The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-25

the Rochester wife murderer, was exc
cuted at $3.50 o'clock this morning The
execution is considered great success.
The witnesses saw no burning OF the body,
no exhalation of air from the lungs, no
struggle of the victim. The murderer met
his fate calmly. The electric current was
turned into the body four times, each con-
tact being brief. The physician in charge
believed that better results would be OBJ
tanned in this way than with TWO long
contacts. The time Of contact was fifty
seconds.
Tice paced tho floor restlessly when not
lying on his cot. About o'clock he had
almost overcome his nervousness. t6:l5
O. N. was the hour the witnesses were
requested to report at the prison gate and
they were all on hand.
Warden Durston explained how the
body would pull forward as the current is
turned on and settle down as the contract
is broken. Then the warden said ne was
ready. That ugly chair alone preserved a
calm stolidity. The witnesses were seated
and Edward ;. Davis, the state electrician,
signaled the engineer. The incandescent
lights flashed up. Mr.. Davis was testing
the apparatus and he soon said to the
warden that everything was ready. Mr..
Durston, addressing the witnesses said
that DIR. c. Nj. Daniels of Buffalo would
be the physician in charge, with Drs. 9. o.
Baker of Auburn and L. Z. Irvine of Sing
Sing as assistants. The chair was the
one in which kemmler died less than two
years ago. The machinery, with slight
improvements and an increased voltage.
was also the same A new electrode WAS
applied to the head, the warden said, and
would divide the current, carrying it to.
each side of the head instead of ending liz
one spot. Above the chair were two rub
Der bags TO supply constant flow of
water TO the sponges at the hands and
legs.
Owing to a spinal trouble contracted inr
the late war Tice walked to tho chair with
a cane. He was perfectly calm as he took
his seat. Here, take my cane, guard"
said Tice. as bis 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. These were Tees last words. He
was complaining 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. 1t was just :39 TO a Sec
ond when DIR. Daniels raised his right arm
as O signal to Electrician Davis. The lat
ter pressed down a button 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 currentwas turned
on for another fifteen seconds; once more
the body pulled at its fasteninzs and
again it settled back when the circuit was
broken. For a third time a contact was
made, this time lasting ten seconds. Then
there was a rest of five seconds. The
fourth and last contact lasted ten seconds.
The total time of contact wac fifty seconds,
and the total time OF execution sixty-threa
seconds. At the request of DR.. Daniels.
Drs. Baker and Irvine examined the body.
They said there was no pusation what
ever. Tice was dead. The other ply.
sicians also examined the body little
later on invitation of DR.. Daniels. An
agreed that Tice had passed into eternity
the instant the first contact was made.
Electrician Davis said that the indicator
showed 1920 volts in the first contact
with q very slight falling of when the
three other circuits were made. A closer
examination of the body showed no marks
or burns upon il. DR.. Daniels announced
that the autopsy would be held at 10
o'clock. Then the witnesses went to the,
office and signed the official certificate Of
death.
HE was very brave" said Chaplai1
Yates, "and fulfilled his promise to Mrs
Penny and myself that he would die like
a man and Christian. His last words to-
me were, oh, if l did not drink that
whisky"
Put that in big type, added Mr.. Penny
with tears in his eyes.
he Pint for hot
he was as good a man as any witness in
this ROOM"
DIR. George E. Fell of Buffalo, who also
witnessed the Kemmler execution, eaid
"The execution of Tice cannot be inns
proved upon. The frequent short contacts
are undoubtedly the best method. There
was nothing revolving in this case. As.
compared with the Kemmler case this
was the more satisfactory. In the execu-
ton of lice there were absolutely no re-
fex movements from beginning to end
aside from the rigidity of the body pro-
duced by the making and breaking of the
current. / was one of the first to advo-
cate electrical execution, and after seeing
THE execution l am satisfied that the
grounds / assumed were correct. There
is no method comparable to it, which this
case demonstrates"
The autopsy disclosed that one electrode
had caused slight scalding. There was
considerable blood ia the muscular tissue
Of the chest. The skull was extremely
thick. The heart was in normal condi-
ton, but showed the instantaneous effect
of the electric bolt. The remains of lice
were buried in quick lime grave in the
prison yard.
The physicians declare that there were
absolutely no indications of the passage Of
the electrical current through Tees sys-
tenn. The vital organs were in a normal
condition and it would have been utterly
impossible to have ascertained the Gauss
of death without previous knowledge Of
the electrocution.
A Gun 90 Throw vitrioI.