be
held at 10 o'clock, Warden Durston
eaid that the execution was thoroughly
successful. Electrician Davis affirmed
likewise. Further than that thew had
nothing to say.
ut speaks foritself," said DR.. Daniels.
ut could not have been better. Tint
is all l have to saw
Chaplain Yates and Pastor PENNEY
we're with Tice half an hour before The
execution took place. Ho told them
thew saw. that he did not slecn we'll iaat
night, and that his SPINE had pained
him considerably. "Hc was yery brave"
said Chaplain Yates. "He fulfilled his
promise to MI. Penney that he would
die like a man and a Christian. His
last words to me were. IfI did not drinl
that whisky.'n .Put that in biy ,vne
added Mr9Penney with tears in his evos
Then he said: "But for that very tbinv
le was as good q mar ms anv witness. in
this roon'n $3.50 -.
I'VE ci'N+'
Joseph H. nee was born in Albany,
June .. lS29. VI his early ilfo little is
known. Tho first learned OF the
murderer was Just previous to the
Michigan, On the breaking ont NJ tha
war, Tice enlisted in the 9th Michigan
j. cavalry. His war record is good, and