The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-12
OSMOND ELECTR0CUTED.
The Black Flag Raised at 11.49- His
tory of the Crime.


The Black Flag Raised at 11.49-Hi
tory of the Crime.
SING SING, June 12, 1893.-The black
flag, Indicating that Osmond had been
killed by electricity, was raised on the
prison at 1.49 O'Clock today.
The execution took place at 11:40 A. NJ.
The electrocurion was one of the most
successful yet had Osmund admitted
having committed the deed and said that
he was under the influence of liquor at
the time. He told Father Creeden. the
prison chaplain. that he regretted what he
had done. aud was prepared to pay the
penalty. He said good bye TO his two
brothers yesterday and seemed to be per-
fectly satisfied with his fate. He retired
cary last night and slept remarkably
we'll for mau on the eve of being put TO
death. Father Creedeu was with him all
the morning ana remaiDed at his side to
the end. The electric chair ard the ap-
paratus used was the same that was EN-
pIoyed aG the Harris electrccution.
The witnesses assembled in Warden
Durston'S Office at eleven O'Clock. At
1.35 the warden called the roll of wit
nesses and took them to the death house
in the prison yaru. State Electrician
Davis tested the apparatus by connecting
the electrodes with a board upon which
20 incandescent lamps were mounted and
which was pli ced across the arms of the
electric chair. When all was ready
Headkesper Cannaughton brought
Osmond in. He looked pole. but walked
to the chair without faltering: Father
Creeden followed him aud his lips moved
as he uttered responses to the prayers
the father was repeating. 1t was
forty minutes past eleven when he
entered. He was strapped to the chair,
and the electrodes fastened to his head
and about the calf of his right leg. At
forty-one minutes past eleven the current
was turned OH. The muff1ed figure in the
chair Strengthened up until the straps
cracked.
For three seconds 1850 volts surged
through Osnond's body. then the current
was reduced 10 $50 volts. ana at the ena
OF forty seconds was shut off altogether.
rhe body dropped back limp III
the char, and Drs. Irvine and Sheehan
listened at the heart for moment aud
then pronounced the man dead. There
were no signs OF burning or screening,
aud the physicians present declared the
elecLroccutlon a asucceSsful one.
John L. Osmond WAS convicted o the
murder of his wife, Mary, and his cousin,
John G. Burcnell. He and his wife had
lived In BurchslI's apartments, No. 500
Tnird avenue, New York City. He be-
came jealous or his cousin. and after re-
peatea quarrels left the house aud Mrs.
Osmona began proceedings for a divorce.
Hs went to the fiat on October g. 1891,
aud killed the woman and her admirer.
His conviction for murder in the first
degree was affirmed by the Court Of APP
peals.
Osmond was In one Of the death cells in
Sing Sing prison on the night Of the es
cape OF PalIister and Roenl, and was nm
eyewitness to he oyerpowering OF the
guards by the two murderers. When
Osmond was brought before Judge In
graham for sentence his lawyers called
the attention of the Court to the fact that
Osmond had had au opportunity to make
his escape with Palllster aud Roehl, but
had declined 10 take advantage of it. The
Judge said, however. tnat tho only thing
he could do was to impose the sentence
OF death.