The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-11
UTHERLANDPUTToDEATH
GOES TO ELECTRIC CHAIR FOR THE
MURDER OF HIS MISTR ESS.

The YounG west India negro sailormnn who
Killed nHrp. sarah wrenu IN Broohiyn Mine
Monihs AGo Pays the Penalty for HIS Crime
In sinE sing PrisOn-Haw lio Met Death.
SING SING, N. Y. Jan. l0.-Hadley A. Suther-
land, tho little West Indian sailorman who shot
his mistress about a year ago, was put to death
by electricity in the prison here this morning.
In the language Of the prison officials, the exc
cution was as successful as usual. But moro
time was occupied than at some other such
killings. and tho young Negroes heart continued
to throb for several minutes after the current
had been turned off.
The witnesses had boon instructed to be at the
prison at IL o'clock. About ton minutes past
IL they marched out to the execution room. The
usual formal test Of the current by a double row
Of incandesent lights was made, and thon War
den Sage went for the condemned man. Suthor-
land camo in quickly, walking firmly and with
good nerve. He was a little bit of q chap, weigh
ing, apparently, not over 40 pounds. The right
leg Of his trousers was ripped and turned back
over his knee. He carried q little crucilx in his
right hand and occasionally muttered n prayer.
Fathers Creedon and st. John walked Just boz
hind him. He looked very boyish as he sat down
in tho chair that was far too big for him and
the attendants began to fasten the big straps
over his wrists and ankles and about his body.
He kept his eyes open, staring straight ahead Of
him. His skin was the clear. light yellow Of an
octoroon.
After the condemned man was all ready there
was n nerve.straining wait which seemed a
minute, but was only a fow seconds. The cleo
trician stepped out OF the room for an instant,
and the witnesses wondered what was wrong.
He returned quickly, and at just 11:19. one
minute and thirty-five seconds after Sutherland
entered the room, the lever was moved over and
StFuna under nm alternating rnrrnnt of cleo
triclty Of 1880 volts. The hands ,clenched with
fearful force; the, thin lips lost their color and
drew down over the parted teeth until 1t seemed
as IL they must split; the ~nostrils dilatcd, and
tho wide-open eyes stared straight ahead. Pres.
until it seemed as II it would break. turned
slowly toward the body. The right knee moved
s stsSi nb onsT X. M %ns from Z ahla The ss sasar Mn5fH SPONGE papSG
on the head electrode trickled down behind tho
negro 8 ears onto his shoulders and dropped over
the front of his coat to the floor.
For thirty seconds the strain lasted. Then
tho current was reduced to 800 volts. The body
relaxed and settled back in tho big chair. The
little suggestion of moisture on the lips disap.
peared: and there came a sound like a heavy
dead, and no power on earth could have restored
him, For fifty seconds more the current was
vapor rose over tho right knee. Usually tho
reduced current stops oil muscular action, but
this nr 1r time 4 ID did dr n ! n When IT was Wso tq baS 6e SiP
standing with Warden Sage near the chair,
stepped forward, felt tho pulse, and then opened
bho Noitui. ohu Vtb W bIo iiSuh AS o'SppSs
back. spoke I. the Warden, and they waited.
The electrician looked up curiously, but there
was no signal for more of his work. Again Mr..
Irvine tried for the heart, this time with his ear
to the negroes chest. Again he stepped back.
Then he put his finger on the right knee, but
quickly withdrew 1t. Evidently there was high
temperature.
At last DR.. Irvine appeared satisfied and
nodded to some of the witnesses of his own pro-
fession. Two or three stepped up, listened for
the heart, and spoke softly to Dr.. Irvine. Then
tho Warden announced that Sutherland was
dead, as all could see, and the witnesses went
forward. Nevertheless, for four or Eve minutes
signs Of heart action continued, and once or
twice there seemed to be slight movement OF
the chest. Five minutes after the current was
turned of the temperature under the right knee
was 112. There was a blister Just above the
knee on the inside Of the leg, ana the Gkin lust
above where the electrode was bound on was
discolored. The eyes were still wide open, and
they responded not at all to any of the tests for
signs Of life. Ten minutes later tho autopsy
was under way.
Sutherland was a sailorman on ~fruiters plying
to the West Indies. He lived at 9S Gwinnett
street with Mrs. Sarah Wrenn. q colored woman.
On the night of March 81, 1897, he went homo
drunk and started to chase her out of the house.
He shot at her four or five times, and one bullet
Killed her. He was about 90 years old.