The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-04
DEATH IN THE CHAIR.
Murderer Lake Pays the Penalty of
q Fearful Crime.

AUBURN, n. Y, April A, 1S95-Wm.
Lake, the Albion murderer, retired at
ten O'Clock last night with the full
Knowledge itnat he was to die in the Chair
during the noon hour today. Warden
Stout had just left him after reading
the death warrant Lake listened a!tten-
lively to his Doom without comment.
After asking to be awakened at four
o'clock in tae morning he retired and
slept soundly.
Upon being aroused this morning he
dressed himself for the last time and
remained quiet until his breakfast was
brought to him He ate as heartily as
at any time during his confinement, of
pork chops, fried eggs, warm biscuit
and coffee The Waroen asked him If
he cared to answer any questions or
e9l 9l4zssss amy statement fer TIE press, and
he replied in the negative.
questions for the Warden, however,
Age, 5wenty-four; height, five feet ten
inches; weight, 179 pounds; nativity, un-
temperate; district. school education;
farmer by odcupa tion, and had never
been previously convicted Of any crime.
grajph was taken, and half an hour later
he was visited by Rev George T. Webb,
of the Second Baptist Church, who had
dlored that he would make tatement
to his. spiritual adviser for publication.
Lake was electrocutted at 12:45; he
made no confession.
1t was 1888 when the witnesses were
asked to follow the Warden to the death
chamber. Electrician Davis was found
at his old post beside the electrical cabf-
net and he conducted the usual test of
the apparatus. The victim was then
conducted into the room, accompanied
began reading a selection from psalms
Lake looked neither 10 the right nor the
left and give the impression of a some
His complexion contained tritle of color
and his light hair was nicely combed;
His face was beardless. He walked
steadily to the chair. 1t only took a
moment to fasten the straps. Then the
Warden shook his hand. The signal was
given and the current was turned on.
The execution was a complete sue
cess
was indicted was attended with circum-
evening Of Thursday. october 10. 1884
employed in the household of Joseph
Van Camp, farer living about eight
miles northeast OF Albion N the town Of
6aI'sGHi his Sister SA5 MISS ios Percy Van camp.
stretched at full length upon the floor Of
their sittilgroo1n in pool Of blood,
which ran from horrible cash in her
throat. The walls and furnftpre in the
room wer spattered w. tn blood. The girl
was lying on her back with her hands
BY her side and her Globes undis turbed.
except her skirt, which was drawn up
to her knees The alarm was at once
given and messages were sent to Albion
to summon the Sheriff and the Coroner.
Susicion at once rested upon Lake,
farm hand enjoyed by Van Camp, as the
author of the crime. Van Camp and his
sister had left him and Miss Hunt to-
gether that afternoon, while they went
to visit friends at Eawyer.. When they
returned about seven O'Clock, Lake was
#lnissing and q letter was found in Lakes
room which changed suspicion to GER
tatnty. 1t cursed his parents, and IN ad-
dfton to other matters, declared that
Miss Hunt had trifled with his affections,
and that for this reason he had decided
to kill her.
The Corcners examination developed
sthe fact that the murdered girl had
first been struck with a hammer on the
left tentole and then her throat cut. The
Coroner also found that the murderer
had slasdhed the girls abdomen in me
form Of cross and had literally dis
.embowled her.
The following Sunday Lake was found
hiding the barn of Mrs. j Eoeg. near
Clark's Mil in Carlton. John Horner,
while feeding stock discovered him near
" concealed under the hay. officer II.
Handy entered the harm armed wien q
revolver and Lake surrendered at dis-
cretson when he discovered pc ofdeer,s
weapon. He was given into TIE custody
Of the Sheriff and subsequently B1aae
full confession of his cowardly crime