St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-09
Doctors Try a New Method in
Killing Murderer Nc
Ilvaine.
An Assemblyman Expresses
Disgust at the Cruelty g
OF the Death.
Witnesses Fail to Identify NJ.
B. Curtis as Grants
Slayer.
Workmen Recover Numerous
Bodies From the Royal a
Hotel Ruins.

SING SING, n. Y. Feb. S.-The awful elm
ie is over and Mcilvaine, the murderer,
is thing of the past. He paid double
debt for his crime, for he was made the
subject of one of the ehastliest expert
ments ever tried. 1t was as cool blood
ed and cruel as vivisection. but the doc
tors liked it, and they will fill the air
with valuable contributions 10 medical
science as the result of the experiment
upon this poor dull clay.
The men of science say that McItyaine
was unconscious from the instant the
first contact began, and that his death
was painless, although not lnstantan-
eous. The duration of contact was forty
five seconds. In few seconds after the
current was cut off by order of DR.. Mac
donald froth issued from the mouth.
and almost simultaneously there was q
quick gurgling eXhalation and as quick
a recovery, like 4 person strangiing of
water going the wrong way. The eur
rent was at once reapplied and con-
tinued for forty-6ve seconds. When
the doctors examined the wrist and jug
ular vein for pulsations there were
none. and after examination by all the
doctors present the subject was declared
dead.
The New Experiment..
McIlvaine came into the chamber with
priests, himself carrying before him a
crucifx and murmuring PRAYERS. The
chair used was cue never before EN-
ployed. On each side, at the arms. was
a jar, INTO which the hands were inn
mersed in warm solution of SALT The
arms were strapped at elbows and
wrists, and the contact at the
head was made on the fore
head. An eleetrode, as in previous
cases here, was present fer use on the
leg in case of failure or mishap at the
tact was made through the hands and
head; the second through the head and
calf of the right leg. Rubber sacks of
warm water hung aloft with rubber
tubes to the electrodes for automatic
wetting OF the sponges. The doctors.
with one exception, believe life and
consciousness we're destroyed at the
same instant.
He is dead,'' spoke Dr.. Ward. mo.
doubt of it." declared DIR. Macedonia.
and then he babe each professional
man test for heart beats, adding that he
desired each to be assured beyond per-
adventure that life was extinct. Each
did SO. without aid of instrument, until
it came the turn of DIR. Robertson, of
New York. He produced stethoscope
aud placed the rubber bell above the
heart, listening intently for any evil
aence of life. He found none,
but he declared that he thought
any method OF contact that
involved second application
of the current as brutal" The autop-
sy disclosed to DIR Macdonald no evil
dence of imbecility or insanity. as was
claimed might be tile case, when Nell
vaine was OH trial. The doctors all
agree that Mellgaine suffered no pain.
Cruel and Unnatural.
Assemblyman Stein said that the exc
cutiOn was cruel and unnatural, and
made him sick. Il shall try to have the
law repealed" he said, when | get
back to Albany. l do not know whether
death was instantaneous or not. [ only
know that it was horrible, and I'll do
all in my power to have that law re-
pealed. l don't want to witness an
other execution"
New YoRY. Feb. 9-The body Of
Charles McIlvaine arrived here tonight.
1t was received by the girl wife of the
dead man, and his mother. 1t was much
burned at the wrists, over the right
temple was fearful burn and the in
side of the legs were Scorched by the
life-taking current.