Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-19
TICE sHOCKED TO DEATH.
How the Rochester Wife Murderer Ex-
plated His Crime--A Successful Execu-

Associated Press Dispatch By specIaI Wires.
AunuRN, N. Y, May 1s.-Joseph l.. Tice
the Rochester wife murderer, was electri
cized at $40 this morning. The execution
is considered great success. There was
nothing revolving about the affair. The
The witnesses saw no burning of flesh, nc
exhalation of air from the lungs. Tic
struggling of the victim. The murderer
met his fate calmly, aye brayely. He was
apparently unmoved while being strapped
in the chair and had nothing to say at the
last. The electricity was turned into the
body four times, each contact being brief.
The physician in charge believed that
better results would be obtained in this
way than with long contacts. The com
plete time of contact was 80 seconds.
Tice slept from 10 to IL o'clock last
night. AT midnight he was awakened TO
be shaved. He had been told early in the
evening by his spiritual advisers that his
life would be taken this morning. He
said he was ready and that he would meet
his death like a soldier and he Joined
fervently in the prayers of the clergyman.
Tice slept but little after midnight. He
paced the floor slowly when not lying on
his. cot. The guards state that he had
little to say to them. They could see that
he was laboring under terrible mental
strain while at the same time he constantly
endeavored to control himself and appear
calm. About O'Clock he had almost
completely overcome his nervousness.
The witnesses were on hand at 6.15 a. m.
promptly. Warden Dunston met the wit
nesses and escorted them to the death
chamber. A sickly prison odor filled the
room. The agency of suspense evidently
told on some of the witnesses; that ugly
chair alone preserved a calm stolidity
Edward II. Davis, the state electrician, sig
nailed the engineer. The incandescent
lights flashed up. MIR. Davis was testing
the apparatus and he soon announced to
the warden that everything was perfect.
The chair was the one in which kemm-
Ter died, less than two years ago. The ma
chinery, with some slight Improvements
and all increased voltage, was also the
same. A new .electrode was applied to the
head, the warden said, and would divide
the current, carrying it each side of the
head instead of ending in one spot. Above
the chair were two rubber bags, to provide
a constant flow of water to the sponges at
the hands and legs.
For moment Mr.. Dunston leaves the
room and then reappears; Just behind
him shambles in Tice with guards
by his side. Owing to his spinal
trouble Tice was obliged to carry
a cane. He was perfectly calm as he
took his seat in the chair. The attendants
then strapped him down. They did their
work quickly, Guard. take my cane"
says Tce, holding out his cane. aOh, Won
will break my nose" These were Tice's last
words. He was complaining because the
broad leather straps over the face were too
tight
Chaplain Yates and Pastor Penny then
entered the room. 1t was Just $50 O'clock
when Dr. Daniels raised his right arm us a
signal to the electrician. The latter pressed
something and instantly the body Of Tice
tugged at the straps. This lasted Is seconds.
Then the contact was broken for space of
3 seconds, after which the current was
turned on for Is seconds longer. Again
the body pulls at its fastenings and again
il settles back when the circuit is broken.
For a third time contact was made and
lasted 10 seconds. Then there was rest
of seconds. The fourth and last contact
lasted 10 seconds.
Examination of the body showed there
was no pulsation whatever. All the ply
sicians present agreed that Tice had passed
into eternity at the first contact. The in
dictator showed 1,72O volts on first contact,
with very slight falling off when three
other circuits were made. There were no
marks or burns on the body.
lice was 90. He had always been dissi-
pated. He served throughout the rebellion
and his war record is good. Upon being
released from prison on July 9th last year,
Tice went to the house where his wife
was employed as a domestic and stabbed
her to death,