The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-21
WARDEN WAS ANXIOUS.


WARDEN WAS ANXIOUS.
1t cannot be denied that Warden Sage
was anxious in the extreme regarding
the execution, and 1t was with this in
mind that he ordered every precautior
taken to insure the hest results. He sent
Rev. Dr. Cole to Mrs. Place at 9:15 this
morning, first inquiring whether the aged
clergyman could stand the strain. DR.
Cole told him he could, and was so fnl
OF sympathy for the woman he had
known since she was child that he was
anxious to be with her and comfort her
to the end. DR.. Irvine also visited her
in the morning, and with him was a
woman physician who had been sent to
attend the execution. at the suggestion
of Gov. Roosevelt, Mrs. Sage was the
last of her friends to say good-by
During the last few remaining minutes
OF her life, Mrs. Place was again and
again urged to go bravely to her death
and she promised that she would. She
had told her pastor that she believed her
sins would be forgiven, and asserted her
faith in the hereafter. She was buoyed
up with this feeling when the warden
came to lead her to the chair
She was dressed in black-a gown that
she had made herself-simple and plain
She had expected to wear it at her new
trial. or when she received her liberty
A white band was around her throat, and
her light brown hair, now turning gray,
was brushed back smoothly over her
forehead. 1t was clipped away only
where the electrode was to be placed.
Mrs. Place said simply that she was
ready, and the warden took her arm in
his. They went slowly through the de-
serted old hospital building. along several
Railways, and finally through the last
corridor of all. On either side the mur-
derers' cells were draped with heavy cur
tains, and the procession moved more
quickly through this dismal place.
IN THE DEATH CHAMBER.
Meanwhile, the witnesses had been call
ed 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 another keeper, and
turned rapidly away. The keeper re-
turned and was followed almost at once
by Mrs. Place, leaning heavily on the
warden's arm. Her face was very white,
her head uplifted her eyes closed The
white band around her throat seemed
scarcely winter than her face. The war
den held her arm closely within his, and
with his other arm he supported her. Be
hind came the woman's attendants, one
a physician and the other the day mat
ron. 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, nor did she
happen. =, She passed almost like a blind
woman across the short space that sepa-
rated her from death. She was gently
pressed down into the chair, and DR.. r.
vine, who was in waiting, stepped in
front Of her. He motioned to the women
and they came UP on either side 1t took
but moment to strap her in. The edge
of her skirt was lifted quickly, the stock
ing drawn down over her. shoe, and the
eleetrode fastened by one OF the women
on the right leg - Then the skirt was
dropped. The head cap was clamped on,
the straps buckled across the face, and
q cap dropped over the forehead. The
two women stood with outstretched
skirts, with DR.. Irvine and a male at
tendant, on either side,, almost shutting
out the view of the Witnesses, and the
signal was given.
FATAL CURRENT.
Quicker, almost, than flash, the cleo
trician 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. No one had expected
that the shock would be given so quickly,
and the body was relaxing almost before
the witnesses were conscious that the
execution had occurred. Only the wonl-
ans mouth was visible. and 1t changed
merely in the drawing down of the lips
and 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 body was allowed to remain In the
chair until all the witnesses had retired
when it was taken to the autopsy room
and a post mortem examination held. No
one was present but the operating sur
geons, and their report was sealed and
will be filed in Sing Sing, together with
the other documents relating to the wom-
ans death. The autopsy was rapid one,
and, although no report was made pub
lie, the probability is that the organs
were found in healthy condition.
The insanity plea in behalf of Mrs.
Place had never impressed very favor
ably those who knew the woman best.
Her spiritual adviser, Rev. DR.. Cole, was
one of those who never for moment
thought Mrs Place was anything but a
sane woman, and this Is also the opinion
Of DR.. Irvine. and finally Of the commits
sion appointed to inquire into the condi-
ton of Mrs. Place, Drs. Dana and Polk.
The body was taken to the Sing Sing
station, where 1t was sent to East Mil
stone, n. J. DR.. Cole was asked to off,
ciate at the funeral, but he felt that he
could not stand the strain. He promised
to be present, although he could not con-
duct the public service
POW TN A rAFE