Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-23

no sign of fear, nor did she even seem to
know what was about to happen. The
warden held her up still more firmly and
the women assisted her to the chair. she
picked her way almost like a blind wom-
an across tho short space that separated
her from death. She was gently pressed
down into the frame and Dc. Irvine. who
was in waiting stepped in front of her.
He motoned to the women and they
came upon either side. 1t took but a mo-
ment to strap her in. The edge of her
skirts was lifted quickly, the black stock
ing drawn down over the low tan shoe
and the electCode fastened by one of the
women to the right leg. Then the skirt
was dropped. The head cap WAS clamped
on, tho straps bucked across the face
and a pad roped over the forehead.
The two women stodd with outstretchcd
skirts with DR.. Irvine and a male attend
ant 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.
No one had expected that the shock
would be given so quickly and thu body
was relaxing almost before the Witness
ess were conscious that the execution had
visible, and it changed merely in the
drawing down of the lips and Il little dark
ening of the skin. Mrs. Place had MUIR
INJURED 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 obSe rived in the
slightest distortion of feature; the eyes
were covered and when the straps were
reftoved they We're still closed. on the Sec
ond shock, the body Strengthened out
again and a little foam oozed from the
lips. When the current was shut off, I c
body reposed naturally in the chair.
Dr. Irvine called upon the woman phySi-
clan to make an examination which he did
by merely opening the waist and placing
her stethescope between the folds Of the
dress over the heart. She performed htr
work quickly ana then the other physi-
clans present We're asked to complete the
examination. DR., Irvine gave it as his
opinion that death had been inStantan-
eous.
After it was all over Warden Sage said
he had no statement to make beyond sim
ply saying that he was grattied 1T the
manner in which the execution had be III
carried out. He said: II will let those
who have been accredited to come here,
tell the story"
welt that the electrocution of Mrs. Place
had been successful in every way, and
that there had been no scene whatever,
The body was allowed to remain IN the
chair until all the witnesses had retired
when it was taken to the autopsy ROOM
and post mortem examination held. No
ore was pr sent but the operating sur
geons and their report vas sealed and
will be filed tI Kings county with the 9TH
er documents relating to the woman's
death. The autopsy was a rapid one and
although no information was made pub
lie tho indicatiCg.S are that the organs
were found in a healthy condition The IN
sanity plea entered in behalf of Mrs
Place had never impressed those who
knew the woman best very faV1rahly
Her spiritual adviser, Rev. DIR. Cole was
one of those who never for a moment
thought Mrs. Place was anything but a
sane woman and this was the opiuion also
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 placed in red box and
was taken to the Sing Sing station, where
it was shipped at S:i6 p. m. for East Mill
stone, n. j. DR.. Cole was asked to Of
fcdate at the funeral but he felt that he
could not stand the strain. He promised
10 he present although he could not con-
duct the public service.