The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-02
THORN MET DEATH CALMLY
TO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
A SIGN OF FEAR.

instantaneous "ANH NS
T,,nrp,s Body Will 10 Brought Here To-
nav and Inferred in Calvary Cemetery.
Martin Thorn, the German barber who. with
Nro Augusta Mack, a midwife. was convicted
- The murder Of William Gieldsensuppe IA
T,rtish- bath rubber. on Nov. 30 last. was put
,odentb in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison
vosterday morning. Thorn met his end as he
amid he would, calmly and without n sign OF
tear. That peculiar expression, almost n smile,
which he wore all through his trial. was on his
toce as he stepped into the death chamber and
a was still there when the death cap and chin
nioce were adjusted. shutting all but his mouth
from the view of the witnesses. TIL execution
wac one Of the most successful ever performed
In this State. Death was instantaneous, ana IL
ups the opinion OF all the physicians present
that It came even before the body strnined at
the leather straps which bound 1t In place. and
which told the witnesses that the fatal current
was on.
,ho anne mood that he had been in for the past
week. He had known for q long time that the
and would come yesterday morning and he had
plncidly awaited the fatal hour. The labors OF
Father Thomas J. Hauselman. his spiritual adj
wiser. had a marked effect on the murderer.
THAT he was sincere in his professions OF re-
lirion was not doubted around the prison.
Father Hauselman cautioned Thorn q week ago
70 mt no hope IN u respite Ut u pOsslplo OOLh-
mutation. but to prepare for the end. Thorn
obeyed him. For scarcely q moment during his
waking hours was the little German prayer
hook out Of his hands. So moved was he by his
new thoughts that he declared that he wished
neither respite nor Communication. and said that
the visit Of his counsel to the Governor to beg
for clemency was without his support. He
wanted to die, he said. and the sooner the
better.
Father Hauselman left Thorn on Sunday
might and came down to this city. Thorn read
his prayer book and chatted with the death
watch until about IL O'Clock and then went to
bed.
Iguess it's my last nights sleep" he said to
nne of the watchers in q low voice. We'll. I'll
try to die like a man."
Then he went TO sleep and slept soundly until
about q o'clock yesterday morning. when one
of the guards woke him. Thorn jumped out OF
bed with alacrity.
IT'S the last day." he said in an undertone.
Have Father H~,auselman come to me as soon
On a stool beside Thorn's cot there was q
S SHGEhe a O. clean saD't1 White shirt. a rundown collar.
and a white bow necktie. There were also a
RkaaiaFwS vi they mS'T we're sUshhiR his death Clothes and looked at
them ducerly for q moment. Then he slowly
put them on, all but the shoes, which he said he
slippers instead, and then sat on the edge OF his
cot, took the German prayer book from a stool
has devoted all of his time for two weeks to the
condemned man. arrived and, went to the cell.
IL, and from that time until Warden Sage came
In to summon Thorn to the death chamber the
two were in close conversation.
In the meantime the officials, and witnesses
invited TO attend the execution had arrived and
We're seated I IN the T Mhard of 81 Gtll &eT an9 W GTf ON
Sage, Prison Physician r. I. Irvine. State Elec-
trISian +; F: DavI gr and A fSn $ SGtr state E EeGo
II. ,Lumbard: David orr Edison. {. + 0rben.
KKrrusk:al. ". 'MacEdward. Arthur q. ATWOOD.
f. Hasei. f. ii. Himrod and fourteen news
Ii oSciock Warden Sage walked out of the
prison office and announced in q low voice That
TO the death chamber and ranged themselves
around the wall. The custom Of giving the
execution. Across the arms Of the death chair
a board with eighteen incandescent. lights on
Vt WtT Ta wh stIsi is "ttach he T te the eee eap IN w GSIshh the the
%electrode is located and through which the
The current was turned on and the lights
fared up, i was the final test Of the appa-
latus, and Warden Sage announced that every
thing was in perfect working order. Then he
addressed the witnesses. saying:
Il wish to impress upon you. gentlemen. the
ent positions until all is over. Do not step for.
ward or approach the chair until you are told
Then the Warden stepped out, of the little
side door. He went to Thorn's cell. but a half
dozen steps from the death chamber and walk
Thorn. the time has come"
Thorn was sitting on the edge OF his cot talk
ing in a low voice. to. Father Hauselman and
! Father : 6nsr st. ST. {9 shia Of IF ! sin I e s sing He jumped up
am ready. sir, but before l go ] want to
shake hands with you, Warden. and. thank you
for the many kind things you have done for me
Its, all right. Thorn said the Warden.
Its al right. If you are ready we will 90 at
II am quite ready, said Thorn.
While this conversation was going on 2 hellper
pair OF scissors cut the right leg OF his trousers
up to the knee. The keeper wanted Thorn TO
to cpstom, but the man brushed him away.
let me keep these on" he said, and at a
''fE Il w trs% qt sSs T Il :iSh the d'sl 6sSP %Se %i tRsSSrden
appcaredi III thedeath chamber. Directly behind
him MN came Thorn, then the two priests Prin-
ers' who QUICKLY took places on either side Of
the chair. Thorn was CHASTITY white. He shut
stoop-shOuldered. He cast one glance at the
witnesses and then looked at the chair. With
out a seconds hesitation he walked over to it
1t has always been the custom for the keepers
TO grab a man by the arms and hurry him into
the, chair, but Thorn was seated before any
body placed a hand on him The work Of
was done expeditiously. but to{he onlookers II
s%int bi an c9 age y During aI Z, IT all Thorn remai med
ffeeptt' tai K MT to him. OF The fe' head lsuse eontain ing
the electrode, was the last thing put on. and as
u was forced over Thorn's head the man began
Il. mumble.
Save me. Jespsl" he said over and oyer
which the priest had placed In his hand.
Warden Sage nodded to Electrician Davis. who
quickly pushed over a lever. completing the
circuit. at the same time signalling to the con;
Wet eXecptioner concealed in the electrical
closet. Thorn,s body s~tiffened at once and
strained at its bindings. So far as Thorn was
c9ncerned IL was all over.
The first shock sent into Thorn's body was
Lou volts. electrifying the body to q degree OF
ten amperes. This was maintained for five
seconds, after which 1t was reduced to 400
HM3hits'four amperes being indicated on the metre
ms force was maintained for ~ffty-fve SEQ
onds. when the maximum current was turned
on again: This was maintained but q SECOND
hlter which the current was turned OF en-
MMrely, DR.. Irvine then applied q stetkoscope to
dhorh,S heart and pronounced him dead. The
ward and examine the body. which they did,