Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-21

"hoaoH. Nirs- NouttrS. Win iWo Keepers IN
she outer room. The condemned woman
was very restless. Outside a terrific gal,
was blowing scross the Hudson. which
ratified the windows in the gloomy old hos
p:tai bniiainS where Mrs. Places quarters
were located. There WAS 4 driving snow
too. and several times The woman went IL
her window TO watch the storm. She did
not retire until $50 and after that she was
up several times to pray. Never for Il no.
ment did the matron relax her Vigilance
Mrs Place was followed with Watchfu
eyes for the twenty-four hours that pre-.
ceacd her taking OF.
1t cannot be denied that Warden SAGE
VAS anxious in the extreme regarding tho
execution. and Il was with this in mind
tha; he ordered every precauiion taken to
insure the best results. lie sent Rev. Or
Cole TO her at s:is this morning. first in.
ouirtnE 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 a child that he was anxious To be- with
her and comfort her to the end DIR. Irvine
also visited her IN the morning. and with
him was a woman physician. who had been
rent to attend the execution at the sugges-
zion OF Governor Roosevelt.
= Nra Sage vas the last OF her friends
10 say good-by.
During the last few remaining minutes of
her life Mrs. Place was again and again
urged 20 go braveiy 10 her death and she
promised that she would.
Che told her pastor that she believed that
her sins had been forgiven, and asserted
her faith in the hereafter. She was buoyed
up with this feeling when the warden came
% lead her to the chair. She was dressed
IN black. q gown that she had made her
self. simple and plain. She had expected
TO wear 1t at her new trial OF 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 fore
head. II 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 deserted old hospital building,
along several Railways and finally 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 dismal place.
Meanwhile. the witnesses had been called
into the death chamber. The electric ap-
pafatus had been given fits final test. and
all were waiting with suspense for the com.
ing OF the woman. Suddenly the side door
through which the party would enter was
thrown open. kseper stepped in and called
for another keeper. and turned rapidly
away. The keeper returned and was fol-
lowed almost At once by Mrs. Place. leau-
ing 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 warden held her arm closely with
his, and with his other arm he supported
her. Behind came the woman attendants.
one . physician and the other the day
matron. Rev. DR.. Cole came next and
after him were the two keepers. As they
SCsae over the threshold: Mrs Place. gave
no sign OF fear. nor .dtd she even seem to
know what was about to happen. She
passed aloost like blind woman across
the short space that separated her from
death. She was gently pressed down into
the frame and DIR. Irvine, who was in
waiting. stepped in front OF her. He mo-
TONED to the women and they came up on
. either side. 1t took but a moment to strap
her IN. The edge OF her skirts was lifted
quickly. the etocking drawn down over her
shoe and the electrode fastened by one
Of the women to the right leg. Then the
skirt was dropped, the head cap was
clamped on, the straps buckled across the
face and a pad dropped over the forehead.
The two women stood with outstretched
skirts. with DR.. Irvine and male attend
ant ON either side. almost shutting out the
Nvtsw Of the witnesses. and the signal was
1von.
y-Qulcker. almost, than q fash. the cleo.
'tt3ctan threw down the lever. The body
Aersightened. the fingers gripped tightly
Into the palms, and the little prayer book
ahe held In her left hand was drawn across
the wrist. No one had expected that the
shock would be given 80 quickly. and the
.ts1y was relaxing almost before the wit
0oooes were conscious that the execution
had occurred. Only the womans mouth
was visible. and II changed merely In the
drawing down of the lips and little dark
entng of the skin.
= .1lFs. Place had murmured as ahe was
seated In the chair: Rood help me: 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
sbservcd in the death house before. There
WsD moi the slightest distortion Of features:
The eyes were covered and when the straps
were removed they were still closed.
On the second shock the body straight
0ned out again and little foam ooIed from
~ ffps. When the current was shut on.
the hudy reposed naturally tn the chair.
cn q make easd sn aaa %sc% % sse
~ hv neselH opeRinE the waist and plac-
~ kee stethosc0pe between. the folds Of
tho dress Pver the heart. She performed
hee work quickly and then the other phyS-
Ic1ans present were asked to Compla4s the
Examination. DR.. Irvine gave 1t rs his
0Qlnion that death had been instantaneous.
The body was allowed 20 remain In the
'Casn = Sas taken 2 sne sut6psy room and
HGs present but the operating surgeons and
Sbeir report was sealed and, viii Be filed
Kings county. together With. the other
yecumenf0 relating tn the Woenan' q death
ne sutopey was . faplc one. and although
- tnfesu1aeten Wos-0ode public, the indi-
.ceslsSe 40 IN M IT, 3Ssee. were found in
ssrs & tss g TIE i:snstS s,.ce G'ea en-
1mpeessea favotably those who knew the
b. csae. was 6ne Of those Who reyer nSs. for
. nsnpent thought Mrs. Place was any
ching hut = sane woman, and this was the
oplnicQ alcp OF Dr. Irvine. and finally, OF
tSe co1m!ssion appointed 70 inquire into
81 csndifson sf Mrs. Place. Doctors Dana
~ body was taken to the Sing Sing
1eone. N. J. DIR. Cole was asked to
eeAceate ~ the funeral. but he felt thai
- oouidI not stand the strain He prom
toe0 TO be present, although he could nor
ceoduct the public service.
MRS. PLACES CRIME.
shsw Her sseDAa.gAter While She
0espt anA P0areA vstriol
-~-ft--4 A. ua>~ re-.