The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21


Place was executed AZ Sing sing Prison
to-day. She was the first woman 70 die
IN the electric chair in the State OF New
York, ana she went 30 her death quietly.
Her death, was instantaneous.
But two Shocks We're given. State Elec-
tric.an Davis threw down the lever at sX-
actIy 101 a. m The voltage Of the cur
rent was 1.761. and it vas continued for
four seconds. 1t was then gradually d.
minished to go voltage, which was con
tinued for fifty-six seconds.
Dr. Irvine, the physician of the prison,
/ examined the woman, and then ordered
a second shock. That was the same as
tire first in power. and continued for the
/ SINE length Of time. Tn second shock
has always been administered at Sing
Sing.
Mrs. Place murdered her stepdaugh-
tc~. Ida u. Place on February l.
1898. She first threw acid in the girls
face. and then smothered her This was
early IN the morning in their home in
Brooklyn. She waited the entire day Tor
her hrsband to return. and then attacked
him with an ak, fracturing his skull and
otherwise seriously injuring MIN. Pace,
however. recovered.
Mrs. Place was convicted and sentenced
/ to death but she never tor moment Pc
lieved she would be rlectrocuted- She at
first claimed she could remember nothing
/ of the murder, and later the plea OF w
sanity was submitted in her behalf IL
was not until Thursday last that W warden
Sage announced 70 her that Gov RoOse-
welt had absolutely refused to interfere
with the course OF justice, and that she
must die on Monday.
Passed Calmly to Her Ordeal.
II was a grent shock to the woman ont
during the last four DAYS she bore up
| wonderfully well. She suffered in two
ways after she learned that she must
die. from sleeplessness and from loss OF
| appetite. Again yesterday the warden
visited her. so that there might be no
misunderstanding and ted her that she
must be ready at II o'clock Monday morn
| ing.
She was ready at that hour, and no
| one who watched her could understand
what change must have taken place in
the woman's nature 10 so duh her senses
that she could go to her death so calmly
! and imuassiyelv as Mrs. Place did. II
| had no. been expected that she would do
| So The last woman condemned TO die
in this State went to the gallows Shrek
! ing and fighting, but Mrs. Place hardly
uttered a sound She merely murmured
a prayer, with closed eyes. her face turn
ed partly upward and seemingly uncOn-
scious of things about her.
This was the twent-sixth electrocu-
ton at Sing Sing prison. but none before
| was SO successful as that OF to-day. Not
only was there no scene but there was no
| delay. Within three minutes after com
| ing through the iron doors the order Of
| the law had been carried out.
| tive Wit
| and only those who watched every move
| ment witnessed Mrs. Places death. Few
! were able 10 see the raising of the body
/ as the electrical shock passed through
| partly shut OF that they could see the
| body relax. 1t Was an easy way TO die.
| Her Lat Night Rts,Ie,s
On Sunday Mrs. Place had her regular
| attendants and during the night sine was
visited by her spiritual adviser, Rev. Dr.
! David Cole Of Yohkers. and Mrs Meury,
a mission worker OF Brooklyn, who has
| taken great interest in the woman's
welfare. Mrs. Sage. the Warden's wife.
also spent an hour or so with her, but
at $50 Mrs. Place was left alone with
the night matron, Mrs. Coultry, with two
| keepers in the outer room.
Th6 condemned woman vas very rest
less Outside terrific gale was blowing
| across the Hudson, which ratified the
windows in the gloomy old hospital
| building, where Mrs. Places quarters
/ were located. There was a driving snow.
/ TOO, and several times the woman went
/ TO her window TO watch the storm. She
/ did not retire until 2:3O. And after that
| she was up several times to pray
! Never for a moment did the matron re-
| lax her vigilance. Mrs. Place was fol-
! lowed with Watchful eyes for the twenty
/ four hours that preceded her taking off.
| 1t cannot be denied that Warden Sage
was anxious in the extreme regarding the I
execution, and il was with this In mind B
/ that he ordered every precauti0n taken !
! to insure the best results. He sent Rev |
/ DR.. Cole to her at S:l5 this morning first
! inQuiTing whether the aged clergyman
could stand the strain. DR. Cole assured /
! him that he could, and was so full OF /
/ sympathy for the woman he had known /
| since she was child that he was anxious |
| 10 be with her and comfort her TO the 1
| end.
Promised to Meet Death BraveIy.
| DR.. Irvine also visited her in the morn |
| ing, and with him was a woman physi- |
| clan. who had been sent TO attend the /
| execution at the suggestion Of Go. !
/ Roosevelt Mrs. Sage was the last Of hcr /
| friends TO say gOOd-by.
During the last few remaining minutes /
| again urged to go bravely to her death. |
and she promised that she would. She |
told her pastor that she believed that he. |
| sins had been forgiven, and asserted her /
| faith in the hereafter. She was buOyed |
up with this Feeling when the Warden |
/ came for her 10 lead her 10 the chair
She was dressed In black, a gown that |
| she had made herself, simple and plain. |
| she had expected 10 wear II at her new |
| p al n - he
! had been proud Of this gown, and those |
| who had seen 10 on her said that Il ftteI /
| her well. y white hand was around her
| throat and her light brown hair now
tytning gray, was brushed beck smoothly |
| over ner forehead. II was clipped awav
only where the electrods was to lie !
| 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 cor
/ TidOr OF all. On either side the murderers' |
| cells were dEapad with heavy curtains |
| and the procession moved more quickly
through this dismal place.
Meanwhile the witnesses had been call
I ed into the death chamber. The electric !
| apparatus had been given its final test |
/ and all were waiting with suspense Toy
/ the coming Of the woman. suddenly The
| side coOr through which the party would |
| enter was thTosgn open. a keeper stepped |
| In and called for another keeper, and |
1 turned rapidly away.
Ia ths Death Chamber.
The keeper returned and was followed |
I almost az OEce 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 whittier than her /
! face.
The uarden hsid her am, -tcesl,, ,.-t,L