The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

She was dressed In black. a gown Sd:
had made herself. simple and plain
| She had expected TO wear II at her new
trial or when she received her libert!
A white band was around her throat.
and her light brown hair, now turning
gray. was brushed back smoothly over
her forehead. Il was clipped away
only where the electrode was to be
placed.
Mrs. Place said simply that she was
ready n the warden took her arm In
his. They went slowly through the
deserted Old hospital building. along
several Railways and finally through
tie LIST corridor OF all. On either side,
the murderers' cells were dr. ped with
heavy curtains and the procession
novel more quickly through this dis
NAL place.
Meanwhile the witnesses had been
called into the death chamber. The
electric apparatus had been given its
final test, and all were waiting with
suspense for the coming of the woman.
Suddenly the side door through which
the party would enter, was thrown
open, a keeper stepped in and called for
hNNpEA 1A0 aRA
away The keeper returned and was
followed almost at once by Mrs. Place.
leaning heavily on the wardsu's arm.
Her face vas very white. her head up
lifted, her eyes closed. The white
band around her throat seemed scarce
~ whittier than her face. The warden
held her arm closely with his and with
his other arm he supported her. Be
hind came the ONE attendants, n
a physician. the other the day Ixatron-
Rev. DR.. Cole came next and after him
were the two keepers. AS they came
over the threshold, Mrs. Place gave no
sign of fear. She picked her way al
most like a blind woman across the
short space that separated her frocn
death. She was gently pressed down
into the frame, and and Dr. Irvine,
who was in waiting, stepped in front
of her. He motioned to the women,
and they came UP on either side. II
took but a moment to strap her in. The
edge of her skirt was lifted quickly
the stocking drawn down over her shoe
and the electrodes fastened by one OF
them to the right leg. Then the skirt
was dropped. The head cap was
clamped on, the straps buckled across
the face, and a pad dropped over the
forehead The woman stood without
stretched skirts. with DR.. Irvine and a
male attendant on either side, almost
shutting out the view Of the witnesses,
and the signal was given.
Quicker almost than a flash the
electrician threw DOWN the lever. The
body Strengthened, the fingers gripped
tightly into the palms and the little
prayer book she held in her left hand
was drawn across the wrist. Only the
woman's mouth was visible and 1t
changed merely in the drawing down
of the lips and a little ~darkening OF the
skin. Mrs. Place had murmured as
she was seated in the chair, God help
me, God have mercy" There was not
a sound after that, not even a moan
The visible effect of the shock was less
than had ever been observed in the
death house before. There was not the
slightest distortion OF features; the
eyes were covered, and when the straps
were removed they were still closed.
On the second shock the body
straightened out again and a little foam
| oozed from the lips. When the current
! was shut off the body reposed natural
Iy in the chair.
| DR.. Irvine gave it as his opinion that
! death had been instantaneous.
| The body was allowed to remain in
| the chair until all the witnesses had re-
, tired, when it was taken to the autopsy
! room and a post mortem examination
! held. No one was present but the
! operating surgeons, and their report
| was sealed and will be: filed in Kings
: county, together with the other docu-
nrents relating to the voman's death
The autopsy was a rapid one, and al
tn ugh no information was made pub
| lie, the indications are that the organs
were found in a healthy condition.
The insanity plea entered in behalf Of
Mrs. Place never impressed those wht
knew the woman best very favorably.
The body was placed7fn a red box and
was taken to the Sing Sing station
where is was shipped to East Mill
stone, N. Y.