The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-11
IN EXPIATION.
"Bat" Shea Executed at
the Clinton Prison.
Protested His Innocence of
Murder of Robert Ross.
Affecting Scene When Last Rites
Were Administered.

- - ISps aAs
an innocent man." said Bartholomew
Shea to his keepers and the priests a
minute before he left his cell this morn
ing to be killed. They were his last words
in the cell TO the warden and in the pres
ence OF the priests, to whom he had made
q confession of his sins. Shea is not the
first man who, upon the verge OF etern-
ity. and while being strapped In the
chair, has protested his innocence.
Carlyle Harris last words were of his in
nocence, and DIR. Buchanan declared him
self innocent with his last breath, but in
the case OF Shea there is a significant and
unusual feature. Under the same ROOT,
within a prison cell, n fellow prisoner,
John McGough, stood during the hour of
execution ana protested his guilt Of the
crime of which Shea suffered. ''They have
killed an innocent man." he declared in
verihcation OF Shea's protestation OF in
nocence ard nothing seems TO shake his
declaration. 10 his mother and spiritual
adviser shea had continued to protest his
Innocence TO the iast, and he never fall
tered in his statement, even when finally
in the meshes of death.
A CLEAN of sunshine found its way
through the bars of the windows look
ing into the oeath-house this morning at
Clinton prison and lighted upon the. soli-
tary inmate OF the condemned cell, Bar
tholornew Shea. The victim OF today's
electrocution retired quite early last night
and slept soundly until shortly~after 7
O'Clock. Then he got up ana said GOOD
morning. to his gCards, and perforned
his additions. He was asked what he
wanted for breakfast. He said he would
l k s)me ham and eggs. Before he was
served with broak fast his spiritual advis-
ers, Rev. j. j. Swift of ct. patrick's
lrnnrnl fHrAxr nd Daxy LotLA.
the local Catholic priest, arrived aud the
final rites OF the church wexs admins
tered.
Shea shook bands with Father Swift and
said: ~ am innocent, Father, innocent"
lhen, as the last rite of amounting was
performed, the tears started down his
cheek and as Father Swift held bis head
in his hands and blessed him he gave a
convulsive sob and repeated his assertion
OF innocence. When the priests had finish
ed he quickly recovered himself and when
breakfast of ham and eggs and coffee and
toast was brought TO him he ate heartily.
After break fast Shea sat on the cot in
his cell, while his two guards stood out
side, their eyes ncver taken from him.
Shortly after half-past 8 o'clock the wit
nesses were summoned to go to the cham
Der. They were DIR. c. IL. Davis, Albany;
DIR. j. Z. shaw, Hoosac Falls; DR.. q. w.
Spoor, North Granville; DIR. . V. q.
ftSltlAhb. NlNDb IAAi~s H.. IL lIANGFs
Sheriff of Albany; DIR. Van Hoesen, l.. II.
frsncher, Troy. and a number of news
paper repr seDtatives.
Warden Thayer had set the hour OF ex-
ecution so as to keep the man in rs little
suspense as possible, and il was not vet
10 o'clock when the bank of electric lamps
were tested and the warden warned the
witnesses 10 be quiet, no matter what
occurred, and then went for the pris-
oner. There was only a delay OF a
moment and then the shuttle OF feet in
the corridor heralded the approach of the
death procession. As they entered, first
the warden and his deputies and then
Shea, 5etween the two priests, his head
bowed but with no weakness apparent,
there was first n short convulsive move
ss The chair caught his eye.
The straps were adjusted quickly while
the priests, in a low tone OF voice. read
the service for the dead. This low, mon
otonous ~intonation continued while the
first voltage was turned on and until the
physicians pronounced him dead. Dr. G..
H.. Davis OF Albany was in charge Of the
stethescope. It was Just 9:65 when Shea
entered the room ana just 1854 when he
was pronounced dead.
The current sent the body slightly
against the straps and the neck and rare
leg grew purple. For 81 seconds the con-
tact was maintained and reduced to a
light voltage for 81 seconds.
When the current was turned of there
was an escape of Dir from the filled lungs
and DIR. Ransom ordered the current on
again. A contact of u seconds was main
tanned and then the stethoscape failed 10
show any life. The escape OF air from the
lungs n like n polonged sigh and
made some think there was still life, but
the physicians say that death was instan-
tan(Qug-