Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-20

She Slept, and Attempted to Assassinate
Her Husband-AIet Her Fate Calmly.
Sing Sing, y. Y. March 2O.-Mrs.
Martha Place was electrocuted in
prison this morning, being the first
woman to die by this means in this
state. Mrs. Place made no scene.
The first shock lasted four seconds.
The voltage was 1850. 1t was then
reiuced to 200 for 90 seconds. The
second shock was then given. Mrs.
Place went calmly to the chair She
leaned on the warden's arm with eyes
closed. She seemed neither to gee
nor hear. She murmured PRAYER.
Two women attended her. one a pris
son attendant, and the other physi-
clan. She was calm beyond eXpecta-
tion. No one has walked into the death
chamber as serenelv as she. Death
came with less struggle than ever
witnessed here before. IT was instan
taneOus- Just as she sat down in
the chair she said God help me-
FIendIsh Crime.
Mrs. Martha Place killed her step
daughter, Ida Place. at their home. j9S
Hancock street, Brooklyn, Feb. :.
1898. The girl was but - wears of |
age. A double murder had been |
planned by the woman. She killed |
her stepdaughter when the girl was
taking her afternoon nap, splitting |
her skull open with AN axe a-d pour
ing vitrol on her face and into her |
mouth. The same evening the woman
lay in wait for her hus sband, William
w Place. in the darkened hallway of
the house, and when he entered she
struck him in the face with the axe
and inflicted serious wound. He
managed to get outside the front door
and alarm the neigh bors before he be-
came unconscious. When the police
and neighbors entered the house they
found Mrs. Place in a bedroom in
which gas was escaping and she was
shamming uncOnsciOusness. Mr.. Place
recovered consciousness and said his
wife had tried to murder him, and the
woman was arrested after they both
had been taken to a hospital.
The motive for the woman's crime
was jealousy of her step-daughter.
Places first wife died six or seven
years ago, and about 1S months after
ward he engaged the woman. who be-
came his second wife. to act as his
housekeeper. Her maiden name was
Garretssn, but she had been married
to Il man named Savacoll, now dead.
As long as she was housekeeper it is
said she was extremely kind to Places
daughter. Ida, but she became quite
different person when Place married
her. She was possessed of an un@ov-
crnabie temper, which led to frequent
quarrels with Ida. and Mrs. Place was
very much embittered because her
L. -
part. Another cause OF family bick-
ering was Place. : refusal to have his
wifc's adopted son live with them.
The woman was much inferior to her
husband and step-daughter in educa-
tion and social qualities. and many
friends of Mr.. Place had cut his ac-
quaintance on account of his marriage
TO the woman. Miss Place was pOpu-
lar with the families in the neighbor
mood. and this also made the step I
mother jealous. Mrs. Places story
of the crime was that she had thrown
carboiic acid in her step-daughter's
face during one of their quarrels. and ;
then got the axe to defend herself ;
from an attack by her daughter. but
It came out during the trial that she
had made preparations for fight and
had written u her brother that she
would 20 TO him.
Trial and Conviction.
Mrs Pace was tried before Judge
Hurd in Brooklyn last summer and
found guilty of murder in the first I
degree. The case was carried to the {
court of appeals, but the conviction l
was confirmed. and she was sentenced I
TO death. Gov. Roosevelt was then :
petitioned TO exercise clemencv. il 7
being alleged that Mrs. Place was in {
sane at the time the crime was COM
and be appointed Drs. Dana
and Polk. of New York City. to re-
port To him on this point. They in =,
formed the governor that the woman