The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-21

called into the death chamber The
electric apparatus had been given its
1nal 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,
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.
No Sign of Fear.
The warden held her arm closely with-
in his. and with his other arm he sup
ported her. Then came Dr. Cole and
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 a 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 but a moment
to strap her on The edge of her skirts
was lifted quickly, the stocking drawn
down over the shoe and the electrode
fastened by one of the women ITO the
right leg. Then the skirt was dropped.
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 DR.. Irvine and a male at
tendant on either side. almost shutting
out the view of the witnesses and the
signal was given.
Quicker almost than a flash the elec-
| trician threw down the lever. The body
traightened. 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 eX.
pected that the shock would be given
so suddenly 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 little darkening
of the skin. Mrs. Place had murmured
as she was seated in the chair:
God help me; God have mercy" r.
Not Even Moan.
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 the (
features; the eyes were covered and
We're still closed.
On the second shock the body
straightened out again and little foam
oozed from her lips. When the current
was shut off the body reposed natur-
ally in the chair. DR.. Irvine called up
on the woman physician to make an
examination, which she did by merely
opening the waist and placing her
stethoscope between the folds of the
dress over the heart. She performed
her work quickly and then the other
physicians present We're asked to COM
plete the examination. DR.. Irvine gava
it as his opinion that death had been
instantaneous. The body was allowed
to remain In the, chair until all the wit
nesses had been retired, when it was
taken to the autopsy room and post
mortem examination held. No one was
present but the operating surgeons and
their report was sealed and will be filed
in Kings county, together with the
other documents relating to the
woman's death. The autopsy was a
rapid one. and although no information
was made public, the indications are
thy condition. The insanity plea en-
tered in behalf of Mrs. Place had never
impressed favorably 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 was the opinion also of Dr. Irvine!
and finally of the commission appointed
to inquire into the condition of Mrs.
Place. Doctors Dana and Polk.
The body was taken to the Sing Sing
station, where it was shipped to East
Millstone N. ].