Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-21

CASE HAD BEEN CARRIED
THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
COURTS AND FINALLY APPEAL
HAD BEEN MADE FOR EXECU-
TIVE CLEMENCY, BUT THE
GOVERNOR REFUSED TO INTER
FERE-H OF HER CRIME.
New York, March 20.-Mrs. Martha
Place was executed at Sing Sing prison
to-day.
She was the first woman to die in the
electric chair in the State of New York
and she went to her death quietly.
Her death was instantaneous, but
two shocks were given. State Electro
clan Davis threw down the lever at eX-
actly 11:01 a. m. The voltage of the
current was 1,760, and it was contin
ued for four seconds. 1t was then
gradually diminished to 200 voltage,
which was continued for Sc seconds.
DR.. Irvine, the physician of the prison,
examined the woman and then ordered
a second shock. That was the same
as the first in power and continued for
the same length of time. The second
shock has always been administered at
Sing Sing.
1t was not until Thursday last that
Warden Sage announced to her that
Governor Roosevelt had absolutely rex
fused to interfere with the course OF
justice and that she must die on Mon
day. 1t was a great shock to the Wo-
man, but 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 told her
she must be ready at IL o'clock Monday
morning.
Sic was ready at that hour and no
one who watched her could understand
what change must have taken place in
the woman's nature to so dull her
senses that shes could go to her death
so calmly and impassively. 1t had not
been expected that she would do so.
The last woman condemned to die in
this State went to the gallows shriekipg
and fighting. but Mrs. Place hardly ut
tered a sound.
She merely muttered a prayer with
closed eyes, her face turned partly up
ward and seemingly unconscious of
things about her.
ms was the 26th electrocution 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
coming through the iron doors, the
order of the law had been carried out.
There were twelve witnesses present
and only those who watched every
movement witnessed Mrs. Places
death. Few were able to see the rising
of the body as the electrical shock pas
sed through it, 1t was only when the
current was partly shut off that they
could see the body relax. 1t was an
easy way to die.
On Sunday Mrs. Place had her regu-
lar attendants and during the night
she was visited by her spiritual adviser,
Rev. DIR. David Cole, of Yonkers, and
Mrs. Meury, mission worker, of
Brooklyn. who has taken great inter-
est in the woman's welfare. Mrs.
Sage, the wardens wife, also spent all
hour or so with her, but at $3.50 Mrs.
Place was left alone with the night
n@tron, Mrs. Coultry, with two keep
ers in the outer room. The condemn
ed women was very restless. Outside
a 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, ana
several times the woman went to her
window to watch the storm. She did
not retire until 2:30. And after that
she was up several times to pray.
Never for moment did the matron re-
lax her vigilance. Mrs. Place was fol-
lowed with watchful eyes for the TWEEN
ty-four hours preceding her taking off.
1t cannot be denied that Warden
Sage was anxious in the extreme re-
garding the execution and it was with
his in mind that he ordered every
Drecauton taken to insure the best re-
suits. He sent Rev. DR.. Cole to her
at 9:15 this morning, first inquiring
whether the aged clergyman could
stand the strain. DR.. Cole assured him
that he could and was so full of SYM
patty for the woman he had known
since she was a child that he was anx-
ious to be with her and comfort her to
the end. DR.. Irvine also visited her
in TIE morning and with him was a
woman physician who had been sent to
attend the execution at the suggestion
of Governor Roosevelt. Mrs. Sage was
the last of her friends to say goodbye
During the last few remaining min
utes of her life Mrs. Place was again
and again urged to go bravely to her
death, and she promised that she
would
She had told her pastor that she be-
lieved that her sins had been forgiven
and asserted her faith in the hereafter.
She was buoyed up with this feeling
when the warden came to lead her to
the chair.
She was dressed in black. gown
that she had made herself. simple and
plain. She had made it to wear at her
new trial or when she received her lib
erty.
A white band was around her throat.
and her light brown hair, now turning
gray, was brushed back smoothly over
her forehead. 1t was clipued only
where the electric rod 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 corridor of all. On either side the
murderer cells were draped with heavy
curtains and the procession moved
more quickly through this dismal