Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-12
9aily Ssa,1ehee Jaurnal,
BAT SHEA EXECUTED.
Pays the Penalty of Numbering Rob
ert Ross at Troy, N. Y.
Protests His Innocence to the Last and
Makes Statement.

Dannemora, \. Y, Feb. 11.-Bat Shea
was electrocuted at Q IS, this morning, for
the murder in Troy, n Y, of Robert
Ross, on election day in the spring of 1894.
Shea retired quite early. last night, and
slept soundly until shortly after : clock
He had ham and eggs for breakfast Be
fore he was served, the spiritual advisers.
Rev. j. j. Swift of st. Patrlcks church,
Troy, and Rev. Father Berlanger. the local
Catholic priest arrived, and the final rites
of the church were administered.
Shea received the sacrament, shook
hands with Father Swift and said: Il am
innocent, Father. innocent" Then, rs
the last rites of amounting were performed,
tear started down his cheek, and rs
Father Swift held his head in his hands
and blessed him, he gave a convulsiye sob
and repeated his assertion of innocence
When the priests had finished he quickly
recovered himself and when breakfast was
brought he ate heartily. The prison gates
were closed to all corners, and in the vii
lagc hotel, Just outside the prison wall,
were gathered the % witnesses invited by
the warden TO witness the execution.
These witnesses were made up almost en-
tirely of physicians ana newspaper men,
All PRESENT. III bluSldt CtpuCtbIce.
At $50, the warden's private secretary
assem- led the witnesses in the hotel Office,
and announced that all was in readiness
for their presence 10 the death chamber.
Escorted by guards, the witnesses found
their way outside the prison walls to the
west side Of the prison, where in the base
ment is located the death dealing appara-
tus A short stay was made in the ante
room, and at signal from Warden ThayeT
the march was again taken up, ending in
the death chamber.
The chair is oak ard strongly built. 1t
is the same one that has been used in the
half dozen previous executions, and has
stood the test we'll.
At a signal Electrician Davis stepped
forward and placed bank of incandescent
lamus across the arm of the chair, the
wires were attached and the current
turned on A blaze of light shot forth and
the apparatus was found to be III perfect
order. There YVES n gruosome silence,
which was broken by the noise of approach
ing footsteps on the sand covered floor Of
the prison corridor.
It was Just g. SIS when the procession
entered the room. First came Warden
Thayer and Deputy Mckinna and i'm
mcdiately behind them was Shea, escorted
BY Vicar General Swift and Father Ber-
LANCER. Shea's face was pale and he
walked firmly to the chair, and during the
minute it took to aflix the straps he gazed
calmly around the room. His eyes were
bright and he looked more like n spectator
than the victim of the awful tragedy
about to occur.
At g. SIS the current was turned on and
continued for one minute and Il seconds,
when it was shut off. Shea was pro
nounced dead The highest voltage was
1900 This, however, was continued only
II seconds, when it was reduced to 1850
volts and continued at that voltage until
the end.
The following statement from Shea was
opened after the execution
"On the verge of death | desire to say
that do not think had a fair trial. Ex-
traort1ipary means were taken to convict
me. and testimony given by Mr.. Lansing
was absolutely untrue. l am sorry for
the Ross family and for the gloom it has
east over them, but | did not go to the
POLLS on election day to shoot Robert Ross,
and had DO intention of injuring him.
die for "a crime did not commit. bid
YOU all farewell. (Signed) Bartholomew
Shea.