The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-21

several Railways, ana Dnally through
the last corridor of all. On either side
the murderers' cells were draped with
heavy curtains, and the procession
moved more quickly through this dis
mai place.
IN DEATH CHAMBER.
Meanwhile the witness 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 an
other keeper and turned rapidly away.
The keeper returned and was followed
almost at once by Mrs. Place, leaning
heavily on the warden'S arm. Her face
was very white. her head uplifted and
her eyes closed. The white band
around her throat seemed scarcely
whittier than her face.
The warden held her arm closely with
his and with his other arm he sup
ported her. Behind came the woman
attendants, one a physician and the
other the day matron. Rev. DIR. 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 even seem to know
what was about to happen. She passed
almost like blind woman across the
short space that separated her from
death. She was gently pressed down
into the frame and DR.. Irvine, who was
in waiting, stepped in front of her. He
motioned to the women and they came
UP on either side. 1t took bat moment
to strap her in. The edge of her skirt
was lifted quickly, the stocking drawn
down over her shoe and the electrode
fastened by one of the women to the
larr ha cIy irt wa 6rpT,rpd
The head cap was clamped on, the
straps buckled, across the face and the
pad dropped over the forehead. The
two women stood with outstretched
skirts, with DIR. Irvine and a male at
tendant an either side, almost shutting
out the view of the witnesses and the
signal was given.
DEADLY CURRENT.
Quicker almost than a flash the cleo
rrician threw down the lever. The body
straightened, the fingers gripped tight
ly 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 con-
scious that the execution had occurred.
Only the woman's mouth was visible,
and it 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 mel God have mercy"
There was no sound after that, not
even a moan. The visible effect of the
shock was less than had ever been OBJ
served in the death house before. There
was not the slightest distortion of fea-
lures; the eyes were covered and when
the straps We're removed they were still
closed.
on the second shock the body
Strengthened out again and a little
foam oozed from the lips. When the
current was shut off the body reposed
naturally in the chair.
DR. Irvine called upon the woman
physician to make an examination,
which she did by merely opening the
waist and placing her stethoscope be-
tween the folds of the dress over the
heart She performed her work quickly
and then the other physicians present
we're asked to complete the eXamina
sion. DR.. Irvine gives it as his opinion
that death had been instantaneous.
The body was allowed to remain in
the chair until all the witnesses had
retired, when it was taken to the au-
topsy room and a post mortem eXami-
nation held. No one was present but
the operatin surgeons and their TO-
port was sea.~d and will be filed in
kings county. together with the other
documents relating to the woman s
death. The autopsy was rapid one,
and although no information was made
public. the indications are that the or
gans were found in a healthy condition.
MRS. PLACE WAS SANE.
The insanity plea entered in behalf of
Mrs Place had never impressed favor
ably those who knew the woman best.
Her spiritual adviser, Rev. DR.. Cole,
was one of those who never for D mo-
meut thought Mrs. Place was anything
but sane woman, and this was the
opinion also, of DR.. Irvine and finally
at the commission appointed to inquire
into the condition of Mrs. Place, Drs.
Dana and Polk.
The body was taken to the Sing Sing
station where it was shipped to East
Millstohe, n. 7. DR.. Cole was asked to
officiate at the funeral but he felt that
he could not stand the strain. He prom
ised to be present, although he could
not conduct the public service.